The youngest 4-H kids keep control of their swine.
4-H competitors have to control their swine and keep an eye on the judge at all times.
Photos by Scott Halasz | Greene County News
Reese Smith is on her way to a fourth-place finish after not being able to show the last two years.
Kenley Guess holds some ribbons she is about to pass out to placers. Not long after that, she was given her own ribbon for winning.
XENIA — Reese Smith was forced to be a spectator during the swine showmanship the last two years.
“My pigs had either been overweight or underweight,” the Clover Valley 4-H club member said.
This year, the Bellbrook Middle School eighth grader finally made into the show ring and she made the most of it. Reese finished fourth in her intermediate class, a group packed with solid competition.
“I was a little nervous but I was a little confident,” Smith said.
Her confidence stemmed from an off-season purchase her family made.
“We actually bought a scale,” Smith said. “I worked her her every single day. I just felt with the scale I was going to do better.”
And she did in earning her first ribbon.
But having to sit for two years wasn’t all that bad, however. Like a rookie quarterback holding a clipboard on the sideline his first season, Smith was able to watch and absorb everything she could.
“I learned a lot of the techniques,” she said. “I watched the older kids. It helps me.”
And it gave her an idea of what to expect from the judges.
“You kind of have to see what they like,” she said.
And the judges obviously liked what they saw in Smith.
— Kenley Guess spent much of the morning handing out ribbons to other competitors as a member of the fair pork royalty.
But when her junior age class was called to the ring, the 11-year-old turned into a recipient, winning class one and overall junior showman. That earned her a spot in the final drive for the second year in a row, against the same senior and intermediate overall showmen.
Guess, who was a bit nervous being interviewed, felt “good” about winning again.
But this year was a more special as she earned a belt buckle, made just for this year’s overall showmen.
“I’ve never won one,” Guess said. “I get to wear it to different shows.”
She shows her animals during the winter and summer months.
— Landen Terrill was the overall showmen, besting Guess and senior overall showman Adam Cline, last year’s overall showman. Terrill won intermediate show class two to earn a spot in the final drive.
— Adam Cline was the senior class one winner, followed by Blake Schwartzkopf, Huel Culbreath, Reagan Saunders, and Kirk Mason. Sydnee Hawkins won class two, followed by Julia Fleck, Emma Jamison, Riley Smith, and Kohen Liming. Braxton Deyo won class three, followed by Madison Leslie, Corey Stone, Mackenzie Ankeney, and Owen VanTress. Hagan Witt won class four, followed by Lauren Fleck, Dane Hart, Ava Fisher, and Emma Slone.
— Bryce Atley won intermediate class one, followed by Aubrey Lide, Myleigh Marinelli, Reese Smith, and Colt McKay. Following Landen Terrill in intermediate class two were Alyssa Miller, Derrick Miller, Allie Ankeney, and Casen Hawkins. Lilly Liming won class three, followed by Annie Hart, Abigail Leslie, Eliza Spracklen, and Black Atley.
— Following Kenley Guess in junior class one were Gavin Hartley, Addison Chambliss, Madison Thiel, and Landon Davis. Hunter Hartley won class two, followed by Avery Hawkins, Ally Hawkins, Jase Baudendistel, and Cordelia Pike. Luke Sharrett won class three, followed by Tate Atley, Delaney Spracklen, Josephine Fulton, and Tinley Sharrett.
Reach Scott Halasz at 937-502-4507.
