By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
It was a remarkably cool night for the Steer Show, which is a downright abnormal occurrence at the Crawford County Fair. What was not unusual was Jessica Millenbaugh taking home the title of Grand Champion Overall for the Market Steer Show.
Millenbaugh, who just graduated from Colonel Crawford High School this spring was competing in her 10th Crawford County Fair.
Millenbaugh, who also shows hogs and lambs, counted this as her 6th title in either the Grand or Reserve Champion categories. Millenbaugh is showing hogs again this year, but not lambs, and this Grand Champion win will mean that her fair week extends until Friday, when she can participate in the Sale of Champions.
When asked what she will miss the most, she said, “Actually being in the ring.”
She elaborated that while she prefers working with the animals to showing them, she will be able to maintain that relationship by helping her younger sister in the coming years. But it is obvious she will lose her ability to show the animals in this capacity.
“It gives you a thrill going in there,” Millenbaugh said.
This win gave Millenbaugh a chance to reflect, and she credited work ethic with contributing greatly to her success.
“When things get hard don’t give up, because hard works always pays off.”
Here were the rest of the day’s winners:
Grand Champion Overall: Jessica Millenbaugh
Reserve Adam Widman
Grand Champion Beef Feeder: Lori Millenbaugh
Reserve: Lane Sautter
Grand Champion Female: Lane Sautter
Reserve Reegan Leonhardt
Grand Champion Carlot Steer: Jordan Dailey
Reserve: Levi Hartschuh
Grand Champion Born, Bred, and Raised: Allison Lust
Reserve: Mason Stahl