Winning just seems to be in the Recknor blood.

Thursday, August 05, 1999

Winning just seems to be in the Recknor blood. Both Katie and Jess Recknor consistently compete in the steer shows, continuing a tradition started by their grandfather and father, who won the Minnesota State Fair Steer Show in 1971.

Between the younger Recknors, there’s over a dozen awards, including another Minnesota State Fair Championship.

&uot;We just grew up with it,&uot; Katie said. &uot;Dad showed for 11 years. Mom was in 4-H too. Now we do it. It’s something that we can all do together.&uot;

The family’s years of experience have obviously helped the two siblings. Katie, 18, has shown for 10 years. She’s won champion steer six times. She earned the title of grand champion breeding heifer once.

Katie has also followed in her father’s footsteps. She too has won grand champion steer at the Minnesota State Fair. She earned the reserve champion steer title at Ak-sar-ben.

Next summer will be her last year showing for 4H, since they are only allowed to compete one year after they have completed their first year of college.

That leaves some pretty big shoes for Jess to fill. But the 14-year-old has already proved he’s well on his way.

After showing for five years, Jess said he’s won the steer show twice. He’s also won a junior champion showmanship. And last year he placed second in his class at the state fair, he said.

&uot;I think I’ll do fairly well this week, hopefully,&uot; he said.

Both Jess and Katie put a lot of time into it, not only during the summer, but throughout the year as well.

&uot;We put a lot of time into it from September to the summer,&uot; Katie said. &uot;We also enter a lot of open shows throughout the year.&uot;

Caring for the livestock takes work.

&uot;We rinse them five times a day and keep them under the fans,&uot; he said. Throughout the year the animals are well feed and groomed and kept in the show barn, he added.

&uot;It’s a lot of work, but it pays off,&uot; said Katie.

Despite the amount of work that goes into competing, the pair said they have a good time doing it. And it’s a tradition that will likely continue.

&uot;The family’s had so much fun doing it, it’s been hard to stop,&uot; Katie said.

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ACE IN THE HOLE – Jess Recknor grooms Ace to prepare him for a show.