Two showmen take top honors

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The 2016 Fayette County Jr. Fair held two divisions of the Showman of Showmen competition on Saturday afternoon in the sweltering heat.

The weather wasn’t the only hot topic Saturday as the small animal division of the Showman of Showmen competition began at noon. With a handful of exhibitors representing the smallest of animals on the Fayette County Fairgrounds, the competition blended veterans with the newness of showing animals they are unfamiliar with.

In the Showman of Showmen competition, an exhibitor who usually shows chickens will show his/her skill by showing a variety of other animals, including turkeys, rabbits, dogs and other breeds. Five competitors took their positions and as the show finished, an overall showman was named.

“It feels great and it was unexpected (to have won overall showman),” Jaycee Perry, the 2016 Jr. Fair Overall Small Animal Showman, said. “Everybody did awesome. I thought my biggest problem was going to be the dog and rabbit because I have not really had success with them in the past. I feel like I did a lot better this year and I feel like I was more calm. Age and maturity helped, because the first year I competed in it, I was nervous. I was always nervous about hurting the rabbit when I flipped it. I want to say thank you to all exhibitors. I want to thank Alexis (Schwartz) for helping me with the rabbit, Summer (Hurles) for helping with the dogs, Abby (Riley) with the turkeys and Drew (Black) with the duck. It was really great.”

The top three for the competition were Dylan Page, Alexis Schwartz and Perry.

The competition was not finished though and, after a late start, the Large Animal Division of the Overall Showman of Showmen Class was held at about 2 p.m. The large animals included a hog, goat, multiple sheep, a horse, and a variety of cattle. An hour later, Cody Clyburn was named the 2016 Jr. Fair Large Animal Showman.

“It feels great, wonderful,” Clyburn said following the competition. “It was really tough and hot and everybody did a great job in the heat despite that. I really am going out with a bang. I want to thank my parents and grandparents and my whole family for supporting me. Just tell the younger exhibitors to work hard and do your best. If you fail try again and don’t let it bother you.”

The top five for the competition were Emily Daniels, Bethany Reiterman, Victoria Schappacher, Victoria Waits and Cody Clyburn.

Jaycee Perry was named the 2016 Fayette County Jr. Fair Overall Small Animal Showman on Saturday after a hot day and an even hotter competition. He is pictured with fair royalty (L to R): Summer Hurles, canine ambassador; Virginia Schappacher, first attendant; Alexis Schwartz, fair attendant; Skylynn Barden, horse queen; Ginna Climer, fair attendant; Macy Detty, small animal queen and McKenzie Riley, beef queen.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/07/web1_JayceePerry2016.jpgJaycee Perry was named the 2016 Fayette County Jr. Fair Overall Small Animal Showman on Saturday after a hot day and an even hotter competition. He is pictured with fair royalty (L to R): Summer Hurles, canine ambassador; Virginia Schappacher, first attendant; Alexis Schwartz, fair attendant; Skylynn Barden, horse queen; Ginna Climer, fair attendant; Macy Detty, small animal queen and McKenzie Riley, beef queen.

Cody Clyburn was named the 2016 Fayette County Jr. Fair Overall Large Animal Showman on Saturday. He is pictured with fair royalty (L to R): Marissa Sheets, dairy princess; Hannah Casto, pork queen; Skylynn Barden, horse queen; Ginna Climer, fair attendant; Alexis Schwartz, fair attendant and Virginia Schappacher, first attendant.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/07/web1_CodyClyburn2016.jpgCody Clyburn was named the 2016 Fayette County Jr. Fair Overall Large Animal Showman on Saturday. He is pictured with fair royalty (L to R): Marissa Sheets, dairy princess; Hannah Casto, pork queen; Skylynn Barden, horse queen; Ginna Climer, fair attendant; Alexis Schwartz, fair attendant and Virginia Schappacher, first attendant.
Perry, Clyburn show off their versatility Saturday

By Martin Graham

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Reach Martin Graham at (740) 313-0351 or on Twitter @MartiTheNewsGuy

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