By Zane Davis
The 2023 Washington County Fair in Cambridge, Idaho has drawn to a close. The barns are empty, cleaned, and the annual week-long hum of livestock noises and laughing kids has gone silent. The fair was held from July 31-August 5, 2023, and as usual, the Fair Board, University of Idaho Extension staff, leaders, advisors, volunteers, and parents helped to pull off another great fair! However, several unprecedented events occurred at the 2023 Washington County Fair. First, was the gloriously cool weather that brought relief from the previous week’s sweltering temperatures, and a comfortable week for both the exhibitors and the livestock. Even better than the weather, though, was the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef honors going to only one exhibitor, Jace Mink.
Jace Mink is the youngest son of Justin and Jodie Mink of Cambridge, Idaho. Jace is 16 years old and will be entering his junior year of high school at Cambridge High School. 2023 was Jace’s 8th year of showing market beef at the Washington County Fair, starting in 4-H, but now a member of the Cambridge FFA Chapter. The Mink name is synonymous with quality market steers and talented showmen, as proven by the last 14-years of exhibition by the Mink sons, Jayden, Jarret, and Jace, and their record of champion ribbons in both quality and showmanship. However, 2023 was unique.
The Mink boys display a board in the barn that shows their history of exhibition. It shows each son, the names of their steers, and how the animals and showmen fared at the respective years of the Washington County Fairs. Jayden, the eldest Mink son, was able to garner two Grand Champion Market Beef titles and one Reserve Grand Champion, as well as one Grand Champion FFA showman and one Reserve Grand Champion showman. Jarret, the middle son, topped his elder brother with eight total Grand Champions in market and showmanship and four Reserve Grand Champion honors, but despite a Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef honor in 2022 for Jace Mink, he had not broken through into the “Banner Realm” like his brothers. Better late than never, I suppose, Jace Mink made up for lost time a few weeks ago taking both Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef honors with his steers, “Diamond” and “Spade”, an unprecedented feat.
Some exhibitors are talented showmen, and one’s exhibition skills can be practiced and honed from year to year, provided the livestock teammate enters the ring in a cooperative mood. However, raising a champion market steer takes skill, work, and years of experience in both selecting an animal and feeding it a proper ration. Many exhibitors purchase their market steers in January and February from producers that specialize in “club” cattle; market livestock that are bred for characteristics prized in the show ring. Usually, club cattle breeders have sorted and culled the pen of cattle, leaving only the best to choose from, and making the choosing easier for the exhibitor. This isn’t the case at the Mink Land & Livestock Ranch, an extended family ranching operation, that has lasted for several generations raising quality livestock for the cattle industry, but not necessarily the show cattle niche. Jace stated, “We raise regular crossbred cattle, and I pick my steers out of the feedlot.” When asked if he has any special secrets to choosing his steers, he laughs, “No, not really. I picked both my steers in about 20-minutes this year.” Ironically, he didn’t take the advice of his experienced mother, Jodie, regarding the steers. Jodie states, “Those steers were not my picks, but the 3rd place steer was the one I chose.” Apparently, she is skilled, but not like Jace. Regardless, it is apparent from their track record that the entire family knows a little about picking cattle.
Once the cattle are chosen, there still comes a training routine and a strict feeding regimen from March to August to get the animal market ready. When asked if the Mink family has a “secret family recipe” for the steer feed, Jace humbly states, “Nope, we just use a Washington County recipe from WSI or Payback.” This revelation may not seem like much to a common person, but in the market livestock exhibition world, sharing your feed regimen is a big deal and illustrates how helpful this young man is regarding his fellow showmen. Jace stated, “I don’t have any secrets, and I’m happy when others do well.” Well, he may think he doesn’t have any secrets, but his Grand Champion steer (Diamond) gained a total of 820 pounds during the feeding period, gaining 4.13 pounds per day. Similarly, Spade, the Reserve Grand Champion steer gained 577 pounds for an average daily gain of 3.84 pound. Let’s just say, Jace has his feeding and care routine down. Jace also added, “It really makes me happy when ‘county raised’ cattle are so successful at our fair.” This exhibits that the cattle ranchers in Washington County are doing something right.
Both of Jace’s steers happened to be in the same weight class, so friend and classmate, Wyatt moura showed the second steer in the weight class. Taking the top two honors in the weight class, both of Jace’s steers returned for the “Champion Drive” to determine the overall Champion and runner-up market steers. Russell Noah, another friend and classmate to Jace, graciously offered to show the 2nd steer in the Champion Drive. The judge chose the steer that Jace had as the Grand Champion animal, and shortly thereafter, chose the steer Russell was handling for the Reserve Grand Champion honors. When asked how he felt when the judge gave the requisite “handshake” marking the winners to his two steers, Mink stated, “I couldn’t believe it, but I thought it was pretty awesome!”
Jace has a set a very high bar for his fellow exhibitors and for himself, winning both Grand and Reserve Champions in one fair, but given his drive, ambition, strong work ethic, and dedication to the agricultural industry, it’s definitely not an insurmountable feat that could be repeated by this exceptional young man.
