Farm Living Propels Champions At Otoe County Beef Show

SYRACUSE – Farm life is a winning ingredient at the 2019 4-H market beef show at the Otoe County Fair.

Show Judge Vaughn Sievers said there was plenty of eye-appeal, balance and femininity at the heifer show. This year champion was actually a cow and calf pair shown by 13-year-old Kadyn Sisco.

Her cow is named Lexi and the calf Lexus.

Sisco: “Well I showed the cow before this, four years ago, and I really enjoyed showing her. She was probably one of my favorite ones to show and she had a heifer this year, we decided to show them both.”

Sisco is involved in multiple sports and said it can be hard to find time to work with livestock along with games, tournaments and athletic practice.

Farm life and a good cow make a difference.

Sisco: “She sets up easy and does a lot of the things for you so you don’t have to do it.”

Her brother, the 10-year-old son of Krista Sisco and Jason Sisco, was the top junior showman out of a class of 26 competitors. A number high enough to remind fair goers of the iconic livestock shows of the 1980s and ‘90s.

Tristan said he knows a lot of the kids, but didn’t think about the record number of competitors.

Tristan: “I just try to calm down and think about winning.”

Griffin Goering, the 16-year-old son of Kris and Billy Goering, showed the supreme market steer, which is kept at the farm of his grandpa Duane Hopp.

He said growing up in a farm family is real advantage.

Goering: "You’re use to the cattle and the livestock around because you have some of your own. “

He said it was risky to choose the calf for the fair, because no one can remember a white-haired calf ever winning the market beef show.

He described the calf as powerful and easy to lead -- the right choice for a farm.