Top hog and steer of 2001 Lawrence County Fair selected
Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 14, 2001
ROME TOWNSHIP – With a shake of the judge’s hand Thursday afternoon, Michael Williams won the county fair’s market hog show for the second year in a row.
Saturday, July 14, 2001
ROME TOWNSHIP – With a shake of the judge’s hand Thursday afternoon, Michael Williams won the county fair’s market hog show for the second year in a row.
"It’s just hard work; and working them every day," said Williams, all smiles as he posed for pictures with his grand champion trophy and hog.
Williams is in Starlite 4-H club.
The reserve champion went to Christopher Reynolds of the Gingham and Denim 4-H club.
Later in the day, at the fair’s popular steer show, 30 young adults in 4-H and FFA vyed for the coveted grand champion title.
A pair of brothers claimed the top two honors in that show. Ramsey Wilson, 17 walked away with the grand champion title while his 18-year-old brother Travis Wilson won reserve champion.
Both are members of the Symmes Valley FFA program.
Travis claimed the grand champion trophy in both 1999 and 2000 while this was Ramsey’s first time to hold the honor.
"It just feels good to win," Ramsey said after the steer show.
This year’s hogs were an excellent bunch, said judge John Black of Franklin County. It was the second year for Black, who holds a degree from Ohio State, to judge the show.
In each of 14 classes of hogs, there were excellent market animals showing the long-bodied and well-muscled attributes needed, Black said.
The champion hog and steer – as well as each reserve champion – will net the biggest payoff at this weekend’s market auctions.
The 4-H and FFA members who raise the animals for market depend on local buyers contributing during the auction. The money raised supports the student’s livestock programs and benefits many college funds.
There are two market auctions this year:
– Tonight’s auction will be for chickens, rabbits and tobacco; it will start at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds sale barn.
– The second one takes place Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.; it will be for steers, lambs and hogs.
Tribune staff photographer Howie McCormick contributed to this article.