R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press Emma Verbeek and her grand champion market steer pose with the judge and individuals who took part in helping the pair get to this point. From left to right are Griffyn Verbeek, Emma’s brother; Tyler Labadie, family friend; championship judge Zach McCracken; family friends Lily Decker and Garrett Thompson; breeder Daryl Leese with children Briggs and Payson and wife Renae; Melissa Sankovitch, Emma’s aunt; and Kayla Verbeek, Emma’s mother.

ESCANABA — Steers were judged in the beef show ring at the U.P. State Fair Tuesday. The heavyweight grand champion steer, shown by Emma Verbeek, weighed in at 1409 pounds. The reserve champion winner was shown by Levi Hill.

Emma has been raising the animal, who is almost two years old, for just a few weeks shy of a year at Verbeek Farms in Gladstone. The Leese family — breeders — sold the yearling to the Verbeeks in September 2022.

Emma is in 4-H and has been raising and showing livestock for the last six years. In this competition, she was also named reserve champion showman for her presentation of the steer, whose name is Cash. The duo was composed, cool and collected in the ring. Immediately after, Emma was flashing her big smiles.

“She’s put in so much work this year,” said aunt Melissa Sankovitch. “It’s definitely well-deserved.”

The grand champion steer got his name, Cash, in acknowledgment of the investment needed to purchase an animal like this, but Emma has been putting in effort contributing to the value. She dedicated a lot of time taking care of Cash for the last year — feeding him twice a day, sometimes three, and cleaning him and grooming him as necessary, with some help from family and friends. The pair has traveled around the state, participating in eight other shows and winning a few times. A family member called the steer Emma’s “best buddy.”

Emma admitted it’s going to be hard to see him go. “He’s got a good personality,” she said.

The steers go to auction after judging, something the kids raising these animals understand and accept.

Emma’s grandmother, Ann Severinsen, said that the girl had been determined in her pursuit of the grand champion banner. “She said that she was gonna win this year,” Severinsen said.

Though she attained that goal, Verbeek’s duties at the fair aren’t quite finished. She walked away from Cash with a goat show upcoming.