Champions take 'more than genetics'

Monday, August 11, 2003

EUSTIS -- Redheads ruled at the Eustis Corn Show and Fair Friday morning, as red-headed Kevin Hueftle of Eustis won three competitions with his red Angus steer.

Hueftle, the grinning, curley-headed son of Sherry and Lee Hueftle of rural Eustis, won purple ribbons and trophies for showing the top heavyweight home-raised market steer, the grand champion home-raised market beef and the grand champion market steer.

Judge Jeff Pope of Ravenna told exhibitors he was impressed with their home-raised beef. "Anyone can go out and purchase a quality animal," Pope said. "It takes more to put the genetics together and raise these show steers."

Pope continued, "It requires an eye to put the cow and bull together to come up with the right combination."

Pope awarded a purple ribbon to Kevin's cousin, 10-year-old Anson who showed a black steer named "Richie."

Anson's mother, Anita, said her son was thrilled to be in the show ring. He sat out last year's fair with a cast on his leg, she said, after he fell between the box and the bumper of their pickup.

"His red-headed cousin out there," Anita pointed to Kevin Hueftle, in the show ring, "showed Anson's steer last year." Pope awarded Anson's steer a purple ribbon. "His first purple ... " Anita said.


All attention focused on the beef show Friday morning, but in the past, the center of attention at the Eustis Corn Show and Fair was, well, corn.

"The old corn show," said committee member Kermit Smith of Eustis, "was always in September, and the corn crop was the big thing then." The first corn show was in 1916.

Smith said coordinators moved the corn show up so 4-H'ers could get their livestock entries done before the State Fair in Lincoln.

"The old corn show was always big for corn, and for flowers, and for garden crop displays," Smith said. "We still have a good, good showing of ag products."

Fellow committee member Gary Buehner said the county splits its fair money between the fairs in Stockville and Eustis. Both have 4-H activities, and Frontier County Extension runs both programs, he said.

Smith said 4-H'ers can show in either fair, and Buehner said, generally, 4-H'ers from the western half of the county show in Stockville and those from the eastern part of the county show in Eustis.

Smith said Frontier and Dodge counties are the only counties in Nebraska that have two fairs. Smith said proudly, "We're kinda unique."

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