AN IMPRESSIVE STRING
Steele County 4-H member Jace Katzung parades his reserve champion dairy steer in the ring at the Minnesota 4-H Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 26. He earned a record $23,000 for the animal, which was purchased by a group of businesses led by American Foods. Staff photo by Rick Bussler
-Jace Katzung, Steele County 4-Her
Many 4-Hers are lucky to qualify for the state auction once in their careers. But for an Owatonna teenager, he’s done it four times.
Jace Katzung closed out his 4-H career with a fourth appearance in the Minnesota 4-H Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction on Aug. 26. And he ended it with a bang.
Katzung showed the reserve champion dairy steer, which brought him a record $23,000 in the auction. The animal was purchased by a group of businesses led by American Foods. He said his earnings will help pay for college expenses at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he is majoring in agriculture education.
His impressive string of auction appearances included two times in third place and a pair of reserve champions. In 2018, he qualified for the auction along with his brothers, Jacob and Joshua, who are older and have since graduated from 4-H. Jace had the most appearances from the Katzung family in the auction.
“I remind them every time that I beat them,” said Jace in explaining the sibling rivalry he has with his older brothers.
Jace Katzung said the experience his brothers previously gained has in turn helped him in recent years. “It’s because of them willing to keep with it that I was able to do so well,” he said.
While Jace was hoping for a grand champion on his last year, he quickly became humble about it all. “Just making it in the auction is an honor in of itself,” he says. “I’ve had the fortune of getting third twice and second twice. I should be thankful I got this far.”
His favorite memory of the state auction came in 2021 when he was reserve champion with a steer named Brownie. “I’ve only cried twice and once was when I had to let go of Brownie. He was a better friend than he was a dairy steer,” Jace said.
In comparison, Jace said this year’s reserve champion, Township, became a hand full. “Sometimes he is kind of a turd,” he said.
Being involved with the dairy project has allowed the Katzungs to enjoy “family bonding” over the years. Jace credits his grandfather, Jerry, for helping out by feeding the animals while they are off at the fairs showing.
Jace also praises his deceased grandmother, Sharon, who died in 2015, for having a hand in the family’s success. “She and Jacob convinced my dad to show dairy steers,” said Jace. “It all started as a family project, and it ended as a family project. It takes a village.”
As Jace ends his 4-H career, he looks back at the program as providing him with “lessons in humility.” He said he has met a lot of great people over the years and has allowed him to grow as a person. “It’s a time I wouldn’t trade for anything,” he added.
Moving forward, Jace plans to continue college and focus on becoming an agriculture instructor.