Kids take the spotlight at livestock shows

Livestock competitions took center stage Thursday at the Shawano County Fair, as hundreds of kids paraded alongside their best hogs and cattle with dreams of blue ribbons and cash paydays.

The coliseum building drew big crowds of family and friends throughout the day to cheer on their favorite junior competitors, ages 5 and up, from 4-H and FFA clubs all across the county.

During the county fair’s first full day of activities, kids enjoyed their moment in the spotlight, proudly presenting livestock that they have spent months nurturing and grooming for competition.

At stake was not only the thrill of being a county fair winner, but also the chance for a big payoff when the best swine and beef specimens are sold to the highest bidders at an auction Friday night.

“This is a big deal to a lot of kids,” said John Shively, father of three young competitors from the town of Richmond. “This is what they look forward to all year.”

Competitors first brought out their prized pigs and hogs starting early in the morning. That was followed in the afternoon by the cattle competition featuring an assortment of heifers, steers and calves.

Tyler Tonkin, an agriculture professional who judged both competitions, said he was impressed by both the quality of livestock produced in Shawano County and the showmanship displayed by the young competitors. Tonkin said he saw several prize-worthy entries in almost every class.

“You can tell the people who’ve been in it for a while,” he said. “You can tell they’ve been practicing.”

The livestock are judged in various weight classes based on their physical appearance and estimated market value. The kids compete for showmanship prizes — in classes ranging from pee wee to high school- and college-aged — based on their ability to present their livestock in the coliseum show ring.

An estimated 20 4-H clubs throughout the county come together at the fair for friendly competition.

“It is fun, and I look forward to it,” said Spencer Inman, 14, of the town of Lessor. “But it gets hectic.”

After years of competition with pigs and hogs, Inman was trying his hand this year at showing cattle. Getting a steer ready for county fair was harder work, he said, but he enjoyed the reward of competing and the opportunity to work with such an impressive animal in preparation for Thursday’s big moment.

“You get to trust each other,” he said. “You form a friendship.”

Shively’s older son, Sean Shively, 17, captured second place for showmanship and first place in his market class with a 250-pound hog he calls “The Destroyer.” Sean figured the prizes would look good on his resume in the job market, and he had high hopes that the champion swine would draw $900 or more at Friday’s auction.

Getting an animal ready for county fair typically takes an entire summer of work, Sean said. He added: “It’s sometimes challenging. But it’s worth it.”

Parents, grandparents and others filled the grandstands in the coliseum and craned their necks to catch a glimpse of their favorite competitors in the show ring.

Nora Scray, of Pulaski, rooted for her two sons, Parker, 13, and Carter, 7, both of whom competed in the swine show. Scray said the family has no farm, but the kids purchase newborn pigs each year and raise them for the fair.

The hobby teaches the kids how to be responsible for a living thing, and the family looks forward to the county fair competition, Scray said.

“It’s a good family event,” she said.

Tonkin, who also judges livestock shows elsewhere in Wisconsin, said he appreciates that the Shawano competition is organized neatly into age groups, so that young newcomers do not have to go up against more experienced older kids.

He also said the skills and work ethic exhibited by the younger kids in Shawano County bodes well for future shows here.

“There’s a lot of good young kids,” he said. “As they get older, the competition’s only going to get tougher.”