Three-peat in market steer show at Iron County Fair
Ava Bortolini and her Angus steer, Ozzie, took grand championship honors Friday at the Iron County Fair. It was her third straight year as grand champion. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
Chevy Carlson and his steer, Big Ben, were reserve grand champions at the Iron County Fair. Carlson has earned that placement three years in a row. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
Ava Bortolini and Chevy Carlson face off in the ring Friday for senior showmanship honors at the Iron County Fair. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
Ava Bortolini and her Angus steer, Ozzie, took grand championship honors Friday at the Iron County Fair. It was her third straight year as grand champion. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
Chevy Carlson and his steer, Big Ben, were reserve grand champions at the Iron County Fair. Carlson has earned that placement three years in a row. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
Ava Bortolini and Chevy Carlson face off in the ring Friday for senior showmanship honors at the Iron County Fair. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)
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IRON RIVER -- Veteran competitors Ava Bortolini and Chevy Carlson came out on top again in the market steer competition at the Iron County Fair on Friday.
Bortolini won her third straight grand championship steer trophy with her 1,500-pound black Angus steer, Ozzie, and Carlson was reserve grand champion for the third year in a row. He was showing Big Ken, also a 1,500-pound black Angus.
Bortolini is the only one in the family to take grand championship honors, but has a brother and sister who also show animals at the fair. She said she enjoys working with the animals.
She won the senior showmanship award as well.
A sophomore at Forest Park High School in Crystal Falls, Bortolini is the daughter of Jess and Ashley Bortolini of Crystal Falls.
Carlson is a sophomore at West Iron County High School and the son of Jaclyn and Tim Carlson of Iron River.
He calls raising steers "interesting."
"They have a personality, just like us, and it's kind of funny. This one has a temper. Other ones are like a big puppy and I can lay on them," he said.
His first steer was wild like him as well, Carlson said, adding, "It was probably for the better because it trained me better for other steers."
His mother said he also enjoys spending time with his great-grandparents while raising his fair animals.
The Iron County Fair continues today through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Iron River.
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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.