LIMA, OHIO -
For members of the junior fair, the hard work put into raising their animals, finally pays off at auction. For the winner of the grand champion beef steer and the reserve grand champion steer, the payoff is a combined $23,500.
The money goes to Caden Jones who took the top two spots in his very first year showing at the Allen County Fair.
So what will Jones do with all that cash?
"Get another steer I guess," said Jones.
The nine year old has enough money to buy a car or make a down payment on a home, but his splurge is simple.
"I'm going to take $99 of it out and play rides and games."
Emily Allen earned $5,000 for her grand champion born and raised steer.
"Regular grand champion is overall-- meaning the steer can come from anywhere, but for the born and raised the steer must be born and raised in Allen County," said Allen.
So how does a competitor become a winner? First, a promising calf must be found.
"Me and my dad and my sister looked at it," said Allen of finding her winner. Her dad liked the calf, the girls didn't. However, they trusted his experience, and instinct paid off.
However, that's just the beginning.
"You can't always buy a winner. No matter how much you put into it," said Tom Miller, longtime 4-H advisor.
Raising champion steer takes dedication.
"You got to groom them every single day. You got to wash them, and then you got to feed them," said Jones.
For Allen, the win means she will have a strong finish to her junior fair career. However, Jones has several more years to show-- but he has some competition.
"There's other children in that family. We'll see some of them down the road," said Miller.
That doesn't deter a champion. Jones plans on winning next year as well.
