Aug 6, 2013 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – A sun-drenched Greene County Fairgrounds didn’t deter fairgoers from packing the livestock barn Tuesday to watch a group of youngsters compete in the 2013 4-H Market Steer Show.

And when the judge made the final selection more than two hours after the show began, it was 10-year-old Benjamin Archer of West Finley and his 1,364-pound steer, Zorro, that took home the big prize – grand champion steer.

Archer, son of Robin and David Archer, will be a fifth-grade student this fall at Graysville Elementary School in the West Greene School District.

“This has been an elusive dream,” the youngster said, as well wishers surrounded Archer to offer congratulations.

This was his third year competing in the market steer show and because kids can be 4-H participants until they turn 18, Archer has quite a few years of showmanship ahead of him. He qualified his steer for grand champion consideration Tuesday by winning champion heavyweight just after he captured the middle heavyweight title.

“I am living the dream,” he said.

Showing the reserve grand champion was Kaitlyn Jones, who also won the reserve champion heavyweight with her 1,359-pound steer.

This year, 37 steer were entered in the show. Steer shown Tuesday, as well as market lambs that will be shown today, will be sold at auction at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the livestock barn. During the steer show, animals were divided into three weight divisions with a champion and a reserve champion selected in each division. From the winners in each division, the overall grand champion and reserve grand champion were chosen.

Showing the champion lightweight steer was Trent Wolen, who also won heavy lightweight. Showing the reserve champion lightweight was Julie Policz, who was first in the middle lightweight division. DJ Jones was first in the light lightweight division.

Second-place finishers in the lightweight division were Chad Douglas (light); Wyatt Whipkey (middle); and Jessica Self (heavy).

Showing the champion in the middleweight division was Holden Headlee, who won the heavy middleweight class. The reserve champion middleweight was shown by Avery Berdine. Austin Orndoff won first place in the middle middleweight division and Tony Staggers won in the light middleweight class.

Second-place finishers in the middleweight division were Gregory Staggers (light); Shelby Morris (middle); and Berdine (heavy).

Winning first place in the light heavyweight division was Rodney Parson, and Curtis Patton won the heavy heavyweight division.

Second-place winners in heavyweight were Tristan Cole (light); and Hannah Cole (heavy).

There is a lot to showing an animal to be judged. It isn’t just about the animal’s size, feel or look. 4-H members who raise these cattle spend countless hours grooming, training and generally caring for their animals.

Judging is based on factors such as the way an animal’s feet are placed, how it hold its heads, and even how it walks.