FAIRMOUNT — Making his owners Kevin and Linda Payne very proud, a big brown bull named Eastwood won grand champion polled shorthorn at the 2008 Illinois State Fair.

The shorthorn contest at the state fair is the second largest in the country.

Eastwood is a formidable, but graceful presence.

At nearly 1,700 pounds the one-year-old Eastwood “floats,” when he walks, Kevin said.

At fair livestock competitions, judges sharply scrutinize how well an animal moves.

The bulls are led around a ring, and their footsteps should fall directly in line with one another. Any sideway lumbering on the part of an animal subtracts points because it could indicate a flawed bone structure or other physical imperfections.

Judges also look for a deep, thick build.

“He’s big boned with a full muscle — and he walks like a lady,” Kevin said.

Eastwood could be compared to a pampered fashion model — in terms of cattle, of course.

“He stands under two fans,” Kevin said. “He’s a baby.”

Kevin invites People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to visit Eastwood’s barn any time.

“We spend a whole lot more money on his food than ours,” Kevin said.

A family affair

Kevin and Linda’s lives revolve around the fair circuit.

Both have full-time, non-livestock jobs, but tend to their cattle before eating their own dinner and enjoying the evening.

“We take care of them and then ourselves,” Kevin said.

The accomplishment of raising a grand champion bull isn’t something one learns to do overnight.

Kevin and his three brothers and sister began competing in 4-H projects 40 years ago.

Kevin has been breeding champions since he was a teenager, when his high school principal let him out of school to attend livestock artificial insemination classes.

Over the years, the Payne family has developed their system of cattle breeding.

Eastwood’s mother, a cow named Luck Be a Lady, is kept at Kevin’s parents’ farm in Danville.

Terry Payne, Kevin’s dad, said the key to raising champions begins with good genes.

“The main thing is, you have to keep trying to breed them,” he said.

“You’ve gotta use the right genetics and hopefully everything will turn out all right.”

He was pleased to learn of the big win this year.

“We’ve had calf champions in Illinois, but never did have a grand champion,” he said.

Feeding the future champions the best food is the next task.

“We feed them good on a corn and oats supplement,” Terry said, “the best we can find when they come off the cow.”

One such young calf, named Rawhide, was taken away from his mother this week.

He was moved to Kevin and Linda’s place while his mom stayed behind at the Danville farm.

Rawhide is Eastwood’s half brother, and the two look out for one another.

If the other is near, the two moo back and forth in affectionate reassurance.

“He’s just checking on him,” Kevin said of Eastwood.

Eastwood will come to the gate of the Paynes’ barn and moo for Rawhide, who is in his own stall eating oats.

Rawhide also will make the rounds at the fairs when he’s big enough.

At about 700 pounds, the six-month-old will grow to be 1,100 to 1,200 pounds.

More competition

The high level of competition in livestock shows is intense, but for the size of their operation, the Paynes are doing well.

“We beat a $60,000 bull,” Kevin said.

The Paynes have six or seven cows they use for breeding, but they’re up against some competitors who have more than 100 cows, Kevin said.

Eastwood also has won big accolades at the Duquoin State Fair and in Memphis, Tenn.

The family looks forward to November, when they will take Eastwood to the nation’s largest shorthorn show in Louisville, Ky.