Practice makes perfect for Sanders County 4-Hers

Tuesday night was an evening for members of local 4-H groups to perfect their showmanship for the upcoming goat and sheep competition during this year’s Sanders County Fair.

Sanders County 4-H project leaders Juli Thurston and Raelyn Cox were on hand to teach the showmanship class. This is the first year goats were included in the showmanship class. 

Two Sanders County 4-H clubs, South Side Sparks and Thompson Falls Mountaineers, had members attending the training. Most of this year’s kids were first timers showing their animals.  

The Silva family have three entries with all of them showing off sheep for the first time. Thirteen-year-old Kylie Silva will be showing off her sheep “Molly,” while her brother, 11-year-old Isaiah Silva, will be showing off his sheep “Jomana.” The youngest one in the family, showing her sheep named “Thomas Edison,” is 9-year-old Rhett Silva. 

Returning this year, 11-year-old John McNamara brought his yearling sheep named Judy.  

4-H instructor Thurston oversaw sheep showmanship training. She demonstrated the techniques the judges will be watching for. During the fair judges look at the entire animal starting from the ground up. They pay attention to the feet, hocks, knees and shoulders.  

Judges check for the quality of the wool. In market lambs, judges watch for muscling, trimness, growth, balance, and structural correctness.  Breeding ewes are judged for balance, style, frame size, muscling and wool. With show lambs, judges look for large frames, long bodies, long necks, and thick loins.  

Thurston also emphasized the importance of controlling the animal during the judging and that will take lots of practice through the summer. 

Cox did showmanship training and had two kids show up with their goats. Thirteen-year-old Matea Keefe came with her goat named “Ren.” Keefe is a member of the Thompson Falls Mountaineers. Keefe’s mother Danielle Fagan said the training is helpful.  

Eleven-year-old Moriah Champneys, from the South Side Sparks club, is making her first appearance showing off her goat named “Machiato.” 

Each person showing off their entry must be knowledgeable about their animal. Thurston said judges will ask a variety of questions about the animal during the judging process.

    4-H project leader Juli Thurston shows Moriah Champneys animal handling techniques. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Matea Keefe working with her goat Ren. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)