Grand champion is one of a kind

Owner Grace Hogan says her cow Oregano ‘thinks she’s special.’

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By Rick McCrabb, Staff Writer Updated 11:53 AM Tuesday, July 26, 2011

HAMILTON — When Grace Hogan returns this fall to Bowling Green State University, she may have the youngest — and heaviest — roommate in the school’s history.

Instead of a “protective dog,” Hogan, a 19-year-old junior at BGSU, said she’d like to take Oregano, her 1,000-pound cow, back to school because of how the cow makes her feel safe.

Indeed, safe and now celebrated.

On Monday, the second day of the Butler County Fair, Oregano was awarded the overall Grand Champion in the Brown Swish division by the judge.

It was a surprising victory considering this was Hogan’s first competition in the dairy division. She gave all the credit to Oregano, who she called “spoiled” and “a princess.”

Instead of a blue ribbon, she said, Oregano would have preferred a tiara. “That’s her personality,” Hogan said holding the ribbon near Oregano’s mouth. “She thinks she’s special.”

Hogan, a 2009 Fairfield High School graduate, spent 11 years in the Liberty Twp. 4-H program. When she tells her BGSU classmates about her agriculture background, they typically ask, probably through a text: “How and why do you show a cow?”

“It’s something I love,” she explained.

For the Hogans, being around animals is a family affair. Grace’s younger brother, Bernie, 16, is active in 4-H and her mother, Karen, said some of the “best family time” occurs in the barn when everyone is working with the cows.

The 4-H program, Karen Hogan said, has taught her children the value of responsibility and the circle of life. As she said: “They know meat doesn’t come from a grocery store.”

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Are you a 1st place winner?

Each day through Friday, we will be taking photographs of fair participants who win first place in events. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., our staff will be on hand outside the Farm Zone building to take photos of winning fair participants. If you have taken first place in an event, please stop by.

Tuesday at the Butler County Fair

8 a.m.: Jr. Fair Swine Show

9 a.m.: Jr. Fair Horse Show

9 a.m.: Jr. Nutrition Judging and Skillathon

9 a.m.: Judging Open Class Sheep

10 a.m.: to 7 p.m. Beef Breeding

10 a.m.: Honey Judging

10:30 a.m.: Pie Judging

10:30 a.m.: Arts and Craft Judging

1 and 6 p.m.: Mad Cap Puppet Show

1 p.m.: Tractor Pull - Antique

5:30 p.m.: Jr. Fair Dog Judging