Calhoun fair exhibitor overcomes injury, substitute steer to place in show
A market goat shown by Kyle McKay looks for attention at the Calhoun County Fair.
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Results of the champion and reserve champion auction will appear on Sunday, Oct. 25.
This weekend's highlights at the Calhoun County Fair
Friday
Junior commercial heifer sale
Hypnotist Erick Kand, 7 p.m.
Atrapado Band, 8 p.m.
Saturday ...
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Results of the champion and reserve champion auction will appear on Sunday, Oct. 25.
This weekend's highlights at the Calhoun County Fair
Friday
Junior commercial heifer sale
Hypnotist Erick Kand, 7 p.m.
Atrapado Band, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Pet Show, 10 a.m.
Calhoun High School Sandettes, 2 p.m.
Al Ragusine dancing horses, 5 p.m.
Tejas Brothers Band, 8 p.m.
Carnival runs through Sunday
PORT LAVACA - Matthew Wood knows about unforeseen circumstances.
On Wednesday, the Travis Middle School sixth grader's steer head-butted him in the ribs during the Calhoun County Fair junior livestock show judging.
"He ended up in the EMS station with bruised ribs and pelvis," his grandmother Elizabeth Wood said.
Luckily, he wasn't hurt - or scared, although he did have a fright with the first steer he raised this year.
His third-place steer, a girthy 1,325-pounder he dubbed Chunky, is actually a substitute.
His first steer, Bandit, suffered from health complications - an injured shoulder and a prolapsed rectum, which eventually meant the slaughterhouse for him.
Matthew and his family noticed the health issues in the steer's limp.
"He couldn't hardly walk," Elizabeth said.
This is the first year Matthew has raised an animal for a livestock show. He said the things he mosts appreciates about raising steers are feeding, brushing and walking the animal.
Matthew raised the steers alongside his little sister Bailee Wood, who said raising the animals was hard work.
"We wanted to do it because it seemed fun, but we had some hard times," Bailee said.
Because the family has a backup steer, Matthew actually had double duty. He was caring for two steers. So when Bandit became ill, it was an easy transition for Matthew.
Comments
My kids raised steers for many years. You have ups and downs and good ones and bad ones. Hang in there it only gets better. I think we had a few broken bones over those steerss.
October 15, 2009 at 10:32 p.m.