Photo by Larry Magrath Dylan Dulas, a Marshall High School graduate and freshman at South Dakota State University, prepares to be judged at the AgStar Arena at the Minnesota State Fair Thursday. Adult helper Klint Willert grooms the junior yearling as Kallie Mattison of Lamberton looks on. Dulas received a Blue Ribbon Class A.

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota State Fair is offering a couple childhood friends a chance to trade classroom work for more of a hands-on experience.

Dylan Dulas and Kesmond Willert both are pulling double duty making up work for their first classes at South Dakota State University and showing at the fair.

Dulas, son of Ryan and Tammy Dulas of Marshall, isn’t the typical 4-H’er having grown up in town. However, as friends often experience, he was pulled along into unexpected activities with wrestling buddy and classmate Kesmond Willert.

“Kesmond brought me out to his place and they had cattle and animals and I hadn’t really been around any of that,” Dulas said. “I learned to love it.”

On the second of the four-day 4-H competition at the state fair, Dulas showed his junior yearling heifer he named Jazzy and won a Blue Ribbon in his class. His heifer, leased from the Willerts, had already been bred before the fair and will be returned to the herd for production.

He only began showing as a freshman in high school. Both plan on participating for one more year in the 4-H program and then they may be eligible to show animals through FFA if they choose.

Dulas, who is studying agriculture and bio-systems engineering, said he’s learned a lot about the cattle industry with the hands-on approach and he values the knowledge and friendships he’s made along the way.

“It’s a good way to get involved and learn about every aspect of the industry,” Dulas said. “You have to be willing to put in the work so it’s nothing to take too lightly.”

Willert, son of April and Klint Willert of Brookings, South Dakota, but formerly of Marshall, showed a registered Maine Anjou steer and was awarded a Blue Ribbon.

“What really helped me out having been in 4-H is that it has helped me start my own cattle herd,” Willert said. “I own about eight cows and what I do is I sell the calves and that helps me pay my college tuition.”

He also values the industry knowledge he’s gained. He is pursuing a pre-chiropractic course of study.

“It’s been a good experience for everyone,” he said. “It’s pretty much anywhere you go you’re in the industry so you meet all kinds of people.”