WHILE GROWING UP ON HER family’s ranch outside of Corona, Harper Dunn jumped into the agricultural youth organization FFA as a seventh grader, participating in horse judging competitions and showing steers like her dad, Blair. Last year, Dunn’s 1,433-pound black steer, Drew, was selected as the fair’s Grand Champion, selling for $21,000, which helped the Junior Livestock Sale set a new record. The record books are nothing new for Dunn, a 6-foot-6 center on the Corona/Vaughn High School basketball team who broke the state’s career mark for blocks during her sophomore season.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t super stressed in the show ring. But I had a ton of great people around me: my agriculture teacher, the people we buy animals from, my family. I wasn’t doing it alone, and that made it much cooler to win.
My high school only has about 30 kids in it, but we’re fortunate to have one of the best ag teachers in the state. He helped me start showing steers, and I just ended up loving the process and showing at the fair.
We buy calves a year prior to the fair. We feed them all winter, then start getting them ready in March. Working with them, washing them twice a day, getting really comfortable with them. You rely on your relationship with the animal in the ring.
Drew is one of my all-time favorites. He wasn’t all that smart, but he was super sweet, just happy to be there and along for the ride.
I was sad to take him to the sale. But you think, Hey, I treated him well, I gave him my all. You’re just kind of at peace. We’re agriculturalists, we’re here to feed America, and that’s part of it.
The money from the livestock auction goes back to the kids. Most use the money for next year’s projects and to save for college. That’s what I’m doing.
I’m not exactly sure about taking over our family’s ranch, but no matter where I end up, I’m going to keep agriculture [as] part of my life.
Editor's note: Harper Dunn transferred from Corona High School to Albuquerque Academy for her junior year.