Investing in a grand champion

A grand champion market steer isn’t something that happens overnight, nor is it something which happens without sacrifice. Just ask Shelby Knotwell.

Shelby, who graduated from Saratoga Middle/High School earlier this year, has had three grand champions with the most recent being at the 2023 Carbon County Fair. She also won in 2019 and 2021. This year, however, was even more memorable for Knotwell as her steer sold for $45 per pound to Steven Perkins, owner of Perkins Oil Company. At 1,219 pounds, that came to $54,855 for Shelby.

“I remember thinking ‘Oh my gosh, this is not happening.’ Then, a...