This is not a bad looking calf, particularly for your first year showing. It takes a few years for most kids to figure some things out, and I think you're ahead of the pack for first timers.
The first thing I thought was, "That's an ugly steer." LOL Sorry. And I was just referring to his color. Some people will like that, and it may even be one of the reasons you picked him out! I think he WILL stand in a bunch of black calves if you're county show is anything like most of em. That can be good, or it can be bad...if he's good, the judge won't lose him. If the judge doesn't like him...he still won't lose him! But color shouldn't have anything to do with where he places...the biggest obstacle getting around some colored calves is they can be harder to get to look perfect on show day because you can actually SEE the calf, and that's not really the case so much on a black or darker colored one.
To be fair, it's hard to really evaluate the calf from those pictures. I read the earlier post which I thought seemed a little critical, and I actually thought there were some contradictions in those descriptions..."like to see him drop his flank" and "he looks to...have adequate depth." And I don't think it's fair to talk about him "from behind" when we haven't see the calf from behind...
That's not to say we can't imagine what kind of shape he MIGHT have when we do get behind him, and that's a view the judge will certainly want to see. Muscle expression is read by examining the calf's shape and width down his top and throughout his shoulder and rump. Natural width, or how far apart he stands between his front feet and his rear feet, is also an indication of muscling.
I don't think the photo is a true profile shot of the calf, so that makes him appear shorter bodied than I imagine he might be. A more flattering photo might show his real length of side if the camera angle was more square with the side of calf and shooting at a right angle to the center of his body.
My critique of the calf and your photography aside, my advice for working hair is to start yesterday! He looks like you've been brushing on him, but go ahead and clip him out ASAP. The hair will be much easier to train if it's shorter, and get some help from someone who knows what he's doing if you have the option. Have a 4-H agent or another exhibitor who has more experience at least start the process and talk to you about why they're doing what they're doing so it makes sense to you. Try to understand the grooming and presentation of the steer, and that'll give you a big advantage over just leading him out in front of a judge. During your show, pay as much attention as you can and listen to the judge's explanation of any class you have time to watch, and that'll help you in selecting your calf next year. Study the differences between the calves at the top of their classes and the calves placed at the bottom.
Good luck with him! And have fun.
Oh and the hoof trimmer is coming in two weeks. 
