Lake County Fair round-robin champions
Olivia Clairmont left earned the senior grand champion showmanship ribbon at the large animal competition, while Grace Elverud, right, took the top junior and top overall showmanship awards. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
A sheep got loose and ran around the arena during the large animal round robin. Sheep judge Ron Cullis didn't hesitate in getting some dirt on his clothes. Once the sheep was surrounded, Cullis wrestled the animal to the ground and regained control, much to the enjoyment those watching in the arena. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Toby Cantlon brought his grand champion blue cochin bantam to the small animal round robin and earned a reserve champion ribbon. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Kemrie Cross shows her grand champion hog. Kemrie also had the senior grand champion beef entry this year. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Lina Sturman showed her grand champion goat at the large animal round robin before winning grand champion junior showmanship and overall showmanship ribbons at the small animal round robin. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Judge Nicole Lake awards the senior small animal showmanship trophy to Maddy Evelo, while reserve champion Kaydee Wheeler watches at left. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
RONAN ー The Lake County Fair’s elite animals and showmanship experts gathered Saturday afternoon for the fair’s “crowning achievement,” as Fair Manager Sjaan Vincent put it.
Students whose animals had been awarded grand champion ribbons earlier in the week qualified to compete for the fair’s ultimate prize of round-robin champion.
Four round-robin competitions were held ー junior and senior categories for both large and small animals.
The large animals ー goat, sheep, hog, dairy cow, steer and horse ーkicked things off with the junior competition. Each species had a designated judge, and once students showed their animal for two minutes, the kids rotated to the next species until each student had a chance to show each grand champion animal. Judges submitted score cards after each round.
Grace Elverud of Charlo, who qualified with a grand champion steer, won the junior showmanship competition, which qualified her to compete with the seniors.
Kemrie Cross had two senior-level grand champions this year, a hog and a beef entry. She could only take one to the round robin, however, and she chose the hog. That allowed Olivia Clairmont of Ronan to bring her reserve champion beef entry to the round robin. It worked out great for Clairmont, who took the top prize among seniors.
When the top overall winner was announced, it was Elverud’s name who was called again, the junior stealing the spotlight from her older peers.
Next it was time for the small animals ー dog, cat, poultry and rabbit ー under the tent.
Lina Sturman of St. Ignatius brought her grand champion mini lop rabbit to the junior round robin and walked away with the top ribbon. Like Elverud before her, Sturman earned the right to compete with the seniors. Maddy Evelo, who qualified with her grand champion rabbit, won the senior showmanship top prize.
It was a youth revolution Saturday, however, as the younger Sturman earned the top score and was named overall small animal showmanship winner.
2021 Round Robin competitors
Senior Large Animal
Olivia Clairmont, beef
Hailey Hakes, goat
Kaydee Wheeler, sheep
Kemrie Cross, swine
Junior Large Animal
Grace Elverud, beef
Lina Sturman, goat
Hailey Bergh, sheep
Ryan Walchuck, swine
Jaylynn Buxham, dairy
Senior Small Animal
Kaydee Wheeler, dog
Maddy Evelo, rabbit
Aspen McKee, cat
Junior Small Animal
Lina Sturman, rabbit
Toby Cantlon, poultry
Kendalin Martin, cat
Sierra Symington, dog
