“Doing what I can and showing the judge and the other kids how I do it,” said Kelsey Stockfish.
Competing in your first showmanship competition at your first Northwestern Michigan Fair can be overwhelming.
“First, I was nervous because I didn’t know exactly what to do, but then he kind of settled in and it all got better,” she said.
8-year-old Kelsey Stockfish started preparing early this morning.
“You gotta brush him out and wiped off his nose because it was kind of yucky,” she explained.
After showing off the lamb she listens patiently as the judge shares her feedback until she makes her final call.
An emotional win for this young competitor.
“I was happy,” she said with a smile on her face.
And after this year’s success, she’s already excited to take on next year’s challenge.
“Junior Beef,” she said.
After the Showmanship Class comes the Market Show.
“You walk him around and you have to brace him and square up his legs, and then you try to make him lean into you so can show off their muscles,” said Braden Rice.
Like the loin…
“It’s from like their hip bone to their last rib and that’s one of the expensive cuts of meat on the lamb,” he said.
And the rack.
“They look for the meat around their ribs,” he said.
12-year-old Braden Rice has been working up to this show for quite some time.
“We’re walking him up and down hills, getting muscles built, feeding him grain and trying to get him used to you and not so crazy,” Braden said.
Clearly all that hard work paid off. Braden’s face lights up as he claims his blue ribbon.
“This is my first year, I didn’t think I would get first place,” he said.
Earning a win, a lot of pride, and some congratulatory love from his family.
It’s an activity they can all enjoy together.
“It’s fun to do 4-H, it’s fun to camp at the fairgrounds, take care of animals, it’s fun it gives you something to do in the summer,” he said.
For a full list of activities the rest of the week, click .
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