By By NORMA LERNER / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS - It was a second win for Rick Hayden, 11, of Cassopolis when he showed the grand champion market steer Thursday at the Cass County Fair. The two-time winner also showed the grand champion market steer in 2002.
Rick sold his beef steer Thursday at the fair's annual livestock sale that began at 11 a.m. at the sale arena.
Rick hoped his Cass County born and raised beef steer that weighs 1,345 pounds will sell for as much as it did in 2002 when he sold his grand champion for $2,531.
Rick is the son of Ronald and ElAyne Hayden and belongs to the JOY 4-H Club. He has been showing beef steer for four years. He will be saving his proceeds from the sale for his college expenses.
He says he will show beef steers next year also. The seventh-grader at Ross Beatty High School in Cassopolis enjoys the fair and "showing beef steers."
The reserve grand champion market steer was shown by Matt Asmus, 18, of Vandalia. His steer weighs 1,340 pounds and will also be sold on Thursday. Matt is the son of Steve and Kathy Asmus and belongs to the Penn 4-H Club.
Matt is a sophomore at Southwestern Michigan College and is studying agriculture science. A graduate of Marcellus High School, he has been showing for 11 years and likes "meeting people and making lots of friends" the most about the fair.
Attendance at the fair that continues through Saturday at the fairgrounds on North O'Keefe Street was 7,729 on Monday night, up from 7,355 last year and 7,650 Tuesday night, down from 8,689 last year.
The fair schedule for the rest of the week follows:
Today
Senioir Citzens's Day 60 and older
Free gate admission until 2 p.m.
8 a.m. Youth draft horse show and judging
9 a.m. Youth pony show – halter and performance classes, English and western riding and reining classes
9 a.m. Youth and pee wee/cloverbud poultry show and judging
1 p.m. Senior citizens cay program sponsored by Cass County Council on Aging
11 a.m. Youth market livestock auction – swine, gallon of milk, lambs, beef, dairy feeder steers,
12 p.m. Harness racing post time
6 p.m. Draft horse utility classes
7:30 p.m. Demolition derby
(sedans, powder puff, 2-wheel trucks and station wagons)
Friday
9 a.m. Youth horse and pony gymkhana
10 a.m. Pedal pull midway
1 p.m. Youth interviews and demonstrations
3 p.m. Ag olympics
4 p.m. Pizza eating contest (following ag olympics)
6 p.m. Open and youth draft horse cart obstacle classes
7:30 p.m. J Bar J – NABA bull nania
At Dusk fireworks (rain date: Saturday)
Saturday
9 a.m. Youth horse and pony – costume classes
9 a.m. Youth small animal auction – goats, rabbits and poultry
10 a.m. (Drive In) open draft and Haflinger cart and hitch show
11 a.m. Pee wee/cloverbud horse and pony classes
1 p.m. Circus continental
3 p.m. Showmanship sweepstakes
5 p.m. Circus continental
8 p.m. Pure stock truck pull
8:45 p.m. Home arts "autumn leaves " quilt raffle drawing. [ok]