McKenna Little ended her livestock showing career at the Inter-State Fair in Coffeyville on top.
The seventeen year old won grand champion steer at the livestock show with her cross bred steer.
The steer, who weighed in at 1,340 lbs., was named Grant the Champ, after her cousin, who passed away last month. Little loves Grant the Champ. “He’s a little stubborn, but he’s a big old puppy dog,” she said. “I’ll let kids come up and hug him and play with him.” She used Grant to help teach youngsters how to show. “He’s a fantastic steer. I couldn’t ask for a better steer.”
Little, who lives near Wann, Okla., has shown at the Inter-State Fair for the past eleven years and won’t show next year, as she will have graduated from Oklahoma Union High School next May. She’ll miss it. “It’s really sad,” she said, of her last Inter-State Fair as a livestock exhibitor. But winning grand champion was good. “I’m really excited for how the year turned out. It’s been really great. I worked my butt off all summer and it turned out amazing for me.”
She has won grand champion steer two other times (2015-2016), so she knows a thing or two about winning, and she has some advice for future livestock exhibitors. “Be patient,” she said, “keep smiling, and keep showing even if you get last place.” She’s won third and fourth place, or lower, throughout her showing career, and she knows it’s hard to wear a smile when you’re not doing well, but it’s the thing to do. Last year, she won third place with her steer, “and yes, I was disappointed, but I still showed him like he was the grand champion.”
Little has learned lots from showing livestock, she said. “It’s taught me a lot of things, like responsibility. These cattle teach me so much. They teach you to be patient and kind. (Showing) taught me good sportsmanship, and not to be a sore loser.”
Little has received a livestock judging scholarship to attend Coffeyville Community College and after graduation in 2019, will work towards her associate’s in nursing there. Then she plans on earning her bachelor of science in nursing and master of science in nursing degrees. Helping others has always been important to her. “I love to help people,” she said.
Little also won champion Maine Anjou.
Reserve grand champion was Lane Enyart, Vinita, Okla.
Today’s market steer show was sponsored by Rockin’ D Ranch and Deer Creek Farms. The heifer show was sponsored by Coffeyville Livestock Market and Ranch Supply. Sponsor of the junior heifer show was Community State Bank, and the bucket calf show was sponsored by Clint Perkins Showmanship. Keeton Farms was sponsor of the showmanship contest.
The judge of the shows was Dr. Blake Bloomberg, Stillwater, Okla.
Market Steer Results
Grand Champion: McKenna Little, Wann, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: Lane Enyart, Vinita, Okla.
Bucket Calf
Grand Champion: Conner Hanigan, Altamont, Kan.
Reserve Grand Champion: Dayln Fesmire, Bartlett, Kan.
Angus
Grand Champion: Sara Hency, Bluejacket, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: Amber Ross, Bartlett, Kan.
Chi
Grand Champion: Pistol Tatum, Wann, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: Bryan Kile, Nowata, Okla.
Charolais
Grand Champion: Clint Harrington, Nowata, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: Keaton Gilman, Miami, Okla.
Hereford
Grand Champion: Addison Dick, Nowata, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: Sara Hency, Bluejacket, Okla.
Maine Anjou
Grand Champion: McKenna Little, Wann, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: Ryan Beeson, Parsons, Kan.
Shorthorn
Grand Champion: Travis Dick, Nowata, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: McKinzie McAffrey, Welch, Okla.
Simmental
Grand Champion: Justin Herlan, Bluejacket, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: Kade Burgess, Miami, Okla.
All other breeds
Grand Champion: Darla Fesmire, Bartlett, Kan.
Reserve Grand Champion: Nathan Dean, Lenapah, Okla.
Cross
Grand Champion: McKenna Little, Welch, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion: Lane Enyart, Vinita, Okla.
Breeding Stock Results
Supreme Female: Paige Atkinson, Nowata, Okla.
Reserve Supreme Female: Gavin Grigsby, Welch, Okla.
Supreme Bull: Larahmy Blakeley, Oologah, Okla.
Reserve Supreme Bull: Lane Enyart, Vinita, Okla.
Angus
Champion Female: Brody Grigsby, Welch, Okla.
Reserve Champion Female: Houston Greenfeather, Bluejacket,Okla.
Champion Bull: Brody Grigsby, Welch, Okla.
Charolais
Champion Female: Trycen King, Bluejacket, Okla.
Reserve Champion Female: Darla Fesmire, Bartlett, Kan.
Champion Bull: Milliman Cattle, Nowata, Okla.
Reserve Champion Bull: Milliman Cattle, Nowata, Okla.
Chi
Champion Female: Paige Atkinson, Nowata, Okla.
Reserve Champion Female: Darla Fesmire, Bartlett, Kan.
Gelbvieh
Champion Female: Kyle Chapman, Bluejacket, Okla.
Reserve Champion Female: Kody Wall, Bluejacket, Okla.
Champion Bull: Lane Enyart, Vinita, Okla.
Hereford
Champion Female: Dalton Flatt, Liberty, Kan.
Reserve Champion Female: Clint Harrington, Nowata, Oka.
Champion Bull: Ron & Linda Scott, Lamar, Mo.
Reserve Champion Bull: Ron Scott, Lamar, Mo.
Limousin
Champion Female: Maddie Small, Neodesha, Kan.
Reserve Champion Female: Ani Rexwinkle, Coffeyville, Kan.
Champion Bull: Ani Rexwinkle, Coffeyville, Kan.
Maine-Anjou
Champion Female: Makenna Kuehn, Coffeyville, Kan.
Reserve Champion Female: Larahmy Blakeley, Oologah, Okla.
Champion Bull: Larahmy Blakley, Oologah, Okla.
Reserve Champion Bull: Justin Herlan, Bluejacket, Okla.
Red Angus
Champion Female: Kailey Hall, Miami, Okla.
Shorthorn
Champion Female: Will Adcock, Bartlesville, Okla.
Reserve Champion Female: Olivia Gillette, Vinita, Okla.
Champion Bull: Cash Vail, Chelsea, Okla.
Simmental
Champion Female: Brody Grigsby, Welch, Okla.
Reserve Champion Female: Cheyenne Higbie, Princeton, Kan.
All other breeds
Champion Female: Mindy Stewart, Delaware, Okla.
Reserve Champion Female: Mindy Stewart, Delaware, Okla.
Champion Bull: Cash Vail, Mindy Stewart, Delaware, Okla.
Reserve Champion Bull: Mindy Stewart, Delaware, Okla.
Commercial
Champion Female: Gavin Grigsby, Welch, Okla.
Reserve Champion Female: AbbyEmberson, Blanchard, Okla.
