Grand champion steer sells for $3,800

Ross High School freshman will put money into college fund.

Staff photo by Richard O Jones Zach Minges and his mixed-breed steer King earned the grand champion steer trophy at this year's Butler County Fair.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer 12:42 AM Sunday, July 31, 2011

HAMILTON — King, a 1,377-pound cross between an angus and chianina, is a thoroughly modern cow.

“In the ‘50s, they liked really big steers,” said Zach Minges, the Ross High School freshman who raised him. “Today, they’re slimmed down, and you want an animal with a lot of nice meat — less fat, more muscle.”

So for his deep rear flank and a nice wide topline and loins — where the best meat resides — King was judged grand champion steer at this year’s Butler County Fair.

King is no stranger to accolades.

“We took him to some (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) shows and he won a lot of them and finished 12th overall statewide,” Minges said.

Beef Exhibitor Show Total, or BEST, is a youth program of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association that recognizes junior beef exhibitors through a series of sanctioned steer and heifer shows that include showmanship competitions.

“He’s a really good steer,” Minges said. “I’ve really worked with him a lot.”

Minges, who is a member of the Kickin’ Country Kids 4-H club, earned $3,800 at Saturday’s Junior Fair Livestock Sale. The money will go toward his college fund. Minges plans to attend the Ohio State University and study animal husbandry so he can continue the family business, which owns more than 2,200 acres in Ohio and Indiana, he said.

“I might become a veterinarian, too,” he said.

Although the sale barn was packed tight for Saturday’s sale, attendance has been down about 21 percent, according to Butler County Fair officials.

“Attendance has been down every day except Wednesday, which was Senior Day,” said treasurer Kent Taylor. “It’s only been because of the heat.”

For the first six days of the fair, through Friday, attendance was 67,657. Last year at the same time, 85,784 people had passed through the gates.

“It’s just a slow year. We don’t see any change in our clientele,” Taylor said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

2011 Sale of Champions

- Gallon of milk: Dairy Department, $2,200, purchased by Friends of Dairy and Myron Bowling

- Grand champion pen of meat rabbits: 12.6 pounds, Daniel Zimmerman, Original Wayne Small Paws 4-H club, $600, purchased by County Commissioner Don Dixon

- Reserve grand champion pen of meat rabbits: 14 pounds, Mac Gerhart, Milford Achievers 4-H club, $400, purchased by County Commissioner Don Dixon

- Grand champion pen of meat poultry: 24.7 pounds, Kate Stephenson, Wayne Town and Country 4-H club, $650, purchased by Sheriff Richard Jones

- Reserve grand champion pen of meat poultry: 24 pounds, Daniel Zimmerman, Original Wayne Small Paws 4-H club, $700, purchased by Grandpa Johnny

- Grand champion market goat: 87 pounds, Nicole Sefton, Butler County Blue Ribbon Kids 4-H club, $850, purchased by Donut Spot

- Reserve grand champion market goat: 78 pounds, Kelsey Huston, Milford Achievers 4-H club, $2,050, purchased by Atlantic Track

- Grand champion market lamb: 135 pounds, Andrew Bonham, Casual Kids 4-H club, $1,600, purchased by State Rep. Courtney Combs

- Reserve grand champion market lamb: 134 pounds, Daniel Zimmerman, Edgewood FFA/Original Wayne Small Paws 4-H club, $850, purchased by Morrical Realty

- Grand champion market hog: 280 pounds, Taylor Darner, Talawanda FFA/Butler County Beef 4-H club, $4,100, purchased by Baker Concrete

- Reserve grand champion market hog: 260 pounds, Karen Hiltbrand, Wayne Livestock Unlimited 4-H club, $4,300, purchased by Friends of Karen Hiltbrand

- Grand champion steer: 1,377 pounds, Zach Minges, Kickin’ Country Kids 4-H club, $3,800, purchased by Fagaly & Son

- Reserve grand champion steer: 1,273 pounds, David Barker, Butler County Country Club 4-H club, $4,500 purchased by Baker Concrete

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