In a category where they not only have to show off their projects but themselves too, Cleveland kids continued to shine in Le Sueur County fair 4H livestock showmanship competitions.
Fourth grader Natalie Flowers (left) and fifth grader Amelia Baker (right) were champion and reserve champion respectively in the beginner category at the swine show, which took place Saturday morning.
It was Flowers’ first time officially competing in showmanship. Two years ago she was in the ring as a Clover Bud (K-2 kids who participate but don’t compete). As this year’s fair was approaching, she worked with her 262-lb barrow every day, taking it for walks around a farm east of Cleveland where she housed it.
“I like my pig,” she said. “He is my own first pig because I used to show my sister’s pig. So today was awesome.”
Flowers’ sister Kaitlyn Flowers, a seventh grader, was reserve champion in swine intermediate showmanship. Seventh grader Marshall Heldberg continued to have a good run at the fair as champion in intermediate showmanship at the sheep show on Thursday.
The 4Hers' Le Sueur County fair experience concluded on Sunday with Ribbon Auction, where their ribbons went to the highest bidder (typically a business). Monies raised go back into the 4H program.
Escorted by her brother Marshall, third grader Jacquelyn Heldberg participated in "lamb lead" before the sheep show on Thursday. In the contest, the 4Hers, wearing a wool-based outfit, lead their lamb around the ring. Heldberg, a second-year Clover Bud, is wearing a 100-percent wool sweater and a wool blend skirt. Her outfit is topped with a 100-percent wool felt hat. She and her ewe lamb “Samantha,” decked in a wool scarf for the show, went for walks every day as they prepared for the fair. Later in the lamb lead contest, Marshall, wearing a 100-percent wool sweater and 50-percent wool blend pants, showed his market lamb “Brown Eye,” the son of the first ewe lamb he ever showed at the fair.
Kaitlyn Flowers was reserve champion in intermediate swine showmanship.
Natalie Flowers guides her pig around the ring.
Eighth grader Samantha Baker competed in the swine show.
Seventh grader Haddie Jobe won a blue ribbon with her doe goat.
Fifth grader Amelia Baker parades her pig around the arena.
A day after winning the intermediate beef showman blue ribbon, Marshall Heldberg was the top intermediate showman at the sheep show.