DID YOU KNOW...
`Outtamyway' wins top steer at STYSS
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Maycie Wells of the Highland Hustlers 4H club is shown with her Grand Champion Steer “Outtamyway” at the South Texas Youth Stock Show. She is shown with her family, not pictured is her father Ron Wells.
(Staff photo by Michael Rodriguez)
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By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
sanbenitonews@sbcglobal.net
Outta her way!
Thirteen-year-old Maycie Wells of the Highland Hustlers 4H club - along with her 1,148 pound steer fittingly named “Outtamyway” - stole the show at the South Texas Youth Stock Show (STYSS) in San Benito on Friday.
Maycie, a student at Gutierrez Middle School in Harlingen, handled “Outtamyway” to the Grand Champion Steer award at the livestock show grounds, where City of San Benito crews and church volunteers had worked to restore many of the facilities as well as the grounds following hurricane damage that led to the show's cancelation in 2009.
It appeared as though the STYSS did not skip a step despite the year off as a combined 567 participants attended, competing in livestock showing, the home show and other events. There were 327 livestock entries alone.
But the amount of competitors present was not a matter of concern for Maycie as she was focused on one thing and one thing only: winning.
“I think we have a pretty good chance,” Maycie said about possibly winning Grand Champion Steer moments before judging took place.
Her steer, which was also named ABC Breed Champion, was described as being structurally sound; a trait she believed set her steer apart. “It's a lot of hard work raising them. You have to keep them clean and work with them,” she said, adding, “That other steer also had a lot of advantages.”
Maycie was referring to the entry that won Reserved Grand Champion Steer, 18-year-old Ovideo De La Fuente's “El Diablo.”
“El Diablo” is a 1,220 pound steer that wowed the judges. In fact, impressing STYSS judges Josh Shorl and Ben Cammack, who hail from Texas Tech, was a feat in itself as they're members of a national championship judging team.
It would appear that Ovideo's hours of work with “El Diablo” paid off, not to mention the efforts of his sister - 14-year-old Brianna De La Fuente who won Reserved Champion Commercial Heifer.
Ovideo, a student at San Benito High School, and Brianna, who attends Miller Jordan Middle School, are both members of the San Benito FFA.
In other events, Maycie continued her winning ways and captured best junior showman while Ovideo won the same title in the senior division.
Judging of hogs will commence at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 on the last day of the STYSS.
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