Jordan Studer
CCN Reporter
BUCYRUS—There’s just something about preparing an animal for the county fair that has a way to strengthen the bond of a family. This was very evident at the Crawford County Fair Dairy Feeder Show Wednesday evening.
When talking to and watching many champions, one thing remained consistent. Behind each successful showmen and their dairy feeder was the help and support of the entire family.
This rang true for Luke Holman of Heartland 4-H Club, who took home the title of Grand Champion Overall Dairy Feeder.
Upon winning, Holman was met excitedly and emotionally by a large group of family and friends ready to congratulate.
Last year was Holman’s first year showing Dairy Feeders and after winning Reserve Champion Overall Dairy Feeder, Holman was hungry for the title of Grand Champion.
In order to get one step higher than last year, Holman knew he would have to put in a lot of hard work and daily dedication.
His mother, Christy Holman, couldn’t contain her tears of joy upon seeing her son win.
She expressed that she had no words for her excitement, as she knew what hard work he had put in to get to this point.
Holman’s sister, Lainey, who joined him in the show arena with her own Dairy Feeder, explained that seeing her brother win was just as amazing for her.
“It’s awesome, I had goosebumps!” L. Holman expressed.
Making the most of her first appearance showing Dairy Feeders was nine-year-old Myla Harding of the Galion Blue Ribbon Achievers 4-H Club. Harding and her lightweight Dairy Feeder, Oreo, won the title of Reserve Champion Overall Dairy Feeder.
Young Harding filled the show arena with smiles. Upon winning, she was met with just as many smiles outside of the arena by her close-knit family.
Harding has two older siblings who got her excited to show, her older brother Gradey and their oldest sister, Nora.
G. Harding was able to join his younger sister taking home a victory. In the Intermediate Dairy Feeder Showmanship, he received the title of Reserve Champion.
Although N. Harding was not able to take home her own winning title Wednesday evening, she has clenched winning titles during her previous time showing at the Richland County Fair. Those victories and her love for showing, subsequently prepared the way for her younger siblings to follow in her footsteps at the Crawford County Fair.
The Harding siblings father, Matt, was the one who first got the kids excited about showing, as he had many years of experience from his childhood.
When asking him how it feels to get to help his kids prepare for the show arena, he couldn’t help but smile and express, “I love it. There’s really no words. God’s good!”
And although their mother, Stacey Harding, does not have the past experience like her husband, she has loved every minute. She explained what joy she has had seeing how having the whole family prepare for the county fair together has strengthened their bond.
“It’s been amazing. It’s brought our whole family together, it’s been a family effort,” S. Harding said, “we’re very blessed.”
All three siblings are very involved in many activities outside of 4-H, yet they always made time to take care of and spend time with their calves.
The siblings collectively explained how hard they worked each and every day no matter how early they had to wake up before school or how late they had to stay up after their activities finished. They all agreed that the best part of preparing their Dairy Feeders was giving them baths and spending time with them.
When asking what pieces of advice they would give new-comers to showing Dairy Feeders, they all three had wise words to share.
“Walk them A LOT. You get them used to everything,” N. Harding recommended.
G. Harding suggested to never miss a spot when giving the Dairy Feeder a bath, “Washing their knees every day. And work hard.”
Smiling from ear to ear, young Myla’s advice was short and sweet, yet is often forgotten, “Have fun!”
Ending the show Wednesday night winning Grand Champion Overall Holstein Steer was Zachary Harer. Harer was also named Holstein Market Steer Showmanship winner, and Holstein Market Steer & Dairy Feeder Showmanship “Show Down” winner.
Harer expressed how much he enjoyed preparing for the fair and he was happy that his hard paid off. With a lot of experience showing, Harer said that his best piece of advice for young showmen was to learn from the older showmen.
“Always look up to your older people, like your seniors. Ask them questions and advice to make you better than what you already are,” Harer said.
Results from the evenings show can be found below:
Senior Dairy Feeder Showmanship
Grand Champion- Michelle Flick
Reserve Champion- Caleb Rausch
Intermediate Dairy Feeder Showmanship
Grand Champion- James Schiefer
Reserve Champion- Gradey Harding
Junior Dairy Feeder Showmanship
Grand Champion- Andrew Pope
Reserve Champion- Brooke Frombaugh
Holstein Market Steer Showmanship
Grand Champion- Zachary Harer
Reserve Champion- Avery Langenderfer
Senior Dairy Feeder and Holstein Market Steer Showmanship “Show Down”
Grand Champion- Zachary Harer
Reserve Champion- Michelle Flick
Lightweight:
Grand Champion- Myla Harding
Reserve Champion- Michelle Flick
Middleweight:
Grand Champion- Bruce Shull
Reserve Champion- Sydney Corwin
Heavyweight:
Grand Champion- Luke Holman
Reserve Champion- Devin Siefert
Overall Dairy Feeder:
Grand Champion- Luke Holman
Reserve Champion- Myla Harding
Dairy Feeder Skillathon Winners:
Senior- Sydnee Corwin
Intermediate- Luke Holman
Junior- Brooke Frombaugh
Overall Holstein Market Steer:
Grand Champion- Zachary Harer
Reserve Champion- Sydnee Corwin