When the 16 entries of beef cattle arrived at the Chelsea Community Fair grounds on Monday night, one walked calmly into his new home for the next five days.
Diesel, sporting a shiny leather halter, and owned by Mackenzie Schneider, 14, arrived at the cattle barn looking like he owned the place. In fact, several people asked Mackenzie, a first-time showman from Sylvan Township, if she walked the steer from her home to the barn.
During a previous work day at the fair, Mackenzie said that the steer “was like a pet” and that the two had made a special connection as she fed, watered and worked with the animal.
When asked why she chose to show a steer at fair she said her dad, Rodney Schneider, had shown one at fair when he was her age. In fact, her father had the grand champion steer in 1973.
Mackenzie isn’t the only one in the Schneider family showing at fair this year, Natalie, 12, will make her fair debut with Rufus, a pig. The two girls not only take care of their animals, they also help grind the special feed the animals eat.
Natalie says that showing a pig will be a good learning experience for her. “It teaches you responsibility because (caring for the animals) is something that you do each day.”
This will be the first fair for both young ladies, and they are looking forward to the experience.
The beef judging is at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Natalie will show her pig tonight, Aug. 19, beginning at 6 p.m.
“We’ll root for each other,” the girls said.
Also, both animals will be sold at the livestock auction, which takes place on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. Please support all the livestock showman by bidding on their animals. Get together with some friends and split the cost.
By purchasing an animal, you are helping these youth who worked very hard to get their animals ready to show at the fair.
Please enjoy the slide show below of the steer arriving at the fairgrounds Monday night.
