Two days of large animal judging concluded at the Marion County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon with the naming of the county’s Senior Showmanship Award winner.
The winner selected from the six finalists was Alexsys Hammond. The home-schooled student is heading to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale next year.
“I only had steers, so I knew how to work them, and I’d gotten them ready and just given them a lot of break with the heat,” Hammond said. “I was lucky enough to have some friends with sheep and goats and pigs, and they helped me and showed me how to work them. A lot of friends that helped out.”
Hammond cannot go to the state showmanship competition, so runner-up Hallie Borcherding will represent the county.
“There was a lot of work, a lot of hours beforehand, just at home before even coming to the fair. Just getting ready, working with all my animals, and just preparing for this.”
Hallie Borcherding will be a sophomore at Salem Community High School next year.
The Junior Showmanship Award was presented to Aston Borcherding, who is in her fourth year of having an animal project.
Beef, Swine, Sheep, and Goats were judged during the 4H shows on Saturday, with a number of champions and reserve champions named.
