Jacob Lawrence wins Grand Champion Steer

[August 09, 2021]  It seems remiss to talk about the Logan County Fair and not talk about the weather. Weather in Logan County during fair week, the end of July/first of August has been many things, but primarily either wet or hot, and periodically stormy.

This week has been neither, which is kind of amazing, but also reminiscent of the last Logan County Fair in 2019; extraordinary weather. Throughout the week mornings started cool and mostly sunny. Temperatures warmed during the day and the evenings were pleasant.

For the 4-H members showing their animals the milder weather is a gift because heat can be dangerous and storms affect their animals.

Even so, we saw some spunky cattle on Thursday morning. Perhaps it was that bright sunlight at the east end door that urged the steers to want to run and get out of the show ring as quickly as possible. None of the animals, save one, got fully out of control, but several of them were bucking around like spring colts instead of steers.

Phillip Osborn’s steer got the attention of all the helpers in the barn when with a sudden jerk he was freed from his leader and decided to make a run for it. Fortunately, he was on the west end of the barn at the time and wanted to go east. He had to get past four floor hands in the show barn to find freedom, and alas, he did not make it. He was snagged and brought back in line. His shower went on to take the steer to the Reserve Grand Champion spot in the competition, as well as the Grand Champion English.

The judge at the cattle show was Carly Riley from the Cisco area. Riley is involved in the beef industry, raising cattle. She is also a second generation cattle judge. She has done judging in a large number of locations and her father is known across the country as a premiere beef judge and has judged at prestigious shows such as the annual beef show in Louisville, Kentucky.

Riley works quickly, just as the swine judge did on Wednesday. Again, she has a sharp eye, plenty of experience and she doesn’t waste time pondering. She knows what she likes and she knows what will be expected if an animal is to move on to the state fair and have a good showing.

All the classes this year were low on numbers. In the Angus breed the Finchum girls, Paige and Kennadie cleaned house with the only two entries in the breed. Kennadie entered in the Light Weight Black Angus and Paige in the Medium Weight class.

Porter Schwantz took it all in the Simmental breed, showing two steers in two weight classes to make up the entire show. Judge Riley noted that Schwantz was going to leave happy no matter what she said, but the fact was the animals were top notch and could have stood up against some competition no problem.

Jacob Lawrence was pulling double duty, in the final breed class at the steer show and also competing across the gravel road at the sheep barn at about the same timing.

Lawrence led his steer into the arena at the very end of the show with his OAB Heavy Weight, the last class and weight of the show. He did his job and so did his animal and when the dust settled, he was the winner of the Grand Champion Steer.

Lawrence took his steer to the green curtain for a picture with the judge and Miss Logan County Fair Caroline Ahrends.

Logan County also has a championship competition for all British breeds, something not all counties offer. The grand Champion British went to Osborn’s feisty runaway and Reserve Champion British went to Paige Finchum.

[Nila Smith]