By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
Tuesday night’s Junior Fair Steer Show was a cattle farmer’s dream and a dream come true for 10-year-old Kendall Widman. In just her second year in 4-H, the Sulphur Springs Star Farmers member claimed the overall title of Grand Champion at the Steer Show.
When the judge took a look at all of the excellent animals on display in the arena, Kendall Widman was named Grand Champion Overall, and Jessica Millenbaugh was crowned Reserve Grand Champion Overall.
The 10-year-old Widman was over the moon, as she claimed such a title during what is only her second year with the Sulphur Springs Star Farmers. Widman, who will also be showing her pigs later in the week, was extremely excited about both the fair in general, as well as her victory in the arena.
“It feels really good but, at other times, it’s like…is this a dream?”
While Widman is still at the beginning of her journey in 4-H, Reserve Champion Jessica Millenbaugh stands at the close of a chapter with this year’s fair.
Millenbaugh, of the North Robinson Blue Ribbons, said that she spent hours in the barn to get her steer ready for the show, and that it is more than gratifying.
“It feels pretty good,” Millenbaugh states, “It’s actually kind of unexplainable to tell you the feelings…because after all that work…it paid off. And then, with it being my last year, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It means a lot, it does.”
When asked what she, as a seasoned veteran of 4-H and the Crawford County Fair, would tell the upcoming generation, Millenbaugh couldn’t rave enough about her experience.
“First, I would encourage them to join 4-H or FFA because those are the two best organizations that any youth could get involved in,” Millenbaugh said, “It teaches you responsibility, it teaches you respect, it teaches people to have good work ethics and really good sportsmanship and you meet new people along the way and you just don’t realize how much it impacts you until you really stop and think about it, so it’s definitely a life-changing thing and it’s for the better.”
The evening began with the Beef Feeder competition, in which Claire Ehmann was name Grand Champion, and Alex Rowlinson was named Reserve. In the Female Beef Feeder category, Jenna Siegel took both Grand and Reserve Champion. When the Carlot category rolled around, CJ Stirm and Jacob Faulkner were honored with Grand and Reserve Champion titles, respectively. In the last division, Born, Bred, and Raised, Aaron Walter walked away Grand Champion, and Allison Lust stood in reserve.