Senior Abby Brown is leaving this year’s Douglas County Fair feeling like all of her hard work has paid off.
Brown’s Shorthorn Plus cow, Norman, won overall grand champion out of nearly 30 cows at the fair’s market beef show Friday morning.
“It just makes me feel really good,” Brown said.
Brown said she’s been working with Norman since he was a calf. She consistently bathes him, does his hair and plans his diet to ensure he is ready for competition.
“The judge commented on how balanced he is,” she said. “He also really liked his front end and how clean he was.”
This marks Brown and Norman’s fourth win this year. The pair has traveled both in and out of state to compete against people from all over the country. She said these wins motivate her to keep working hard.
Brown also won grand champion in her age group’s showmanship category.
“It just kind of proves that, when you put in the hard work, you’ll get something out of it,” she said.
Junior Kynlee Dressler also won her age group’s grand champion showman at the sheep show Thursday night.
“It’s very rewarding,” she said.
Dressler said she’s been working hard to prepare her sheep for the competition.
“It’s a lot of time. It’s getting them trained and just working a lot on exercise and getting the feed right,” she said. “It’s everything for me.”
Although Dressler also competed in the fair’s beef show, she said the sheep show is always her favorite.
“I love the sheep,” she said. “It’s nice to show off what you’ve learned and what you can do. It’s my favorite thing.”
Recent graduate Joshua Fortner won grand champion in the fair’s geology category. Fortner’s entry had 73 specimens of rocks, minerals and fossils.
“It’s an accomplishment to have that ribbon,” he said. “I put in a lot of hard work in that project, and I’ve done it for so long.”
This is Fortner’s final year in 4-H after being involved since first grade. He said it’s bittersweet seeing the journey come to an end.
“It’s a little sad that it’s ending, but I’m really glad that I decided to do it all,” he said.
Fortner is heading to the University of Kansas this fall to study geology. He said the 4-H geology project helped him find his passion.
He encourages other kids to go out and get involved in their community’s 4-H club.
“You can try new things. I mean, you might find what you’re really passionate about,” he said.
Here is the fair schedule for the weekend:
Saturday, Aug. 3
7:30 to 9:30 a.m. – Accept president’s pie baking entries, Dreher Building
9 a.m. – Large livestock round robin, Open Pavilion
10 a.m. – Turtle Race, Stage Area on Blacktop
10:30 a.m. – Pedal tractor pull, co-sponsored by Douglas County Farm Bureau, Black top area. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.
11 a.m. – Barnyard Olympics
12 p.m. – Cornhole championship, Open Pavilion
1 to 9 p.m. – Petting zoo, Building 8
1 to 5 p.m. – Family Day, Moore’s Greater Shows carnival
2 to 8 p.m. – Pony rides, Building 8
3 p.m. – Awards ceremony, open Pavilion
4 p.m. – Frontier Farm Credit ice cream social, Open Pavilion
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. – Musical performance by Silvent Ave, Stage Area
1 p.m. to 12 a.m. – Moore’s Greater Shows carnival opens
5 p.m. – 4-H Foundation recognition
5:30 p.m. – 4-H livestock auction, Open Pavilion
8 p.m. – Demolition derby, Outdoor Arena
8 to 11 p.m. – Musical performance by Scott Heidner and the Nashville Guys, Stage Area
Sunday, Aug. 4
Release all exhibits
Reach reporter Ryn Drummond at [email protected]
To donate to support our community journalism, please go to this link: tinyurl.com/y4u7stxj
