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Rachel Rolando and her goat Lucifer land Grand Champion title at State Fair in Pueblo

Rachel Rolando and her Grand Champion goat Lucifer took top honors at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo. Now, she is showing her animals at the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
Rebecca Rolando/courtesy

On Monday, Rachel Rolando sat in her motel room in Pueblo resting, still trying to absorb the events of the past several days.

“My hard work finally paid off,” Rolando said. “I never thought that I would ever get there, so I haven’t really figured it out yet. … I’m kind of still in shock. I never thought that I would win the state fair. You really don’t think about it, because it doesn’t seem real.”

On Saturday, Rolando showed her goat, Lucifer, which won Grand Champion in the Market Division of the Colorado State Fair. The two will step into the arena a final time Tuesday as part of the livestock show, in which Lucifer will be sold to the top bidder.



“I thought that I would do well, but I didn’t necessarily think that I was going to win it,” Rolando said.

But, after the Lucifer was named Grand Champion in the heavyweight division, Rolando knew there was a chance she could bring the top prize back home to Hayden.



“I knew that we were going to win one out of three spots, and the heavyweight usually has the best chance of winning,” she said. “I knew that I had a pretty good chance.”

It was the third time Rolando has shown in the goat division in Pueblo; her previous best was a sixth place finish in the division. She is a regular at shows across Colorado and the region and has won several times at the Routt County Fair — but this was her best finish, by far.

“I alway make sure that I take a really good one (goat) to show at the county fair, but I saved my best goat for state fair this year, which is the goat that I won with.” Rolando said.

Her mother, Rebecca, could not have been any more proud of her daughter and the work she has put into Lucifer since purchasing the goal in March.

“We are so excited and happy that we just don’t know,” Rebecca Rolando said. “It has all happened so quickly. She has won at Routt County Fair a couple of times, but nothing this big.”

And Rachel Rolando wasn’t the only Grand Champion from Routt County at this year’s state fair.

Emmitt Meyring won Grand Champion in the Intermediate class in the beef showmanship and was one of nine Routt County 4-H members to compete in livestock events at this year’s fair. Others Routt County wins included Rolando (market goat), Meyring (market beef and showmanship),  Justin Heid (market goat and showmanship), Kayla Wille (market sheep and showmanship) and Kally and Jaycee May (market swine and showmanship).

Greta Thurston and Cosette McLaughlin competed in the 4-H Western and Ranch Horse Versatility and also in American Quarter Horse Versatility.

“This is the biggest group we have had in the six years that I’ve been going,” said Tami Eggers, Routt County Extension Agent. “There have always been one or two kids, but to have a kid in every species and to have a Grand Champion and a Champion in showmanship is amazing.

Tuesday’s auction can be viewed live at livestream.com/barnmedia/2017csf.

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email jrussell@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @Framp1966.


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