ESCANABA – A lot goes into showing animals at the Upper Peninsula State Fair. The kids train on show techniques and work with their animal in preparation for the fair.

Laci Mitchell, 17, of Escanaba has been showing steers for several years. She placed first in her division at this year’s fair.

Laci provides insights on how to show an animal at the fair.

“We walked into the ring. I set my steer up. He behaved very well, luckily. Sometimes they like to be jumpy out there.

The judges to a look at him, felt him to see how much cover they have on their ribs. And then they walked him a little more, checked for structure and stuff like that. And then he placed us and I was the last one he placed in first place.

What do you have to do to get noticed?

Just watch the judge and make sure he is watching me, bring my steer in from of him, make him look at him, don’t give him a choice to look away.

Tell us about your steer.

His name is Mayday. I’ve had him for 11 months. He’s a really big baby. He’s always been pretty tame for me. He’s a good boy.