The Indiana State Fair wrapped up on Sunday night—but not before one of the top 4-H competitions of the fair was held on the final Friday evening of the State Fair.
“This has been a very big goal of mine. I’m definitely a little shaky,” said Isaac Thompson of Boone County. The nine-year 4-H member took home the top prize of Supreme Champion in the 4-H Supreme Showmanship competition.
The event features two 4-H representatives from each barn—cattle, sheep, goats, and swine—who demonstrate their talents in showing several species of livestock.
“This has been such so long in the making for me. I’ve really been working hard at it. Now that I finally get here and hear my name be called over that speaker was just amazing and it’s nothing like I can really describe,” said Thompson immediately after winning the Supreme Champion banner.
He says he’s had his eye on the prize since he was a little boy.
“Ever since I was young and before I was in 4-H, we always would go and watch Supreme Showmanship at the county fair. I thought that was always it was amazing—the whole concept of showing everything. Showmanship has always been something that I can really work hard at and it doesn’t matter how good my animals are—as long as I put the time and the effort into it, I would see those benefits,” says Thompson.
He adds that his family and friends were a big part of his success in winning the title of 4-H Grand Champion Showman.
“I just really want to say thank you to my mom and dad and the whole crew,” says Thompson. “Even though it’s only one showman in the ring, it’s been a village of people who have helped, so I just want to say thank you to that village.”
The participants in the 2023 4-H Supreme Showmanship competition:
Supreme Champion: Isaac Thompson, Boone County
Reserve Champion: Cayden Johnson, Boone County
Other competitors included:
- Mya Wolka, Jackson County
- Sage Lawrence, Noble County
- Harlee Henney, Steuben County
- Hailey Orem, Clinton County
- Holly Howard, Allen County
- Evan Grinstead, Boone County
Click below to hear C.J. Miller’s radio news report for Hoosier Ag Today.
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