CLEARFIELD – On Aug. 2 at the Clearfield County Fair, 22 4-H and FFA members took part in the sixth annual Master Showman Contest.
The contest determined who showcased the best animal showmanship skills and knowledge while showing a steer, dairy cow, lamb, goat, pig and horse. It is sponsored each year by the Clearfield County 4-H Teen Council. To qualify in this event, each youth had to win an age division of an animal showmanship contest held during the week of the Clearfield County Fair.
In the junior division for youth ages 8 to 11 years of age, Marissa Brothers of LaJose and member of the Harmony 4-H Club received the honor of being named the master showman with a score of 84 out of a possible 100 points. Other junior division participants included Shelby Flanagan of Clearfield, second place; Krissa Lichvarcik of DuBois, third place; Molly Wise of Brockway, fourth place; Kyra Henry of Curwensville, fifth place; and Isakk Way or Clearfield, sixth place.
In the intermediate division for youth ages 12 to 14 years of age, Amanda Pennington of Westover and member of the Harmony 4-H Club was named master showman with a score of 99 out of a possible 100 points. Â Pennington has consistently won her age category for the past three years. Â Other intermediate division participants included Austin Fairman of DuBois, second place; Cassie Folmar of Luthersburg, third place; Alexis Lichvarcik of DuBois, fourth place; Lance Stone of Winburne, fifth place; Ben Junod of Mahaffey, sixth place; and Gillian Letson of Philipsburg, seventh place.
In the senior division for youth ages 15 to 21 years of age and last call category for those aging out of the 4-H or FFA program, Nick Kovalick of Woodland and member of the Clearfield County 4-H Beef Club and Chelsea Folmar of Luthersburg and member of the Renegade Riders 4-H Club were named the winners. Kovalick had an overall score of 92 and Folmar had an overall score of 91. Other senior division participants included Devin Beck of Cherry Tree, second place; Melinda Hutchins of Reynoldsville, third place; Alyssa Reams of Osceola Mills, fourth place; Abby Junod of Mahaffey, fifth pace; Tyson Stone of Winburne, sixth place; Reuben Hicks of DuBois, seventh place; and Shawn Nelen of Luthersburg, eighth place.
All master showman age division winners received a Montana Silversmith belt buckle valued at close to $150. All participants will receive a certificate and a T-shirt. Judges for the contest included Dan Smeal of Houtzdale (steer and swine), Melissa Sankey of New Oxford (dairy cattle), Jann Zimmerman of DuBois (lamb and goat) and Carlene Pearce-Houston of Kylertown and Chele Stuber of Morrisdale (horse).
The Clearfield County 4-H Teen Council would like to thank its sponsors for allowing this contest to be possible. The 4-Star Sponsors include: Dave and Rhonda Gallaher Jr., Dr. Albert Lee of the DuBois Regional Medical Center Hahne Cancer Center, Knepp Fencing, Krevel Farms – K & P Hogs and Matthews Trucking and the 2-Star sponsors: At Home Realty Associates Inc. of DuBois, Curwensville Feed Store, Steve and Amy Flanagan family and Ernie and Amy Guffey Family.
The 4-H is a non-formal youth development educational program of Penn State Cooperative Extension for all youth between the ages of 5 and 19, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, genetic information, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. For additional information on the 4-H program, contact Jana Lynne Davidson at Penn State Extension in Clearfield County at 814-765-7878, Ext. 3.
