Emmalee washes a steer more than 10 times her size — in sneakers

CANFIELD

Gary Hemphill glanced somewhat disapprovingly at my canvas sneakers.

Admittedly, I hadn’t known quite what I’d be getting into when I made my footwear selections that morning, but even I felt the slightest bit ridiculous standing in my not-at-all protective — but cute — shoes beside a 1,435-pound market steer named Larry.

My task was to wash him at this year’s Canfield Fair.

Gary — the father of 11-year-old Emily Hemphill, who had obtained the fuzzy, black Larry in a mid-October lottery when he weighed just about 500 pounds — tried to explain to me the gravity of the situation.

Basically, it was this: If he steps on your foot, it will, inevitably, be broken.

It was not a comforting thought.

Still, I elected to continue with the washing. If anything, it would be humorous for Gary and Emily to see me, the reporter who has followed them and their 4-H Club projects since February, attempting to do something so very foreign.

Both Gary and Wendy belonged to 4-H when they were growing up.

Abby, a senior at Western Reserve High School who raised the 1,450-pound Moe and the 1,470-pound Curly, is in her sixth year as a member of 4-H.

Emily, a sixth-grader at Western Reserve, is in her third.

At least once each week from mid-October until now, the sisters washed their steers. They also washed them before and after shows at the fair, and might do it again before its end, just to keep them cool.

On Friday, it was my turn.

Read more about Emmalee's experience ∏— and the outcome — in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.