By Kerry Rahm
krahm@wbcowqel.com
Cool summer mornings seem to agree with a lot of us, and did to the hogs as well at Monday’s Crawford County Fair Swine Showmanship show.
The hogs deferred to their young, capable owners, who were armed with colorful whips and a whole lot of poise.
The seriousness and professionalism of the young showmen cut through their charges squeals and grunts (and occasional outright runaways), with the kid’s eyes focused always on the prize.
“Cool and calm” was a phrase used often by Swine Showmanship Judge Trevor Kirkpatrick, 
and he demonstrated it himself as he was tasked with narrowing down the fields in three divisions – Senior, Intermediate, and Junior – eventually selecting the top five.
Kirkpatrick then had to single out each division’s top winner, and he conveyed how impressed he was with the entire field this year.
“Very, very good. I think although we kind of started with seniors and worked our way down, the quality never budged, no matter what age division it was. Very impressive.”
It’s a rather strict set of criteria the showmen are judged upon, and he relayed what factors were most important to him.
“In showmanship, I want a showman that looks like they’re in their element, you know, you can tell an athlete when they’re on the basketball court, they just kind of have that look.
“I want them to be kind of an ambassador for the industry, dressed properly, shirts tucked in and all that kind of thing, but on top of that, the skill sets… and each age division has their different parameters, but especially in the Senior Division, I want a person who can not only not cross over, meaning they don’t come in between the pig and myself, they keep their hog at a constant steady pace.
“They all need to look professional, as if this were an interview, and you have a hog in the ring, and that’s pretty much what it amounts to,” he said.
Alexus Burkhart took the crown in the Senior Division this year, and approached training for the show as competitively as she approaches anything else in life.
“(It feels) pretty good, I worked hard for it,” she said.
“Knowing the great competition that was out there with me, I mean, I had to be ready to compete, ‘cause I knew there was good showmen out there along with me.”
As for the name of the hog that took her to victory?
“His name is Ezekiel Elliott, and he’s probably one of the tamest pigs I’ve ever had in all my years of showing.”
Results
Senior Showmanship:
1. Alexus Burkhart
2. Kelsie Williams
3. Lori Millenbaugh
4. Bronwyn Leonhardt
5. Taylor Niese
Intermediate Showmanship:
1. Alan Leonhardt
2. Addie Wood
3. Lexi Wood
4. Allison Scott
5. Lyndie Williams
Junior Showmanship:
1. Brandon Vent
2. Mallorie Williams
3. Devin Siefert
4. Kylee Bloomfield
5. James Schiefer