MOUNT VERNON — Ryan Rash won his first national overall showmanship contest at 10 years old.
The Texas native went on to become one of the biggest names in livestock judging.
He exhibited 13 grand or reserve grand champion steers at major livestock competitions across the U.S. during his junior show career, then went on to Texas A&M, where he starred on the university’s national champion intercollegiate livestock judging team.
He has since launched a multi-faceted career in the livestock industry that has included judging every species of livestock in both local and major shows across the U.S. (43 states in total), Canada and Mexico.
But because of the way he started – earning his first major victory by out-performing a field of much older, more experienced competitors – Rash knew the potential of young exhibitors in the ring. He knew they could show just as well as – and sometimes even better than – their older counterparts.
And on Sunday night, in front of a packed swine barn at the Knox County Fairgrounds, he used this perspective to make what some might see as a shocking selection.
Rash named Addison McGuire, a 10-year-old from Centerburg, master showman in swine.
McGuire emerged victorious from a field of 126 exhibitors – including boys and girls ages 8 to 18, from Knox County and beyond. She was the second-youngest of 10 exhibitors in the ring for the final drive, but it didn’t matter.
Rash, who is judging several large-animal showmanship competitions at this week’s Knox County Junior Fair, said McGuire’s skill and focus separated her from the pack.
At the end of the day, Rash said, she earned it.
“I told you all earlier in the show that the age thing doesn’t matter to me. I won my first national overall showmanship contest at 10 years old. I know you can do it. I don’t care what age you are – 9 or 19 – I just want the best showman,” Rash told the crowd late Sunday, in the moments leading up to his decision.
“And for me, out here – and again, I’m not trying to make anybody mad – but one just stuck out like a sore thumb.”
He turned to McGuire, who stood with her pig near the edge of the ring and had begun to crack a half-shocked, half-exhilarated grin.
“The young lady’s the champion right here.”
McGuire could hardly speak in the moments following the victory. All the long hours in the barn with her hog, a crossbred pig named Amy – developing the teamwork, discipline and confidence required to meet this moment – had paid off.
“It felt good,” McGuire said with an ear-to-ear smile.
She did it through pre-show preparation, and she also did it through attentive listening on the night of the competition.
One of the first things Rash told those in attendance Sunday, while judging the senior showmanship class, was the importance of an exhibitor’s “first 15 seconds in the ring.”
Just like in life, Rash said, “first impressions are important.” An exhibitor’s demeanor once they open the gate – their eye contact, their focus, their control – can make all the difference.
Rash made clear to all in the barn that he’d prioritize these interactions during Sunday night’s show. The exhibitors with the best “first impressions” would earn a distinct advantage in his book.
McGuire said she heard Rash’s comments, and took advantage of the advice.
“I was just trying to make the judge impressed,” she said afterwards.
McGuire entered the ring focused, and maintained that demeanor throughout, earning the praise of Rash twice – when she won her 9- and 10-year-old show class, and when she won the final drive.
She never lost control of her hog – and never lost eye contact with Rash – during the course of the competition. She maintained distance from the rest of the pack, driving her hog forward while showing Rash every angle possible.
This was just McGuire’s second year showing hogs at the fair (she also shows cattle). She won her showmanship class last year, but came up short in the final drive.
This time around, McGuire said she expected to take the next step – and take home the title of master showman, at just 10 years old. The incoming Centerburg fifth-grader said afterwards this had been the goal all along – to walk away from this year’s fair with a blue ribbon in-hand.
And on Sunday night, she did just that.
“It feels awesome,” McGuire said.
A full half-hour after the competition had ended, she still couldn’t stop grinning.
FULL RESULTS
The following exhibitors were named master showmen in their respective age classes Sunday night:
Senior showmanship – 18 years old
Grand champion: Anna Patterson, Fredericktown
Reserve grand champion: Amelia Smith, Centerburg
Senior showmanship – 17 years old
Grand champion: Lilly Henney, Centerburg
Reserve grand champion: Emily Friel, Danville
Senior showmanship – 16 years old
Grand champion: Zoe Mock, Mount Vernon
Reserve grand champion: Brock Blankenhorn, Mount Vernon
Senior showmanship – 15 years old
Grand champion: Charley Beheler, Fredericktown
Reserve grand champion: Ansley Daubenmier, Mount Vernon
Intermediate showmanship – 14 years old
Grand champion: Reese Todd, Bellville
Reserve grand champion: Kennedy Auker, Mount Vernon
Intermediate showmanship – 13 years old
Grand champion: Kenlee Fairall, Centerburg
Reserve grand champion: Ella Bouton, Mount Vernon
Intermediate showmanship – 12 years old
Grand champion: Molly Kain, Centerburg
Reserve grand champion: Wyatt Baker, Mount Vernon
Junior showmanship – 11 years old
Grand champion: Logan Joseph, Danville
Reserve grand champion: Cole Stockberger, Mount Vernon
Junior showmanship – 9 and 10 years old
Grand champion: Addison McGuire, Centerburg
Reserve grand champion: Kimber Linn, Gambier
First-year showmanship
Grand champion: Priscilla Smith, Centerburg
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