Matt,
I thought it was worth noting that the Monopoly Grand Champion Market Steer @ AKSARBEN was also the Grand Carcass Steer of the show as well.
A 901# carcass that goes Average Choice, Yield Grade 1 with a 17+ inch eye and 0.4″ of back fat. I don’t know too many cattle feeders that wouldn’t want a pen of those in the yard. Rough math put his premium on the grid at + $18/cwt or about $150.00.
Judge Joel Cowley deserves an ‘atta boy for finding that guy on the hoof!!
I think this adds validity and is a great opportunity to re-focus on the point I made in an article you posted earlier this year in the wake of the fluffycow craze about the show cattle business complimenting the commodity beef industry.
Pete