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 On Thursday morning the barn furthest northwest of
the Logan County Fairgrounds was a flurry of activity. From 8 a.m.
to noon, the 4-H and Junior Sheep Shows were conducted in the center
ring.
Cody Zeeck of Havana performed as judge this day. It had been a
couple of years since Zeeck judged the Logan County Sheep Show.
Through out the morning, Zeeck said time and again what a pleasure
it was to be in Logan County because of how impressed he is with the
work of the youth here, their commitment to quality performance and
sheep.
The John and Annie Coers family, and their extended family, once
again served as superintendent and assistants. Each year when the
hard work of the opening levels of showing are over, the family
likes to make it a little more fun by way of jazzing it up. This
year they jacked up the energy with music and a few surprises.
As zippy popular music and a few traditional champion tunes blasted,
youth flashed through the ring carrying boldly colored signs
introducing each breed - Southdown - Hampshire - Corriedale -
Montadale - Tunis - urging the audience cheers and whistles for the
returning champions and their final big judging and awards. During
the musical interludes, toes set to tapping and Queen Meeker, Junior
Miss Mott and Little Miss Park spontaneously broke into dance for a
moment. As the various groups of sheep and
handlers returned to the ring for championship titles, including
Junior and Senior Showmanship, the crowd cheered them on.
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Following the last of the awards, the special surprise
event of the day took place: the Alumni Sheep Showing competition.
The sheep already present for the day were borrowed for anyone who
had past experience and wanted in the ring.
A little more than two dozen competitors entered the ring with hopes
of claiming one last title, Alumni Master Showman. Families of two
and three generations, and long-time friends went toe to toe. Every
one single one had twinkle in their eye, the desire to win and had
not lost their touch to perform, even with an unfamiliar animal at
their hand. Every one of the competitors looked hungry to be the
Best Alumni Sheep Showman.
Judge of the day, Cody Zeeck was happy to do the honors. Following a
brief descriptor of one who had a stellar long experience showing at
the fair, which in some respects could have been just about any one
of the participants in that ring, he played the highly stoked crowd
and participants keeping everyone guessing in his approach to shake
the hand of the winner, before turning suddenly to Dara Entwistle.
The surprise from son Cole Baker, who was only one sheep away, could
not be contained.
All serious and professional in demeanor up to pronouncement for the
winner, the delight of all who participated was evidenced in lots of
hoots and laughter.
Dara was born into a Logan County farm family attending every fair
since the year she was born. She married into a farm family, and has
raised three boys at the fair. She 's been a competitor and
continued on as an event coordinator. The fair is in her and in all
of her years.
The camaraderie continued following the alumni event when for the
second year, a 4-H lunch coordinated by the Steve and Pam Schreiner
family was served. Smoked brats processed by Bloomington Meats were
featured and enjoyed by all.
[Jan Youngquist]
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