Winner’s Circle: AJ Line Shattering previous records, AJ Line earned the title of grand champion of the Junior Steer Show at the Illinois State Fair this August when his steer, Holyfield, sold for whopping $52,0000. Currently a junior in high school, AJ has been showing steers since before he even started kindergarten. “I have been showing since I was 5-years-old,” AJ said. “My dad made our first purchase, and we were going to try to compete at state level. I got my taste for it then and have really enjoyed it ever since.” Despite his years of experience, raising a $52,000 steer is not an easy task. “I worked really hard on Holyfield all summer, getting up very early every morning and tending to him every night,” AJ said. Despite being a prized steer, Holyfield is also unique in that he is missing a piece of one of his left ear. This trait earned him his name as a tribute to Evander Holyfield—the heavyweight champion whose ear boxer Mike Tyson took a bite out of in the infamous 1997 “Bite Fight.” After high school AJ will continue to participate in showing by joining a livestock judging team in college. “I plan to attend a two-year community college so I can work on the farm with my dad and then go to a state college.” AJ said “I hope to one day take over the family farm myself.” When he is not attending school or tending to the farm, AJ plays football, baseball and loves to hunt. AJ loves Honor® Show Chow® products because they put a really good finishing touch on his animals. “The Honor® Show Chow® feeds really help fill the animals up without making them gain weight, and the HSC Finishing Touch® product helps make them market ready,” AJ said. AJ encourages all kids interested in showing to throw their hat in the ring as early as possible. “Work as hard as you can on the showmanship part,” AJ said. “Stay committed day and night and don’t give up till you have achieved your goals”