By Kerry Rahm
krahm@wbcowqel.com
It was a slow, hot day at the Crawford County Fair Thursday morning, but the Junior Fair Dairy Show went off without a hitch.
Heifers moved slowly. The heat made some of the animals a bit unruly, some plodded along, some were dragged by their handlers. Some moved leisurely.
For two young exhibitors, Sydnee Corwin and Megan Lyons, getting their heifers to obey was no problem, as both were awarded showmanship titles.
Corwin, of 4-H Club Dairy Maids and Gents, took showman in the intermediate division.
When asked how it felt to have her hard work rewarded, the polite thirteen-year-old Corwin replied, “Makes me feel good.”
She showed Paige, her three-month old heifer, and was pleased with Paige’s performance.
“She did great. I didn’t think she was going to do this well, but she did pretty good.”
She chose Paige because “I just think she’s a little more structured and she’s calm, tame.”
Corwin chose to spread the love to her fellow exhibitors by pronouncing, “I hope everybody does well!”
Eighteen-year-old Lyons, also of Dairy Maids and Gents, was a first time senior showman winner.
“Feels pretty good,” she said of being chosen for the top spot. “It’s the first time I’ve done it, so… it’s a new experience, and it was really fun.”
Just like many of the top showmen this week, she’s got a plan to prep for Showman of Showmen this Friday.
“I’m a little nervous for it, I’ve only ever worked with cattle, but I think it will be a new, fun challenge to take on. I’m going to go talk to some of my friends after the show about the different animals.”
Turns out her heifer, Ladybug, may have had an unintentional ace in the hole.
“She’s just a really nice heifer, she stands pretty well for me, she’s also pregnant, so she’s not moving anywhere too fast.”
The pregnancy was advantageous, and not a hindrance, according to Lyons, who said “I absolutely think that’s a factor, why she stood so well for me today.”
But the competition wasn’t without its challenges, as Lyons had to think quickly on her feet.
“I didn’t anticipate the question that [the judge] asked us. He asked what we liked best about our heifer, and what we didn’t like so much about our heifer. I mean, you spend a lot of time around them, you start learning and figuring out their features, and what you like best, so you just gotta kind of roll with it.”
Lyons’ enthusiasm is evident in the fact that she is happy with the process, and not just the end result, saying “Honestly, I just enjoy the experience, I love doing it, I’m a pre-vet major at the University of Findlay, so this is kind of right up my alley. I really enjoy doing it.
“I would just like to encourage other young 4H’ers to get out and try new things, and do it while it lasts because it flies by, but you’re gonna love it, every second.”
Kyle Hudson showed the Grand Champion when it came to judging animals. Shannon Crabtree was Reserve Grand Champion.
Results
Senior
Showman: Megan Lyons
Reserve: Taylor Lutz
Intermediate
Showman: Sydnee Corwin
Reserve: Madison Tieben
Junior
Showman: Lane Bauer
Reserve: Connor Corwin
Overall
Grand Champion: Kyle Hudson
Reserve Champion: Shannon Crabtree