MOUNT VERNON — Wyatt Kain of Centerburg has been competing in swine showmanship for as long as he could, from the youngest showmanship age group of 9 year olds.
However, Kain had never competed in the Knox County Fair until Sunday evening, when the 14-year-old achieved the title of master showman for swine.
“I’m just taking it all in, you know, realizing that I won,” Kain said after being announced master showman.
Kain has been working with his hog twice a day for six months, before breakfast in the mornings and after dinner in the evenings.
“It takes a lot of work,” Kain said, referring to getting a hog ready to show. “You have to put in the work.”
Kain has been in 4-H for six years and has competed at other fairs, including the Hartford Fair in Licking County.
The most difficult part of preparing for Sunday’s showmanship competition was calming his nerves, he said. But once he got in the show ring, there was not a nervous bone in his body. Kain was “in the zone.” Perhaps that was because showmanship runs in his family.
His two younger sisters participated in Sunday’s event as well; 14-year-old Wyatt Kain won showman for her class, and 11-year-old Molly Kain won showman for her class. Their father also competed in swine showmanship at fairs in his youth, Wyatt Kain said.
“We all do it,” Kain said.
While Kain is ecstatic to have won swine master showman, he said he competes because it’s fun.
“I just love it,” Kain said. “I would do it everyday if I could.”
Children ages nine through 18 competed in the swine showmanship competition on Sunday night at the Knox County Fair, judged by Seth Ebert.
Senior 18-year-old class winner was Mount Vernon’s Logan Adams from East Knox FFA. Second place went to Mount Vernon’s Gavin Burke from Smokin’ Spurs, and third place went to Mount Vernon’s Luci Quinn from Redbrush.
Senior 17-year-old class winner was Fredericktown’s Anna Patterson from Mount Vernon FFA. Second place went to Alexandria Magers, and third place went to Riley Blubaugh.
Senior 16-year-old class winner was Danville’s Emily Friel from Towin-N-Showin. Second place went to Bellville’s Raelyn Todd from Country Critters, and third place went to Fredericktown’s Hailey Ehret from Green Valley Giants.
Senior 15-year-old class winner was Danville’s Bryer Boeshart from Chapel View Barn Buddies. Second place went to Mount Vernon’s Brock Stute from Green Valley Giants, and third place went to Mount Vernon’s Brock Blankenhorn from Green Valley Giants.
Intermediate 14-year-old class winner was Kain, from Centerburg Livestock. Second place went to Danville’s Dakota Ricketts from Trailblazers, and third place went to Mount Vernon’s Ansley Daubenmier from Country Critters.
Intermediate 13-year-old class winner was Mount Vernon’s Ethan Moore from Animals R Us. Second place went to Bellville’s Reese Todd from Country Critters, and third place went to Centerburg’s Aiden Gray from Centerburg Livestock.
Intermediate 12-year-old class winner was Mount Vernon’s Ella Bouton from Knox Cattle Kids. Second place went to Mount Vernon’s Lane Severns from Little Rascals, and third place went to Mount Vernon’s Grady Row from Anything Goes 4-H Club.
Junior 11-year-old class winner was Centerburg’s Molly Kain from Centerburg Livestock. Second place went to Mount Vernon’s Noah Lewis from Kokosing Valley Jr. Anglers, and third place went to Danville’s Kaden Sanders from Chapelview Barn Buddies.
Junior 9- and 10-year-old class year winner was Danville’s Logan Joseph from Chapelview Barn Buddies. Second place went to Centerburg’s Lauren Kain from Centerburg Livestock, and third place went to Frazeysburg’s Kiersten Mills from Show Time Livestock.
First year showman winner was Centerurg’s Addison McGuire from Animals R Us. Second place went to centerburg’s Abby Williamson from Centerburg Livestock, and third place went to Fredericktown’s Jayce Enix from Green Valley Giants.
