GREENUP — Years of experience showed Tuesday morning as B.J. Johnson made his final circuit inside the ring at the Greenup County Fair and emerged with a big grin and a Grand Champion banner.

For Johnson, 19, the 2008 fair will be his last, ending nearly a decade of competition.

“This is it!” he said, still smiling as a friend congratulated him as he urged his champion feeder calf back to the barn. “All good things have to come to an end.”

After having their photograph made, Johnson’s father, Kevin, said to nobody in particular, “This has been a pretty good day so far.”

Johnson, now in his final year of study at Ashland Community and Technical College, where he is studying industrial maintenance, said he will continue working with the 25 to 30 head of cattle on the family farm, although he won’t be dedicating the approximately 40 hours or more required each week to raise another champion.

“I’ve told many people I don’t know what I’m going to do with all the free time,” he said with a laugh. In reality, he has plenty to keep him busy as he pursues his associate degree and maintains a full-time job at Lowe’s in Russell.

“I will be done in May and then it’s job-searching time,” he said, adding he hopes to become part of the team at Marathon Oil.

Looking back on his years of cattle competitions, Johnson said he’s quite pleased to have collected honors including grand champion feeder calves during the last two years and first place in the market steer category for the four years before.

“Nah, that’s not too bad at all,” he said humbly, recalling his earliest interest in working with livestock was sparked by watching his friend Myca Bush.

Johnson dedicated his final fair appearance to the memory of his grandfather, Bill Johnson, who was responsible for establishing the family’s farm operation. His mother, Anita, said she believes her son has learned a great deal from his involvement with cattle, 4-H and other agricultural activities, which have also helped keep the family close.

“You travel together. You work hard together and the children learn responsibility,” Anita Johnson said, citing safety as the first lesson for any youngster getting involved with livestock.

“I think the responsibility they learn is the important part. They learn that animal depends on them solely for every bite they take and every drink they get. I think 4-H and FFA both don’t get the recognition they deserve for what it helps the children to achieve,” she concluded.

Kevin and Anita Johnson were quick to say their son wasn’t the only one who put a lot of effort into this year’s livestock selection, citing hard work by young people including Courtney Tackett, Brad Bailey, Kristin Miller and her sister Nicole Miller, Jason VanVibber, Ashley Wireman, Emily Brown, as well as siblings Sarah, Luke and Hannah Waters.

Kristin Miller, 13, took second place for her heifer, and was visibly excited on behalf of her sister, Nicole, 16, who claimed Grand Champion Heifer status and Reserve Grand Champion in the feeder cattle division. The sisters agreed they “have a lot of fun” raising their animals in addition to learning about the responsibilities involved and meeting others involved in similar projects.

Their father, Mike Miller, could barely speak as he showed pride in his daughters’ efforts and praised their dedication and perseverance following the death of their mother more than a year ago.

As cattle judges, contestants, volunteers and audience members alike enjoyed a lunch break, others were just getting busy. A steady stream of entrants made their way inside to submit items from art to canned vegetables and hand-stitched quilts for judging.

Looking over the early entries, long-time volunteer Ann Barker said “quilts are up a lot this year,” estimating more than two dozen of the covers awaiting arrangement. Canned goods, she said, appeared to be “down a little this year,” citing the gardening challenges faced by local growers in recent months.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.