A calm Kelly was key to victory
By Ann Marie Chechalk
After a spring and summer of preparing for the show ring, 4-H members from the Niagara Goat Club, Lincoln Dairy Club, Niagara Beef Club and the Niagara Poultry Club were well equipped for the Grand Champion Showperson Competition.
The event happens after each club’s Achievement Day at the West Niagara Fair. The top showman from each club is the representative for this auspicious challenge. The winner of the competition receives a trophy sponsored and created by Frankie’s Goats, (Scott and Joanne Battersby and family) and Fine-Line Woodwork and Design Inc (Jeff and Tricia DeBoer and family).
To achieve the status of Grand Champion Showman each member must show an animal from all the different clubs and be judged on a score out of 50 with a variety of judges. A member may only win this competition once showing the same breed of animal. Members may compete again showing a different breed.
With many anxious parents and siblings and 4-H leaders in the audience, they began showing the beef calves, goats, birds, and dairy calves.
The competition took place this year on Friday evening Sept. 11 in the Richardson Building at the West Niagara Fair. Hailey Dawson from the Beef Club, Emily Kelly from the Goat Club, Hadessah Lodewyk from the Poultry Club, and Kaylee Hart of the Lincoln Dairy Club were all pleased and excited to show off their showmanship skills.
After a very long day of showing in their achievement programs and then handling tired and strong willed animals these showmen were still in excellent form and tried their best with animals and ring procedures.
The results were tabulated while anxious parents, friends and competitors waited for the outcome. The Grand Champion Showperson for 2026 must be congratulated for confidence in the show ring. Emily Kelly was very pleased to accept the title and the trophy from Jeff DeBoer.
“I knew how to show the poultry, as we have chickens at home, I think that helped me. I also stayed calm when the goat I was showing jumped up several times,” she said.
Coordinator Jonathan Dugdale said, “All competitors did an outstanding job. As well, all competitors scored incredibly well. All scores are kept secret and never revealed.”
Equally impressive as the winning of the trophy was the good sportsmanship of the other members who smiled, and congratulated Kelly on her win. A job well done!
There was some jumping and whooping from the goat club members and leaders who were watching.
Previous winners in the past 25 years (two are missing due to the COVID-19 pandemic): 2000 - Caroline Vaughan, Dairy Club; 2001 - April Grabell, Beef Club; 2002 - Laura McDougall, Dairy Club; 2003 - Justin Evans, Dairy Club; 2004 - Stephanie Forbes, Mini Horse Club; 2005 - Nicole Famelos, Mini Horse Club; 2006 - Katie Young, Mini Horse Club; 2007 - Andrew Chechalk, Goat Club; 2008 - Janice Zijlstra, Mini Horse Club; 2009 - Karen Booker, Beef Club; 2010 - Sophie Butler, Mini Horse Club; 2011 - Andrew Chechalk, Beef Club; 2012 - Katie Chechalk, Goat Club; 2013 - Christine Armstrong, Lincoln Dairy Club; 2014 - Ashley Young, Lincoln Dairy Club; 2015 - Jonathan Dugdale, Goat Club; 2016 - Josiah Lodewyk, Goat Club; 2017 - Stacey Leppert, Lincoln Dairy Club; 2018 - Jessica Raffaele, Niagara Mini Horse Club; 2019 - Ali Campigotto, Niagara Beef Club; 2023 - Morgan McGee, Niagara Goat Club; 2024 - Tyler Gilbert, Niagara Cavy Club; 2025 - Emily McGee, Niagara Goat Club.
Comments