A steer named Vince has earned its owner $15,000 in a single payday.
Led out by Katie Serhienko of Maymont, Sask., the crossbred was named grand champion July 12 at the Calgary Stampede’s Junior Steer Classic.
“This was my biggest win ever and it was exciting,” said Serhienko, eying the $15,000 gigantic cheque propped up against Vince’s stall after the show.
The 37-year-old show switched this year from an open event to a junior competition, where major scholarships and cash prizes are available. The top prize consists of a $10,000 scholarship and $5,000 in cash.
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The money could come in handy for the 18-year-old exhibitor, who is enrolled in Lakeland College at Vermilion, Alta., where she plans to study agribusiness this fall.
Under the guidance of her father, Charolais breeder Dennis Serhienko, she learned the finer points of displaying cattle to their greatest advantage, starting when she was nine.
She has been an active 4-H member, and this year Vince was the Saskatoon regional champion as well as a winner at other jackpots and shows.
The steer was later sold in a special auction, where it fetched $24,000 from a Calgary based syndicate. The proceeds go to the Calgary Stampede Foundation.
The show attracted exhibitors from Western Canada and the United States. Shilo Schaake of Westmoreland, Kansas, owned the reserve champion steer and earned a $6,000 scholarship and $3,000 in cash.
The show was split into weight classes, and at the end judge Justin Morrison pulled the top six steers from the 10 championship classes. Those placing third to sixth each received a $1,000 scholarship and $1,000 in cash.
