MOUNT VERNON — Sometimes in showmanship competitions, the best listeners are the ones who separate themselves from the pack.
This was certainly the case on Monday afternoon at the Knox County Fair.
Every showman in the market and meat production goat showmanship competition received advice from Judge Ryan Rash following their show-class performance.
But of the eight who qualified for the final drive – having either won or placed second in their show class – Rash said one stood out from the rest.
One proved through his actions that he’d not only heard what Rash had said roughly 30 minutes earlier, but he’d worked on it during the break. And when the time came to step back into the show ring – this time with an overall showmanship title on the line – he’d put it into practice.
“I think this one is close,” Rash said of the competition, explaining his methodology to the capacity crowd before ultimately announcing the victor.
“And there’s some of those (show-class winners) that come back and do a better job, even out here, leading to a very, very tight decision. It’s the little bitty, nitty gritty things.”
Rash then turned to Trevor Jobes, a 2022 graduate of Fredericktown High School who had previously won the senior showmanship class. As Jobes stood near the center of the ring, holding firmly his six-month-old Boer goat, affectionately named “Dr. Dre,” he began to crack a smile.
He knew what was coming next.
“I’m gonna stick with you, young man,” Rash proclaimed. “You’re gonna be the champion. Congratulations.”
This was Jobes’ eighth year in goat showmanship, but his first time earning the title of master showman. He beat out 20 competitors in his show class – and 70 others overall – to attain the contest’s top prize.
The key, Jobes said, was listening to Rash and making the adjustments he’d recommended heading into the final drive.
In a nip-and-tuck contest like the one Monday afternoon, those seemingly little things made all the difference.
“I knew a little about what (Rash) liked before I went in there, so I kind of tried to play that as best as possible,” Jobes explained.
“I knew keeping his feet on the ground was gonna be the biggest thing, and then not over-stretching, which he told me I did that wrong the first time, so I corrected that when I went back in. I think those two things probably helped the (most) in getting it done.”
Jobes appeared cool and calm in the show arena, maintaining full control over his goat throughout the competition. This came naturally, he said, following months of hard work and preparation.
Jobes was busy during senior year at Fredericktown – playing football and baseball, while also working part-time at Buckeye Stoves – but he always made time to work with his goats.
“Usually I’d be at school, then I’d go to work for a little bit, and then after work I’d go straight to baseball,” Jobes explained. Once practice ended, he’d head home and go straight to the barn.
“I went right home to the goats and working them in – feeding and (walking).”
The hours were long – particularly during the baseball team’s postseason run in late May, which coincided with a key period of goat preparation. Jobes said sometimes he wouldn’t leave the barn until 10:30 p.m. – only to get up early the next morning and do it all over again.
“Especially towards the end of baseball, we started doing good – so I was getting all that in, plus working,” Jobes recalled wearily. “It was definitely a (time) management thing.”
Even when school and baseball ended, Jobes continued to push himself. He’d get up early, before his 7 a.m. arrival time at work, to feed and work with his goats.
“We’ll go down, feed them, and get all that stuff done still,” Jobes said. “It’s a process. It’s a lot of work.”
The experience was trying, Jobes said, but it was also fruitful. He said he learned how to better manage his time, and gained real-world skills that will likely help him down the road.
Jobes plans to enter the workforce after graduation and eventually get into goat breeding, given his interest in the educational and competitive elements of the craft and his love for the species in general.
“It showed me how to be responsible, I guess – just taking care of the goats every day. …” said Jobes, who also managed the finances for his project this year. “Just growing up around it has done a lot.”
Jobes is the first to admit that his path to glory Monday afternoon wasn’t easy. He had to wait – and work – for seven years before earning his first blue ribbon in showmanship.
But at the end of the day, the 17-year-old’s smile told the whole story. It wasn’t easy, he said, but it was worth it.
“It feels really good,” Jobes said moments after the competition, surrounded by friends and family. “I’ve been waiting, been hoping this was gonna be my big year.”
And it was.
FULL RESULTS
The following exhibitors were named master showmen in their respective age classes Monday afternoon:
Senior showmanship
Grand champion: Trevor Jobes, Fredericktown
Reserve grand champion: Anna Rhodeback, Mount Vernon
Intermediate showmanship
Grand champion: Lane Mussard, Mount Vernon
Reserve grand champion: Sara Wilson, Centerburg
Junior showmanship
Grand champion: Aubree Hess, Mount Vernon
Reserve grand champion: Jesse Row, Mount Vernon
First-year showmanship
Grand champion: Lane Wiestling, Bellville
Reserve grand champion: Presley Smith, Danville
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