Montana
Handlers put best steer forward in high-stakes competition at Northwest Montana Fair
The grassy lawn outside the Flathead Fairgrounds’ Trade Center occasionally turns into a steer spa.
Competitors gathered Wednesday morning hours before they were set to walk their calf before a judge to wash, blow-dry and apply adhesive to the animal’s hair, making them look their best. It’s called fitting the calf, Brady Boll said.
The process of raising and showing an animal is integral to the Northwest West Montana Fair, where hundreds of young people — often through 4-H or FFA — gather after months of hard work in hopes of winning a blue ribbon.
“It’s not just a big part of the fair though,” said 18-year-old Boll. “It’s a big part of my life.”
Boll, a graduate of Flathead High School, has been showing steers for the past eight years. This year, her steer, Stetson — with a filled-out belly and a black coat — won grand champion.
Showing an animal at the fair teaches a kid, early on, how to take constructive criticism and apply it to their lives, she said. Boll looks forward to taking those lessons and applying them to her work at a private trade school in the future.
“Any kid that goes through 4-H or FFA makes the world a better place,” she said.
Boll stood outside of the Trade Center early Wednesday morning, washing Stetson and preparing to show him in front of Sierra Meyers, the judge of the beef show, who is also judging other events this year.
There are two main aspects for judges to look for when it comes to steers, Meyers said. The first of those is showmanship, or a judgement based on the individual showing the animal themselves. Things like maintaining eye contact and intentionally setting the animal up well are good things.
The second is how marketable the steer is. Muscle equates to meat, Meyers said, so the more muscle the better.
One of the coolest aspects of the fair’s showmanship events is the advocation for agriculture, according to Kaitlyn Bennett, the beef and dairy superintendent of the fair. It is sentimental knowing that the kids today are the upcoming generation of agriculture, she said.
Ryder Clouse, a 15-year-old student at Flathead High School, was also preparing his steer outside of the Trade Center. This year is Clouse’s third year showing steers; he previously would bring pigs to show at the fair. Every year, however, he was drawn to bovines, and now gets opportunities to raise them.
“It’s been an adventure,” Clouse said.
Genetics also play a big role in the success of showing, said Carly Tranel with her steer Alan.
“My favorite thing about him is his conformation and his genetics,” Tranel, 17, said on Wednesday. Conformation is the desirable muscular and skeletal structure of an animal.
Tranel, who is part of Glacier Stars 4-H, started showing animals when she was 8 years old and has shown steers for six years, the inspiration coming from her family and their own history of raising animals on their land.
Last year, Tranel won the grand champion steer title.
While it is a lot of hard work, Tranel said, the competition aspect is a lot of fun. She hopes to bring a calf that she breeds herself to the fair next year.
“It’s great to watch them have success,” said Jannell Plummer of Glacier Stars 4-H. Born and raised in the valley, Plummer has three children of her own — all three are showing a steer this year.
Six classes entered the show ring. Competitors walked their calves around, making sure their chins were pointed up, adjusting their feet to stand square. The event is a series of walking, stopping and setting up.
Come Saturday, buyers come in and bid on the animals while the competitors bid them farewell. In 2023, the Flathead Livestock Market Sale Auction surpassed $1.2 million in sales.
“Stress is high, the animal is big, but sometimes, the payoff is amazing,” said Plummer.
Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider
Casey Kreider