Makenna Graney was napping in a chair next to her steer when we showed up at the livestock barn to interview her about life as a farm kid and raising cattle for show at the Wisconsin State Fair.

“It’s a week where we get very little sleep, but I enjoy every single minute of it,” says Graney.

Graney is 18, she just graduated high school, and grew up on a large hog and beef farm in Lancaster, Wis. Although she had been to the Fair many times to help other farmers, this is her first year exhibiting a steer of her own: a 1,200-pound, red-and-white creature named Jack Daniels whom she describes as her best friend.

“I love him to death. He is my go-to and my best friend,” she says.

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Graney bought Jack when he was 400 pounds and “right off his mother.”

“That was a year and a half ago and he’s been with me every day since,” says Graney. “He’s part of our family.”

Jack Daniels got his name because of his “drunken” behavior as a calf.

“His name is an inside joke in my family because when we first got him he acted like a drunk adult. He liked to just fall over,” she says.

Raising and showing Jack is Graney’s final project as a youth member of the FFA (which formerly stood for "Future Farmers of America” but now is just called “FFA.”)

“The FFA is an almost-100-years-old agricultural organization that welcomes everyone to the organization. They changed the name to be more inclusive,” she says.

During her four-day visit to the Fair (she is there through Thursday), Graney will show Jack with the goal of winning a banner and securing a place in the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction.

“We’re hoping to win Champions Breed and go on to the Governor’s Auction, but I’m just happy to be here. I’m living in the moment and no matter what, I am going to enjoy this," she says.

Regardless of whether or not Jack places, he will be “ready for market” in the near future. Graney understands the role of livestock in the food chain and is both proud to be a part of it and at peace with the process, but she also grapples with emotions when the time comes.

“It’s very, very hard to let go. Especially of Jack. He has a personality like no other. Sometimes I think he’s a 2-year-old child and sometimes he acts like he’s my age. It depends on the day,” she says. “But growing up on a farm, I’ve been taught since day one that I am here to feed the country and I am very proud of that. Plus, I will always have the memories and I keep ear tags.”

Graney says raising a steer is similar to raising a dog. Each animal has a very specific personality and is able to show their emotions as well as read the emotions of their caregivers.

“Jack has a happy face and he knows how to shake his head. My uncle passed away this week and he knows. He rests his head on my shoulder or motions with his head at my shoulder,” she says.

Her family's cattle operation – which includes herself, her mother and her sister – is called My Gals Show Cattle.

"I do chores every single day and night with the cattle – 365 days a year – from 5 in the morning. Then I got to school, usually check in on them during the day, and then go back to the barn after school and don’t leave until 9 at night," she says. 

Next year, Graney will attend college at Kansas State University where she will study animal science with an emphasis on livestock nutrition.

“I absolutely loved growing up on a farm and can’t wait to continue my life in agriculture,” says Graney.

For now and in the future, Graney hopes fairgoers will stop by the livestock barns and ask lots of questions.

“I think everyone in the US should go to a Fair to learn about what’s it’s like growing up around cattle,” says Graney. “We are here to share our experience and help people understand where their food comes from.”