Olson Wins Grand Champion Steer Title
Tops In The Field
Cody Olson, member of the Froid FFA club, was optimistic heading into steer judging at the Roosevelt County Fair in Culbertson on Friday, Aug. 9.
“I was pretty confident,” Olson, who is entering his junior year in high school, said on Friday afternoon. “I took him out last night and walked him. I felt pretty good.”
Olson’s good vibrations were right as he and his steer, Bandit, came away with grand champion market beef honors from this year’s county fair. The ending weight for the black angus was 1,383 pounds.
Olson, 16, credits his family members for helping him reach the accomplishment. His older sister, Kaylee, earned the grand champion market beef title just two years ago.
“Kaylee helps me a lot,” Cody said. “She’s my go-to when I need help. I love her.”
Parents Steve and Tammy Olson along with grandparents Duane and Barbee Hekkel also played important roles. “I thank my family for their support,” Cody said.
When the family’s ranch, located about 15 minutes west of Froid, sold 400 heads last fall, Cody made the right call as far as which animal to keep for himself.
“I made sure I had a good pick,” he said. “He’s one of the best steers that we’ve had on our ranch.”
He named his steer after the
Smokey and the Bandit movie.
“I pushed my steer hard.” Cody said. “I started early to get him tame throughout the year. When feeding it, I made sure he was calm.”
Olson learned time management skills as he is very busy in school activities including football, basketball, track, golf, FFA and Business Professionals of America.
“If you really put your mind to it, you can do it,” Olson said of finding time for all his activities.
He serves as treasure for Froid’s FFA organization.
“It’s a great program,” Olson said. “You get to interact with a lot of people.”
Other grand champions in livestock events during the fair included Kalia Featherston of Culbertson FFA for goats and sheep and Jaylynn Bjorge of Bainville FFA were swing.
Reserve champions included Kaden Featherston of Culbertson FFA for sheep, Payton Labatte of Culbertson FFA for goats, Jodi Albus of Centennial Clovers 4-H for steers and Holden Salivar of Tumbleweeds 4-H for swine.
