Caitlin Cottrill had an extremely productive morning Tuesday at the Fayette County Junior Fair.
The young lady, who will be in the eighth grade at Miami Trace this upcoming school year, won the title of Grand Champion Market Steer with her animal, “Bo.”
A lot of work and preparation goes into raising the animal, leading up the fair, Cottrill said.
“It’s a lot of early mornings,” Cottrill said. “Hard work; rinsing every morning and blowing out.”
Cottrill, a member of the Buckeye Land and Livestock 4-H club, is the daughter of Chris and Jill Cottrill. Caitlin has a brother, Cade, and a sister, Casey.
Victoria Waits found success Tuesday morning, coming away with the Reserve Grand Champion Beef Market steer at the Fayette County Junior Fair.
“This is the second year in a row that I have won Reserve Grand Champion,” Waits said. “It’s just really special. It’s something that proves I’m doing a good job raising my steers.
“Having this this year just means a lot to me,” Waits said. “Because everything has been so messed up with COVID and I’ve lost quite a few things due to that.”
Waits is a member of the Miami Trace High School graduating class of 2020. The 2019-20 school year came to a premature end due to the pandemic, depriving the senior students, especially, of a normal ending to their final year of high school.
“Just having the fair and winning this award means so much to me,” Waits said. “Having my family here with me, my mom and my dad and my brother, it just means a lot. It’s just the little cherry on top this year because COVID messed everything else up.”
Waits is the daughter of Daryl and Kristina Waits and her brother is Quinton Waits.
A bit later Tuesday morning, Waits won Overall Market Beef Showman.
“That will go against our overall Beef Feeder Showman and our overall Beef Breeding Showman for our overall Beef Showman who goes to the Showman of Showmen and competes Friday afternoon (at 5:30 p.m.),” Waits explained.
“I am planning on going to Oklahoma State University (home of the Cowboys, located in Stillwater) to study animal science and pre-veterinary medicine,” Waits said. “I will be leaving on Aug. 9 and moving in on Aug. 10.
“I’m really excited to go down there,” Waits said. “I’ll have a whole bunch of opportunities. I’ll be back here next year. I may not be showing, but I will definitely be back to see everyone and I’ll be taking a clothing project.”
