Megan McLeod could be a role model for other young women interested in the livestock business after years of achievements as a young cattle person.

It has been a good run for the 18-year-old, who just finished high school in Cochrane, Alta.

She recently won the $10,000 UFA Steer Classic show at the Calgary Stampede, an award her brother earned five years ago.

“This is a graduation present for me,” she said.

“I really wanted to go in the open show after my brother won five years ago. You always want to try and be at least equal with your siblings at competitions.”

The steer was from a Charolais cow and sired by a bull named Monopoly from the United States. Monopoly, which is known for siring winning steers throughout North America, is a composite of Angus, Chianina and Maine Anjou.

The silver steer was her 4-H project, but some of her other wins came from her females.

McLeod won grand champion female at 4-H on Parade in early June and was entered at Summer Synergy, the youth livestock section of the Calgary Stampede, where she had a senior champion female and won a scholarship.

The money is appreciated because she is enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan’s business faculty, where she wants to pursue a career in marketing or public relations.

She has spent her life around cattle, working with her parents, Rod and April McLeod, as they show purebred Charolais across the country.

She credits that experience as well as her years in 4-H with building the confidence she needs to sell and meet the public.

A vivacious young woman with wild blond curls and a big smile, McLeod was also invited by the Stampede to be a part of a promotional video talking about agriculture and animal welfare.

Cattle will remain a part of her life.

“I am going to come home as much as I can to keep doing this because I love it,” she said.

“It is my life.”

Another 18-year-old also succeeded at the steer show. Cody Lafrentz of Bienfait, Sask., had reserve champion with a Hereford influenced steer. He won $5,000 and owns the steer with two partners.