If people ask Martin Koyle what he did on his summer holidays, he can tell them he went to the Calgary Stampede and won $11,000.
Leading the grand champion to the winner’s circle at Canada’s richest steer show made the 50 hour trip from Maidstone, Ont., worth the trouble.
Owned with business partner John Nostadt, who farms near Maidstone, the three-way cross steer from the open class weighed in at more than 1,300 pounds. It was imported from the United States as a young calf.
Nostadt owns about 100 cows, and Koyle is a mechanical engineer who enjoys showing cattle.
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“This is my holiday,” said Koyle.
The steer earned the partners $10,000 and another $1,000 for winning the open class.
The grand champion steer was bought by the Penny Lane Entertainment Group and is generally served up at a gala dinner in a fall fundraiser.
Nostadt last won this competition in 2002 with a Limousin steer.
Held July 14, this was the largest show the Stampede has presented with more than 120 entries representing 10 breeds from Ontario to British Columbia.
It also started a junior class last year to encourage more youth involvement.
This year’s winners were Chase Miller of Cremona, Alta., who received a $3,000 scholarship and $2,000 cash, while the owner of the reserve champion, Kathryn Dolliver of Stettler, Alta., earned a scholarship of $2,000 and $1,500 cash.
Entrants in this show were able to also enter their steers in the Stampede’s quality beef competition on July 16 at Cargill Foods in High River, Alta.
The owner of the grand champion carcass receives $3,000 plus the value of the carcass, while the reserve’s owner collects $2,000 plus the value of the carcass.
