Where’s the beef?<!—->.

Friday, July 14, 2000

Where’s the beef?

For the last two years, it’s been in the hands of Travis Wilson.

Wilson, a Symmes Valley FFA member, took his second Grand Champion Steer trophy Thursday at the Lawrence County Fair.

Nathan Lambert, a Rock Hill High School graduate and member of the Kitts Hill Willing Workers, took the Reserve Grand Champion trophy.

"I just enjoy doing it," Wilson said. "And showing them is pretty fun but a little nervewracking."

At first, his steer didn’t want to cooperate for the judge – in other words, stand correctly to show the quality of meat.

But he did well anyway, because the judge walked over to Wilson and shook his hand to announce to the crowd who would take home the championship class trophy.

Wilson reacted quietly to the win, smiling and posing for pictures afterward.

"I like it," he said. "This is my fourth year."

The 1,221-pound steer was raised on the Wilson family farm near Wilgus. And the young Wilson offered no real farmer’s secret for raising the best two years in a row.

"You just have to work with them," he said. "You wash them every day to keep them clean and I walked him a good bit so I could handle him."

Wilson said he would like to stay on the family farm when he graduates.

The way farming is going, he’s not sure if he can, he said.

Lambert, also a family farmer, said it felt great to win reserve.

"It took a lot of hard work," he said. "This is the best I’ve ever done."

Lambert has shown steers for the last 10 years, earning third as his highest place until Thursday.

"I had a good calf but there was a lot of good competition, too," he said.

This is Lambert’s last year in 4-H, and last year showing.

But, just as he has for many years, the soon-to-be Kentucky Technical College electricity student will still help out on the farm.

"It’s what I enjoy," he added.