VICTORIA COOPER OF Quinnesec showed Mr. Bojangles, known as “Bowie,” to the grand champion title in the market steer competition Friday at the Dickinson County Fair in Norway. Dante Stachowicz of Vulcan took reserve champion with Woody, the second straight year he’s earned reserve. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

NORWAY — Mr. Bojangles, known as “Bowie,” was chosen grand champion in the youth market beef show Friday at the Dickinson County Fair in Norway.

Victoria Cooper of Quinnesec took top honors with her 1 1/2-year-old crossbred steer. Bowie, raised on a farm in Norway, weighed in at 1,334 pounds.

“He was the smallest in the heavyweight class,” Cooper said. “But he carried it very well.”

Cooper noted how Bowie didn’t have the friendliest demeanor when she first got him. “He actually dragged us around multiple times,” she said.

But after a lot of hard work exposing him to the environment and showing, he ended up to be a “big baby,” she said.

Cooper took Bowie to the U.P. State Fair, where he made top five in the middleweight class. She noted he had weighed in lighter at that time.

Although Cooper has been involved in 4-H and showing animals for eight years, this is only her second year showing a steer.

Cooper explained her steer last year didn’t put on weight properly for showing. “He didn’t do so well, but he was my first and a learning experience,” she said.

In addition to her market beef, she showed a market goat, lamb and hog, plus will compete with her horse this weekend at the fair.

She is also the president of the Bits & Bridles 4-H Club.

Cooper was pleasantly surprised to be chosen. “Honestly, shocked,” she said.

Her advice for others — don’t worry if the judges aren’t looking, because it doesn’t mean you made a bad impression.

Cooper hopes to return next year with one of her twin steers.

Dante Stachowicz, 17, of Vulcan, took reserve champion honors with his Angus crossbred, Woody.

The 1 1/2-year-old steer tipped the scale at 1,288 pounds.

Stachowicz noted that although Woody is shorter with a smaller frame, he also carried his weight well. “He was more filled out in the middle,” he explained.

Stachowicz was reserve champion last year as well. He said he was a little surprised to take reserve, since Woody is actually his alternate steer.

Woody had been bottle fed from day one since being born on the Stachowicz family farm, Stachowicz said.

“He is very tame — just like a big dog,” Stachowicz added.

He got his name from the movie “Toy Story.”

This is his seventh year showing a steer and 10th year overall participating in the program. Stachowicz also competed with his market hog.

He thought the grand champion was well deserved and overall the most complete steer. “He had more structure and was a bigger-boned animal,” he said.

Stachowicz hopes to return to show next year; however, with college starting at the same time as the fair it may be challenging.

The fair’s small animal auction takes place at 3 p.m. today in the rotunda, with the youth livestock auction to follow.