Steer-showing Graus all grown up

Kristen Grau fought back tears as the judges assessed her steer for the Junior Livestock show at the Curry County Fair in 2021. She said the overwhelming emotion didn't come from whether she would do well in the show. It marked the last show for her family's 60-year tradition.

That's right. No one named Grau showed a steer at the county fair last year or last week.

Grau, now 20, said it was a bittersweet feeling when she last competed. She said she wanted to live up to the legacy her father helped set, but knew she had done her part.

"It was heartbreaking in a sense. To me it was just something we've always done and it was always something special. Like there's always been a Grau in the show barn," Kristen said.

Lane Grau, Kristen's father, said the reason there hasn't been a Grau in the county fair shows the past two years is that all his children have simply grown up. He said though it was hard to see the Grau name leave the show barn, he said he knew it was time for the family to focus on themselves rather than the stage for a little while.

After all, steer competition is not the only legacy this Grady family upholds, he said. He said the Grau family has been raising cattle since his grandfather moved to the region in 1906 and later established the Grau Charolais Ranch.

It was under the careful tutelage of his grandfather and father that Lane learned the hard work ethic of the ranching world. It then later became a source where he and his six siblings found the local livestock exhibits.

"There's a sense of pride in having them (his children) bring their projects from working all summer to getting them to the fair and making it to the livestock sale. Watching them show brings joy and it's just been a family thing for everybody," he said.

Lane Grau said five generations of cattle producers were raised on the ranch and two of the five generations decided to participate in local livestock exhibits and stock shows across the country.

He said he found his love for agriculture at a young age and wanted to instill the same morals and work ethic onto his four children as they grew up. He said each of his children participated in several shows, much like what he and his siblings did when they were younger.

It was the earnings at these shows that his children would use to build their futures and go to college. Lane Grau said he had done the same thing when he was their age.

Kristen Grau said she used to view the steer world as an obligation when she began participating at the age of 9. But once getting into middle school and participating in local agricultural programs she said she began to see a broader lesson her father had been trying to instill into the family.

"I grew up and I learned to love it and realize how much of an impact it had on my life. I realized that I was one of the people that got to carry on that tradition and the one that got to end it," she said.

Kristen Grau said being given the opportunity to continue her family tradition had taught her a sense of responsibility and what it means to earn your self-worth.

"As competitive and cutthroat as showing is, it's still a genuine community. Like, they'll help you if you need help, and that was always something I loved growing up in," she said. "Everybody is just so loving and willing to be there and lend a hand if you need it. But at the same time you could go into the showroom and have everybody wanting to win," Kristen said.

The Grau's 60-year legacy may be over for now, but Lane and Kristen said they expect a new generation to take up the halter soon.

Lane Grau said he believes at least one of his four grandchildren will find their way into the show barn when they get old enough.