Mathews sophomore steering his way to OSU

BAZETTA

There’s a tendency among those organizing the 4-H Junior Fair animal events at the Trumbull County Fair to downplay competitive aspects of showing animals.

Though young people compete for trophies, awards and cash prizes for raising and showing animals with the most prized characteristics, the fair avoids the term “competition.”

But Luke Culp of Vienna shows that raising beef can be a terrific outlet for a young person with a competitive streak.

Culp, 15, shows beef cattle and hogs and had the grand champion steer the past two years. Because there’s a sale associated with beef cattle, Luke has been able to earn money from his projects.

It’s money he has saved to help pay for college. That’s a few years away as he will be a sophomore this fall at Mathews High School in Vienna.

But it’s a good bet the college he has his eye on is Ohio State University because the project he entered in this year’s steer event is named “Zeke Money Maker.”

The name is a reference to Ezekiel Elliott, also known as Zeke, the outstanding OSU running back now in the NFL who helped his team win a national championship with a record-breaking performance in the 2015 title game.

“I really like Ohio State,” Culp said.

And he really likes raising steers.

Read more about him in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.