A medical issue experienced by a Riverside Hustlers 4-H Club member in the Logan County Fair show arena Sunday evening did not stop him forging onward to capture the Born and Raised in Logan County Market Steer grand champion award at the competition.
Ten-year-old Layton Schlumbohm won the contest with his steer, “Rocko,” and was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd after he recovered from a seizure while leading his 1,427-pound steer in the ring earlier in the evening.
“I’m really happy it worked out,” the Riverside fifth-grader said, who has been showing animals at the fair for two years, and also will be showing pigs and lambs this week.
His father, Micah Schlumbohm, said his son experiences seizures at times when he is excited, and the family was proud of him for persevering and leading the steer, with a little help from his older sister, Annabelle, in the final champion drive.
Annabelle was the Born and Raised Market Steer grand champion winner in 2021, and she previously received the honor in 2019 as well.
Layton’s winning steer was purchased from his grandfather, Steve Schlumbohm, who also showed steers at the Logan County Fair when he was a youngster in 4-H.
“It is a very enjoyable family tradition, now continuing for four generations,” Steve said Sunday evening.
Layton also is a son of Shawnna Wilson.
The reserve grand champion award went to veteran exhibitor Jaidyn Jackson, who will be a sophomore at Riverside High School in the fall.
She also purchased her steer, 1,376-pound “Zeke,” from her grandfather, at Windy Ridge Farms in DeGraff.
The 15-year-old said Zeke won the reserve grand champion beef feeder award at last year’s fair. She was elated that her steer performed so well Sunday night.
“I show goats, too, and I love these high-intensity situations and thrive under pressure,” she said. “I love competing at winter shows as well and meeting new friends.”
Her routine with Zeke included washing him and getting him out about every day “to run, even though he is so big.”
Also receiving top honors in the contest were: Holden Downing, third overall; Emily Musser, fourth overall; Katrina Craig, fifth overall; Cody Craig, sixth overall; Rachel Knight, seventh overall; Cole Somerlot, eighth overall.
CLASS RESULTS
First Class: 1.Katrina Craig; 2. Cole Somerlot; 3. Evan Patton; 4. Tucker Downing
Second Class: 1. Holden Downing; 2. Cody Craig; 3. Rachel Knight; 4. Tucker Downing; 5. Kaitlyn Schlumbohm
Third Class: 1. Jaidyn Jackson; 2. Emily Musser; 3. AJ Bergman; 4. Jackson Young
Fourth Class: 1. Layton Schlumbohm; 2. Jayden Hoffer; 3. Beau Young
Fifth Class: 1. Damen Young; 2. Jackson Young; 3. Beau Young
Layton Schlumbohm
Grand Champion Born and Raised Market Steer
Jaidyn Jackson
Reserve Grand Champion Born and Raised Market Steer