'Holy cow': Wayne County 4-H member transforms steer into Ohio State marching band drum major

Owen Bailey wanted to go big for the Clark County Cattle Battle.

The Wayne County 4-H member knew Ohio State football tight end Cade Stover and linebacker Steele Chambers would be judging the costume contest that raised money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.

And Bailey wanted to impress them.

"My mom said that we should dress (the steer) up as a cheerleader," Bailey said. "And I said that was kind of boring."

The 13-year-old instead transformed his steer "Zeus" into an Ohio State University Marching Band drum major, garnering the attention of the band itself, who shared the picture on Twitter with the caption "Holy cow."

The costume itself was simple, according to Bailey.

He and members of his family created a foam hat with a feathered plume and doctored up a bedsheet to look like the coat Ohio State University Marching Band drum majors wear.

"When we made it," Bailey said of the hat, "we went out to the barn and put it on him. And he just looked at himself in the mirror."

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Zeus, whom Bailey has had since August, even "held" a baton, which was attached to his ear.

Bailey presented the steer while he was wearing a Stover jersey and an Ohio State football helmet and while the Buckeyes' marching band repertoire played in the background.

"Steele Chambers was pretty impressed by it," Bailey said. "He kept running back to Cade like, 'This thing's crazy.' "

While Bailey did not win the competition, he said word of the best damn bovine in the land got around after the picture was shared on social media. (Video of Bailey and Zeus also ended up on TikTok.)

"It's pretty crazy," Bailey said. "When I went to school the day after, my teachers saw it. "

Following in the footsteps of his parents, who also participated in 4-H, Bailey said he wasn't sure how he would follow up next year's costume contest.

"I haven't thought that far," he said.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Wayne County youth transforms steer into OSU marching band drum major