Photograph courtesy of Brenda Schmid
Winning Pride: Krystal Schmid poses with her winning steer at the Santa Clara County Fair where she took championship titles.
Public Citizen
'Steering' in the right direction
By Michelle C. Crowe
Campbell teenager Krystal Schmid is "steering" herself in the right direction with the prize-winning 1,250-pound product of her efforts, No. 1 Stunner, taking both the champion and supreme champion titles at the Santa Clara County Fair this May.
While some people might not have wanted to put up with the bull, Schmid claims, "It's all worth it."
A junior at Del Mar High School, Schmid has been an active member of the Pleasant Acres 4-H Club since she was an eighth-grader, raising both pigs and steers for the past four years.
"Usually I raise three pigs every year, which is a lot less work," Schmid admits, "but raising steers is more rewarding, and more of an accomplishment, even though it takes a lot more time and effort."
Unlike less labor-intensive lambs and pigs, steers require twice-daily feedings at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m., regular exercise and twice-daily combings. All the work develops them into the types of animals that catch the eyes of experienced judges, who can discern the quality of husbandry by the looks of the resulting steers.
Her steer was housed at Emma Prusch Farm in San Jose, requiring two trips each day to maintain No. 1 Stunner's grooming, exercising and feeding schedule. Before she was old enough to drive, her father and grandmother took turns transporting her out there. Now that she has her driver's license, she typically goes in the morning by herself and in the evening with her grandmother, for safety after dark.
"When I tell people all of what I do to raise my steer, they tell me I'm crazy, especially to get up that early," Schmid admits, with a laugh. "It is a lot of work and you have to really be dedicated, but it all pays off when you get that prize result at the end."
Future Farmers of America and 4-H students usually purchase their animals about nine months ahead of time and spend anywhere from $800 to $3,000 for a steer. Then, they pay for food and care.
Krystal purchased the 600-pound Angus X steer named No. 1 Stunner in October, for about $1,000, and developed him into a whopping 1,250 pounds by fair time.
While proud of her results, this isn't Krystal's first time in the championship ring.
"This is actually my second championship with this steer. Back in 1999, he was champion in his class in the 4-H category. This year I got champion and supreme champion, which is the best in class for both 4-H and FFA together," says Krystal. Still another cousin, Darlene Davis, took reserve champion that year.
The 4-H and FFA steers start in two different divisions that are separated by weight class, ranging from 900 to 1,350 pounds. After judging, the first and second place steers in each class go to the championship round, where a champion and a reserve champion are then selected.
After 1999, a new supreme champion category was added. Then, only the champions of both 4-H and FFA go up against each other for the title of supreme champion. No.1 Stunner was the supreme champion for 2001.
With talk about possibly discontinuing the fair next year, Schmid and other students may have to travel to Pleasanton and other fairs to compete, incurring additional travel costs for an already expensive program that keeps young people involved in a positive activity.
"I give her a lot of credit. It's a big accomplishment," says her proud mother, Brenda Schmid. "I'll clean house, but I won't clean steers."
Campbell, California
