Saturday, July 16, 2016
By Ed Runyan
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.
“It’s one of the best things I do all year,” he said. “Since I was born, I was raised in it. It’s fun. It’s exciting. In the show ring, you get that feeling. It’s more competitive than any sport I’ve been involved in.”
His event requires him to raise a steer from September through fair week.
It’s no small commitment, especially in Northeast Ohio, when winters can make twice-daily trips to the barn challenging.
“You have to be able to take care of it in the cold, when the water bucket’s frozen,” said his mother, Monica Culp.
Ironically, for being a somewhat scary looking, 1,400-pound giant, Zeke gets treatment that sounds more like the pampering of a super model.
Twice per day for 10 months, Zeke’s coat was rinsed, and an industrial-style blower was used to “blow out” his coat to give Zeke his surprisingly plush appearance.
“I truly believe the amount of time that is put into a beef project is irreplaceable,” his mother said of the positive lessons her children have learned. She also has a daughter, Emily, 24, and son, Logan, 18, who is participating his final time in 4-H this year.
Monica Culp has been around the Trumbull County Fair since she was 9, when she started showing beef. She and her family live in the same home where she was raised. The home has 3 acres of land, and there’s eight acres of pasture.
“We had come to the fair when I was little, and my parents asked me if I wanted to join 4-H, and I did, and now I can’t imagine my life without it,” she said. “I made great, lifelong friends here.”