Veterans get the job done in dairy

When picking out a dairy steer, Morningstar said one should look for an animal with a good frame.

Morningstar said his meeting with his champion steer, Matt, was “meant to be.”

“We went to a farm and he was standing at the gate. We thought right then and there that’s the one we’re taking home,” Morningstar shared. “We wanted him as soon as we saw him.”

After getting Matt, Morningstar worked on building the steer up. When the fair drew near, he started washing the steer every day to get the coat ready for the show.

Matt did not disappoint and distinguished himself among a set of steers that the judge described as exceptional and a “real competition.” The judge noted that Matt had a “tremendous set up” with a straight top line and was very complete.

The Reserve Champion, Wilson’s steer Bandit, was in close competition with the steer that eventually took third place as the judge lined the two animals up next to each other to compare them closely.

Bandit came out on top and placed Reserve Champion for Wilson in his 11th and final year at the fair.

Wilson said his favorite thing about the market show is the competition.

Bandit was a “BBR” steer — bred, born and raised under Wilson since last June. The steer was kept fed, hydrated and washed, as Wilson said one of the most important things in raising a good steer is to make sure that they don’t run out of feed.

Coming in third was 17-year-old Brianna Small, a member of Boots and Banners, with her one-year-old steer, Keenan.

Small took the time to congratulate Morningstar for his grand championship.

“He’s one of my really good friends, so I’m really proud of him,” Small said.

Small explained that a good dairy steer should be short and stocky with wide front shoulders, big butt and a smooth top line (back).

Small purchased Keenan in November. Starting a diet with additive feed grains about a month before the show “finish (the cattle) up and make them look good,” she said.

This was Small’s ninth year in the show. Usually, she raised her animals from calves. Small said she got into dairy cattle because her father owned a beef farm and cows have always been their favorite animals.

Also finding inspiration in family is 17-year-old Sydney Wilson of Creative Critters 4-H club.

Sydney Wilson said she got into the shows because her brother was in the show and she felt like she could do it as well.

Her dairy feeder, Pepsi, placed first in his weight class and fifth overall.

Pepsi is about five months old, purchased for the show.

Sydney Wilson said she started walking Pepsi two or three months before the show to get the animal used to all the equipment used in the show.

“Show stick is a major thing. Sometimes they don’t like it, so you work a lot with that,” she noted.

The exhibitor determines the type of feed to use depending on how they want the animal to look. Sydney Wilson said she fed Pepsi mainly sweet feed, so Pepsi will eat more.

Sydney Wilson explained that what the judge looks for in a feeder includes muscle tone, nice strong legs, and a good-sized head that goes with the body of the calf. She also noted the importance of the calf’s back is straight, flat, and not too narrow at the top.

“I like getting competitive,” said Sydney Wilson. “For showmanship I want to do my best, try to work hard and do what you can. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. It’s just part of what you do.”

This year’s market dairy judge was John Albert from Kenton. Albert is an Ohio State University graduate and a member of the 1981 OSU Livestock Judging Team.

Albert currently works for United Producer of Bucyrus and has been involved in cattle marketing for the last 30 years.