BUCYRUS — Zach Moritz wowed the senior showmanship class Wednesday night at the 2017 Crawford County Junior Fair Dairy Feeder Calf Show.
Moritz, a Colonel Crawford student and a member of the Liberty Leaders 4-H Club, stood head and shoulders above his competitors. His height and bright blonde hair wasn’t enough to draw judge Clayton Boyert’s eyes very often and neither was his showmanship.
That was not a bad thing.
Boyert, who helps run his family’s farm in Seville, said he looked for showmen that squared their animal’s feet, were efficient in their movements, and calm in the rink.
“In my family we always took a lot of pride in showing — in showmanship,” Boyert told the crowd as he explained the hard work his family put into showing their animals. “For me this is the real show and real important.”
Boyert admitted he often skipped right over Moritz in the arena. He commended Moritz, however, for his excellent showmanship style and the judge eventually selected him as the Senior Dairy Feeder Showmanship Champion.
“I took it as a compliment,” Moritz said. “I noticed he wasn’t looking too much. I walked past him a couple of times and he’d take a glance and look away. It scared me at first because I wasn’t sure if he was paying attention, but he’s a good judge.”
Moritz said it felt good to win senior showmanship, but he was not as confident going into the class.
“I went into it not knowing,” Moritz explained. “My calf at home wasn’t always the best calf to walk with. It just took a lot of work and came to the fair and did what he needed to do.”
Ethan Hall, a Wynford FFA member, took home reserve champion in senior showmanship. In Intermediate Showmanship, Buckeye Stars 4-H member Megan Rhodes was named champion, while her sister Emma Rhodes received reserve champion.
Tyler Link of the Dairy Maids and Gents 4-H Club won junior showmanship and Ryley Kantzer of the Buckeye Stars 4-H Club took home reserve.
Boyert stressed the importance of 4-H members being continuous learners and advised the younger members to watch the senior classes to better understand showmanship. He was seen talking to each showman in the junior showmanship class, giving them tips on how they could improve their skills.
“If you don’t really get noticed, you’re doing good,” Boyert said, a comment that was evident not only in the judge’s selection of Moritz, but in a number of other showmen that he noted for being quiet and confident.
In the weight divisions, Lane Rike was crowned Grand Champion Overall Dairy Feeder after winning the heavyweight division.
One word described the experience for 10-year-old Rike as he stood outside of the arena: “Amazing.”
There was one thing going through his mind as he made his last lap around the arena:
“There’s a one out of three chance I might win,” Rike said cheekily.
Rike is a member of the Liberty Leaders 4-H Club.
Andrew Harer, who won the lightweight division, received Reserve Champion Overall honors. Harer is a member of the Lykens Champions 4-H Club.
Keith Ehmann won Reserve Champion in the lightweight division and returned to win Middleweight Grand Champion with a 468-pound steer. James Schiefer, a Lykens Champions 4-H member, took home Reserve Champion in the middleweight division.
