SAN ANGELO, Texas — A stock show romance has turned serious for two adult volunteers who met when both reached for a dropped brush in the beef cattle aisle at a junior fat stock show. They were former youth exhibitors, now in their twenties, who had come back to help. Both thought a steer named Chester deserved a closer look. Chester thought an unused bandanna belonged in his mouth, and made the first move of the afternoon.
Kay Davison remembered that Lee Ortega had asked whether she had seen him in the same barn ten years earlier. She said she remembered his animal, which was a compliment in this context. Ortega then remembered her animal and the particular shade of disapproval her mother had worn after he borrowed a fan. It was enough shared history for one conversation.
A stock show romance grows after the cleanup shift
Texas A&M AgriLife’s beef cattle project overview describes the responsibilities young exhibitors take on in a beef project. Adults at a junior show can help with jobs the organizers assign and give youth exhibitors room to do their work. Ortega and Davison were stationed away from judging. Their job was to get an aisle clean enough that people could find the object they had just dropped.
“We talked for twelve minutes,” Davison said. “At least six of those were about what to do with a dead extension cord. On a farm that is enough to tell you whether the other person is worth coffee.”
The pair shared a love of shows and a distaste for people who say they are almost ready while holding a clean pair of boots. They went out for pie after their shift. Ortega brought the brush because he figured Davison might have left without it. Davison brought one that looked identical because she assumed he might do the same thing. The waitress offered them a third utensil that had actually been washed.
The test comes when the crowds leave
An adult volunteer should check in with a show organizer, stick to the assigned area and ask exhibitors before touching animals or equipment. As a dating strategy, volunteer work lets a person see how someone treats people when the job is repetitive, the hour is late and there’s no trophy on offer. Davison said those conditions described a fair portion of adult life.
Weeks later Ortega asked Davison whether she would come back with him next season. She said yes, provided they agreed upfront on a few things. They would bring an extra cord, a second brush and money for pie. Then she told him she had liked him before he remembered the fan.
Ortega said he was relieved. He still owed her mother the fan.
Disclaimer: The adults, steer and diner exchange are Farm.FM satire. The youth exhibitor program is real. Chester took possession of the bandanna.
Last Updated on November 15, 2026 by Alan Nafzger