Lucero three-peat Fair champ

Incoming Rangely High School senior Corbin Lucero won big at the 2022 Rio Blanco County Fair, taking home Grand Champion Market Steer for the third year in a row. “It’s unbelievable really, I didn’t really think I could do it, but I don’t know, I just went and found better steers every year,” Lucero told the HT, noting, “It’s hard work but it’s fun.”

Lucero won in other categories this year, too. “I won senior showmanship, and then I also won grand champion carcass with my champion steer,” he said. “And I won premier exhibitor also.”

All those wins come as a result of dedication, and ability to persist in the face of a steep learning curve. “Every show you go to you kind of just learn a little bit more, and you just get a little bit used to it, so now it’s not as hard. It was really intimidating at first,” Lucero said. Nowadays, with more knowledge and experience under his belt, he feels more confident in areas like nutrition, and fitting his own steers. “It’s really hard to learn,” he said, “I don’t know how to explain it, it’s kinda like art I guess.”

In the next two weeks, in addition to starting his senior year of high school and Panther football, Lucero will continue his usual routine of getting up early and staying up late, preparing for the state fair in Pueblo. Following that, he’ll have one more year to compete in the county fair.

In 2020, Lucero told the HT, “I want to win three years in a row.” Having successfully accomplished that goal with this year’s win, he said that he’ll keep working hard to add one more to the streak. ‘I’m gonna try, I’m gonna give it my best.” Following competition next year, Lucero hopes to continue participating by helping his younger sister and eventually his own kids with the process, noting that in the meantime he is available to answer questions for anyone who asks.

In the past, Lucero’s desire to help others came from an appreciation of those who had helped him along the way. Now that desire is even stronger, following a head-on collision earlier this year involving his parents. While he said his family was starting to do better, the events surrounding the accident had motivated a shift in his plans for the future. “Before, I wanted to do government, but I don’t even know right now. I was thinking nursing,” he said, adding later, “It just kinda made me want to help someone, I guess you could say.”

Though Lucero’s exact career path is not yet set in stone, one thing is clear. When it comes to the county fair, he’s aiming to win again next year, and he doesn’t think the win will be easy. “Everyone else in Rio Blanco County, they’re starting to pick up their game,” said Lucero, noting that with stiff competition, “I’ve gotta go work harder I guess.”