Young 4-Her shows what it takes to be a champion on her first try

Two weeks before the Jefferson County Fair, Maylea Dawson was brimming with excitement. Her bright blue eyes shone as she shared the story of her 4-H market steer, Black Spot.

Details about how much feed he went through and how much time it took to nurture him for the upcoming fair poured out. There was no need for her to say she loved the animal.

Seated next to her, her father Bill said he and Maylea’s mother Meagan had been reluctant to let Maylea raise a market steer, thinking she was a bit young. Last year, Maylea explained, she was a Cloverbud, not old enough to be in large animal competition. But this year, having reached age 8, she was old enough by the rules, if not in her parents’ eyes.