“Ace,” the 1,295-pound, black Maine-Anjou steer shown by Sentinel FFA Vice President Risa Ridling was named Grand Champion Steer at the 2007 Oklahoma Youth Expo in the “Big House” in Oklahoma City. Ace sold in the Sale of Champions for $50,000.

Risa is the 17-year-old daughter of Ronny and Robyn Ridling of Sentinel. Her FFA advisor is Larry Peck. Her grandparents are Barton and Orlene of Sentinel and Val and Sharie Reneau of Lindsay. The steer was raised by Colby and Shelly Collins of Collins Cattle Company, Frederick, Okla.

The grand award topped off a year of hard work and helped lessen the disappointment of Risa's bad luck. Risa's been a fast pitch softball champion in 2004, a state academic champion and a two-time runner-up in softball. She knows what it's like to be a champion and winning grand champion was the ultimate experience of all. But this year, she broke her right hand in the regional basketball tournament and when her team made it to the state tournament, she wasn't able to play.

But she still managed to make it to the “Big House” and be a champion even with a cast. The Oklahoma Youth Expo is the state championship for FFA and 4-H kids. The staff makes this an awesome event rolling out the red carpet for these kids and making it as special as possible.

Risa contributes here success to all the help from her mom and day, her brother Ryan, her sister Richelle, her uncle Randy Ridling and her friends. It takes a lot of work to win this highest level.

This year's Oklahoma Expo, the World's Largest Junior Livestock Show, was dedicated to the late Justin Whitefield who was the director of the OYE. It was a great show and the greatest experience for Risa Ridling and “Ace.”