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ASHLAND — Not even a hoof to the foot could slow down Bria White.
White, a 16-year-old student at Crestview High School, was crowned Showman of Showmen on Thursday evening at the 175th Ashland County Fair.
She belongs to the Clover Patch Kids 4-H Club and the Crestview FFA Chapter.
The competition includes the supreme showman of all species exhibited at the county fair, including rabbits, poultry, goats, sheep, swine, horse, beef cattle and dairy cattle.
While showing a steer, White, this year’s supreme sheep showman, took a hoof to the foot.
But she never let it slow her down.
“Steer got a little rowdy and I just got stepped on, but it’s all good,” White said.
Each showman is given the opportunity to show each of the eight animals during the competition. They have the option to opt out of showing any animal if they don’t feel comfortable with that species.
There’s also a public speaking segment included in the competition, only considered in contestants’ scores in the event of a tie.
Leading up to the event, White said she worked with all eight species to try to build confidence showing the different animals.
The species she shows are lambs and hogs.
“It was definitely my goal to go out and win,” White said. “I definitely don’t like losing. I’m so competitive that I more or less gave myself the expectation that I’d win and I was happy that I did that.”
The two animals she found most challenging to show were the beef cattle and rabbits.
“There’s a lot you have to know for the rabbits and a lot you have to remember,” she said.
All eight competitors showed every animal Thursday. So what sparks confidence in each showman to step out of their comfort zone?
For White, it’s her ambition to try new things.
“I’ve always wanted to show multiple different species and it’s cool that I got to experience that today,” the 16-year-old said.
White has been exhibiting at the Ashland County Fair for eight years, but has been involved in the industry her whole life.
She encouraged youth who may be interested in participating in the fair, 4-H or FFA to be open to trying new things.
“You never know what the outcome will be,” White said.
Showman of Showmen results
Below are the results of the Showman of Showmen competition. Listed next to each participant is the species in which they earned the title of supreme showman.
- 1st: Bria White (Sheep)
- 2nd: Saige Runion (Goats)
- 3rd: Oliver Harpster (Dairy cattle)
- 4th: Carlee Osborne (Horse)
- 5th: Jacey Slagle (Swine)
- 6th: Kalli Atterholt (Beef cattle)
- 7th: Katy Trimble (Rabbits)
- 8th: Ella Perry (Poultry)
Below are photos from Thursday’s competition, taken by Hayden Gray.
