TEMPLETON, PA (RVO) – In a continued spirit of generosity and service, St. Mary’s Redbank Church is once again bringing food and faith together to serve the Redbank Valley community. Through the generous support of the Shuster family and 11 Oaks Farms, the church recently acquired a 4-H steer – affectionately named “Walter”- at the Clarion County Fair to be donated across multiple local ministries and outreach efforts.

Left-to-right, Backrow: Pastor of the St. Mary’s Redbank Church, the Rev. Dr. Gordon Barrows, Retired Pastor John Phillips, Thomas Smith, Beau Snyder. Front-row, left-to-right: Jim Shuster, Adele Smith, Jess Snyder, Bailey (Snyder) Rankin, and ‘Walter’ the Steer.

Walter, an Angus Cross Breed steer weighing in at 1,365 pounds, was born and raised on the farm of Bailey (Snyder) Rankin. Bailey is the daughter of Beau & Jess Snyder. This year marked Bailey’s 11th and final year in the Clarion County 4-H program, having participated since the age of 8. Throughout her 4-H journey, she raised goats, pigs, and steer while holding several officer roles in both the Real Dairy and Livestock Club and the 4-H Teen Council.

The steer, purchased during the 4-H auction, will be distributed through St. Mary’s Redbank Church to several local organizations, including New Bethlehem First Fellowship Church, New Salem Pierce Church, Oak Ridge Community Church, the Redbank Valley Food Pantry, Madison Township Food Pantry, and the “Just For Jesus” homeless shelter in Brockway, which also supports those in the Redbank Valley area.

St. Mary’s Redbank Church Donates 4-H Steer from Clarion County Fair to Redbank Valley Community

Bailey expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the purchase and the impact it will make:

“I’m incredibly thankful to the Shuster family and 11 Oaks Farms for purchasing Walter. It means the world to me to know that something I’ve worked so hard to raise will now help ministries and people in need across our community. Supporting 4-H and agriculture like this reminds us how much we can accomplish together.”

Bailey plans to use the proceeds from the sale of Walter to pursue a nursing education at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Washington, where she will live with her husband Ty, an active duty member of the United States Air Force.

The purchase of the steer was facilitated by Tim Burkett of R&S Machine, who assisted on behalf of the Shuster family and 11 Oaks Farms. This effort follows last year’s major outreach by St. Mary’s Redbank Church, when over $20,000 worth of meat and freezers were donated to the Redbank Valley community. This year, the church continues its mission by filling those same freezers with fresh, locally raised meat to help those in need.

St. Mary’s Redbank Church Donates 4-H Steer from Clarion County Fair to Redbank Valley Community

Lead pastor of St. Mary’s Redbank Church, and Mayor of New Bethlehem, the Rev. Dr. Gordon Barrows, offered the following reflection:

“First and foremost, we give all thanks and glory to God for the opportunity to serve others in His name. We are deeply grateful to the Snyder family for raising such a fine animal and to the Shuster family and 11 Oaks Farms for their overwhelming generosity. Their compassion allows our church to be a vessel of blessing to the broader Redbank Valley community. Supporting 4-H and the Clarion County Fair not only strengthens local agriculture but also cultivates leadership and responsibility in our youth.”

Jim Shuster echoed this spirit of faith and community:

“Our family and business have been abundantly blessed by God, and it’s our joy to give back. Helping fill the freezers again this year through St. Mary’s Redbank Church means continuing to serve and uplift our community – one family at a time. It’s also our way of supporting the incredible work of 4-H and the importance of the Clarion County Fair.”

St. Mary’s Redbank Church Donates 4-H Steer from Clarion County Fair to Redbank Valley Community

The 4-H program and the Clarion County Fair play vital roles in supporting local agriculture and youth development. Programs like these offer young people meaningful opportunities to raise animals, learn leadership, and build lifelong values rooted in responsibility, service, and hard work. The fair serves not only as a showcase of agricultural talent, but as a celebration of community.

St. Mary’s Redbank Church invites everyone to its next Community Worship Service on Saturday, September 27 at 1:00 PM. This special fall service will honor and recognize local first responders, including fire, police, and EMS personnel. All are welcome to attend and give thanks for those who serve our communities.

St. Mary’s Redbank Church is a quaint multidenominational country church located at 619 Redbank Road, Templeton, PA 16259. Learn more: StMarysRedbankChurch.org and Facebook page FB.com/StMarysRedbankChurch for the latest worship service times and special events.