If she knows her secret, Rebecca Moon isn't quick to share it, nor does seem particularly interested in bragging when she's asked about repeating as the raiser of the grand champion steer in the Bonnyville District 4H Show and Sale.
The Ardmore 4H Beef member says she's not sure exactly what she's been doing right in the past two years to raise two grand champions.
Maybe it's experience. Moon has eight years of 4H membership behind her. She also raised this year's reserve grand champion heifer.
Her 2009-2010 steer, Dante, certainly impressed conformation judge Carl Ramsay. It also caught the eye of the buyer for Tri-City Contracting, which bought the barbecue-able beast for $2.60 a pound — a cool $2844.40 for the 1,094-pound Dante.
It's also the second consecutive year for the Cold Lake-based contractor to buy the district grand champion.
Max Oilfield Service paid $2.75 a pound for Walker Balan's 1,178-pound reserve district grand champion. The young Bonnyville Beef member was in the money for over $3,200.
This year's event, held at Western Pride Auction as it usually is, drew more than 50 4-H members from the Bonnyville, Beaver and Ardmore clubs.
Things went fairly smoothly, said Shannon Hassan, one of the leaders for the Ardmore Club, which took its turn to host the event.
The morning posed the biggest challenge, with cattle being delivered to the event while things were still soggy from the weekend rain and snow.
But the sun came out eventually, making things a little easier when it came time to pack up.
The average price for steers sold at the 7 p.m. auction was around $1.60 per pound, down somewhat from 2009, Hassan said.
Aside from selling their pet projects, local 4H members also had the opportunity to compete in showmanship, grooming and judging.
Following are show results.
Grand champion steer: Rebecca Moon
Reserve champion steer: Walker Balan
Grand champion heifer: Katelynne Ringuette
Reserve grand heifer: Rebecca Moon
Grand champion cow-calf: Cassandra Michalyk
Reserve champion cow-calf: Tamara Michalyk
Senior showmanship: 1. Amy Demers, 2. Jayelle Demers
Intermediate showmanship: 1. Brandi Turner, 2. Kaitlyn Davediuk
Junior showmanship: Brooke Ringuette, 2. Mandy Davediuk
Senior grooming: 1. Matthew Church, 2. Tyler Davis
Intermediate grooming: 1. Shayla Dargis, 2. Jordan Chrobot
Junior grooming: 1. Kali Blize, Madisen Blize
Senior judging: 1. Amy Demers, 2. Jayelle Demers
Intermediate judging: 1. Shayla Dargis, Katelynne Ringuette
Junior judging: 1. Jonas Church, Renee Antoniuk
Highest rate of gain: Stephanie Tellier (3.85 pounds per day)
Pen of five: Bonnyville Beef Club
Club display: Ardmore Beef Club