A pair of seasoned 4-Hers come out on top at market steer competition

A pair of seasoned 4-Hers come out on top at market steer competition
Dave Mast

Market steer judge Todd Herman said judging the Holmes County Junior Fair steer show was challenging, with many quality steer and a lot of dedicated youth who took the time to work hard on their animals.

                        

Where’s the beef? On the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 10 in the heart of the large arena at Harvest Ridge in Millersburg, Holmes County 4-Hers were busy parading their beef steer in the arena pen in front of Judge Todd Herman, and each youth had high hopes of earning the coveted grand or reserve champion banner.

When Herman was done making his assessments, a pair of seasoned veterans stood atop the list, with Hayden Smith’s steer bringing home the grand champion banner while Pacee Miller’s steer was awarded the reserve grand champion banner.

Having judged the steer show last year, Herman said he thought he would see much of the same this time around. He was surprised to see Holmes County’s youth had stepped up their game.

“The overall quality in these top-10 steers and basically all the way through this show was so impressive,” Herman said. “I don’t remember them being this good last year from top to bottom. Everyone stepped up their game, and throughout the show, that came through. I was extremely impressed.”

Herman sifted through five classes during the beef steer show, inspecting each entry. The veteran show judge took his time and said it was difficult to rank such a quality group of animals.

Seeing that kind of effort was encouraging to Herman, who had high praise for the Holmes County 4-H community.

“This event is about these young people out here and everything they and their families have put into raising these animals the right way,” Herman said. “My compliments and admiration go out to all of you because this has been really enjoyable for me. I saw two or three steer in every class that really stood out, and that says a lot for this county and everyone involved with the steer show.”

While he tabbed the grand and reserve champions, Herman said it was a tough decision among the top three, with Miley Snow’s steer placing third. He said all the top 10 were standout animals.

Rounding out the top 10 in order from fourth to 10th were the steers of Derek Miller, Alli Milner, Cole Russ, Lainey Schlabach, Jaime Milner, Brystin Giauque and Juliana Schlauch.

Steer committee member Phil Schlabach said the 4-Hers who invest in raising a steer for the fair tackle what is perhaps the toughest and most expensive animal to show. Schlabach said it is now up to the public to make sure their efforts pay off.

“It’s tough to make money for the kids who raise steer for the fair,” Schlabach said. “From the purchase of an animal to the feed, the veterinarian bills and their time focusing on just one animal make it impossible to earn money like a commercial steer farmer would make raising many animals.

“We really hope to get these animals up to around $3 per pound at auction,” Schlabach said. “All of these kids put in countless hours with their animals. It isn’t an easy thing to do. It’s a long, demanding project.”

Schlabach said if kids don’t bring that kind of money at auction, it can be a deterrent to inviting new youth to participate. He said that happened several years ago when they dropped to 16 beef market steer. That year prices brought more, and kids started to come back to showing steer.

Smith took his steer to the Ohio State Fair, where his steer was tabbed Div. III grand champion, placing him in the final drive. He eventually took home fifth, and he also took second in the steer showmanship. He also had a goat there and placed third in showmanship and fourth in his class and earned a third in his class with his turkey, the first time he has shown that animal.

“I had a pretty good time at the state fair,” Smith said.

That set the table for the Holmes County Fair, where his steer claimed a grand championship and he also earned the grand champion showmanship honor.

Smith said the caliber of animals at the state fair is more competitive. It is the best of the best in the state. He said showing there doesn’t take away from showing animals at his county fair.

“It’s always a lot of fun to come home and have success at the county fair,” Smith said.

This marks the third time Smith has grabbed a grand championship in the steer category. Smith also claimed the Supreme Showmanship title with his steer while adding the same title with his goat, which also earned a grand champion banner.

“It’s been a fun county fair so far,” Smith said. “It’s always great to come here and do well.”

Animals aren’t the only thing Smith invests in with his time. He also is a member of the West Holmes Knights football team, which adds to a very busy schedule.

Smith said his days begin at 4:30 a.m. when he rises early and tends to his animals. That time investment leads right up to 8:30 a.m. football practices. He then returns to his animals around 9 p.m., where he works and feeds them until around midnight.

“When I get home from football practice, I’m a little grouchy and have to take a nap,” Smith said.

Pacee Miller also is no stranger to adding top banners to her collection. She has earned one grand champion banner and added her second reserve grand champion honor with this effort.

“It never gets old,” Miller said of celebrating in the ring. “It takes a whole lot of hard work. I get up at 4:30 every morning, and I’m in the barn until 11:30 or 12 at night.”

Not only does she devote time to raising her steer, but also she raised a market goat and market hog this year. She earned a pair of top 10s with those animals, placing 10th overall with her hog and sixth overall with her goat.

She also put her showmanship skills on display, taking reserve champion seniors division, third overall in goat showmanship and fifth overall in the hog showmanship.

“It’s been a great fair so far, and even though the show is over, I really don’t settle down and take a breather until the sales are over,” Miller said.

A senior at West Holmes High School, Miller is now in her 11th year in 4-H, where she is a member of Holmes County Hoof-n-Hide. She is looking forward to one last hurrah next year, her final year to show.

Her reserve grand champion honor moved her into the steer carcass show, where the top-10 animals will be judged for their meat.

“That’s always a little tough because it’s easy to get attached to your animal, and I did with this one this year,” Miller said.


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