A young lady is following in her grandmother’s footsteps after earning top showmanship honors at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo February 3.

Eleven-year-old Karnes City Junior High Student McKenna Kimble took first place in the showmanship junior division while showing one of her own longhorn halter steers. She’s the granddaughter of Karnes City resident Joyce Kimble, owner of the most famous longhorn herd in the county and the iconic, award-winning longhorn steer "Wow."

McKenna has started her own herd, comprised of longhorns descended from Wow’s parents, and plans to continue the family tradition. She’s the daughter of Scott and Maclynn Kimble.

Joyce said it makes her feel proud to have someone from the younger generation following in the family footsteps.

"That is something she wants to do. She started showing last year. This is her fourth or fifth time out and she’s won first in showmanship three times," Joyce said. "I want her to be the owner and exhibitor. I don’t want her to be exhibiting somebody else’s (animals)."

It’s hard work getting an animal that weighs more than 1,000 pounds — sometimes more than 2,000 pounds — to do as you say.

"It’s a tremendous education. They (the steers) have got to turn, stop, hold their heads the right way, you have to know how to place their feet, (and) make them stand straight. She and her daddy work hours out in the barn training them," Joyce said. "The wonderful part of this is she wins scholarship money in certain shows. She’s already won several hundred dollars."

Joyce also earned a few top honors at the San Antonio show.

Her longhorn steer Mojo won junior grand champion steer and his brother Luke took reserve champion in the same category. Also, her steer Ranger took reserve champion in the senior trophy steer category.