Goose the grand champion steer makes hay out of his time at the Delaware State Fair

Why Should Delaware Care?
The Delaware State Fair, which ended on Saturday, is an annual 10-day festival highlighting the state’s rich agricultural community. But what exactly goes into raising some of the livestock on display? For one young farmer, raising a grand champion steer was a year-long effort.

For Goose, the Delaware State Fair was about putting his best foot – or hoof, rather – forward. 

And the 1300-pound steer, a male cow raised for beef production, did exactly that. Goose, alongside his handler Catherine Maguire, took home the state fair’s top prize: a 2026 Grand Champion designation.

Being crowned grand champion, Maguire explained, is indicative of Goose’s overall quality — how much muscle he has while still being functional and mobile, or “a complete package deal,” she said.

But the road to becoming a champion was no cakewalk. It was paved with early mornings, late nights and lots of feeding. 

“Every day, no matter what it is, I’m in the barn,” Maguire told Spotlight Delaware last week. “I’m washing [him], I’m just keeping [him] clean, cleaning [his] stall to keep [him] healthy, just making [his] quality of life as high as I can possibly make it.”

Goose’s road to the Delaware State Fair

At just more than a year and a half old, Goose spent the majority of his life living with Maguire and her family at their farm in Hartly. 

He was born in January 2025, and Maguire said she has raised him since Goose was about 6 months old. 

“It’s full throttle from there,” she said.

Maguire, 15, has raised cattle her entire life. She has been showing them at competitions since she was around seven. 

Catherine’s dad, Mark Maguire, explained that unlike some other animals shown at the state fair, raising steers for competition takes an entire year of work.  

For Catherine, the competitions have been cyclical. Cattle are usually auctioned off or directly sold to buyers after the state fair. That money is then used to purchase and raise a new steer, she said. 

Like many of the competitors at the state fair, Maguire takes part in Future Farmers of America, an organization dedicated to developing youth agriculture skills in schools and rural communities across the state. She currently serves as a leader within her local FFA chapter. 

The organization, she said, has given her a greater appreciation for the importance of the agriculture industry.

Goose’s day at the fair

During the 10-day-long Delaware State Fair, which takes place each summer in Harrington, most of Goose’s time is spent on display. But the work does not stop.

The fair is a time for Maguire to showcase the work she put into raising Goose as attendees mull about the cattle pens. But it also is a time for preparation.

Their mornings begin at 5:30 a.m., when Maguire first arrives at the fairgrounds. During the fair, Goose stays there overnight with the other livestock.

The day is full of washing, feeding and blow-drying, all to ensure Goose remains in primped, primed and in tip-top shape for his two competitions.

Those competitions took place last Tuesday, July 28. During the first showing, Goose competed against other steers in the same market, or weight class. 

After winning there, he advanced to the second competition, which Maguire called the extravaganza. There, Goose competed — and won — against the top steers across every market class.

Goose’s win this year marked Maguire’s third grand champion steer in a row. And she said she is not finished yet.

“I have six more years left of showing, so I’m really excited to continue my show career,” Maguire said.

When Spotlight Delaware spoke to Maguire last Wednesday, she was preparing Goose for auction, where he was set to be sold to the highest bidder. 

As a steer, Goose was ultimately raised for beef production. That means after the fair, Goose likely will be slaughtered by his new owner. 

That reality was not lost on Maguire, but it also is the way of life in the industry, she said. 

“Some goodbyes are tougher than others,” Maguire said. “ You just have to think that they know what they’re here for. They’re here to grow food for your community.”