Several of the lamb showmanship winners also had a terrific night in the market classes Wednesday at the Chelsea Community Fair.
Mikaela Talbot, 11, of Grass Lake began her evening winning the junior showmanship trophy and finished it with the judge’s choice for Grand Champion lamb at the 82nd Chelsea Community Fair.
She said she’s been showing at fair for six years and when asked had this advice for other showmen.
“Try your hardest and do your best,” she said.
This is the third time in four years that she’s had the grand champion lamb. She won in both 2016 and 2017.
Talbot says she chose to show sheep because there are many generations of sheep showman in her family.
Reserve champion was Clint Vainner, 7, who was showing lambs for just the second time at fair. He, too, comes from a family that has shown sheep at fair for many generations.
And, another all in the family lamb household is the Trinkle family.
Grand Champion pairs winner Carter Trinkle, 14, of Chelsea, had the champion lamb in 2014. His older brother Mason won in 2015 and younger brother Tanner in 2013.
Carter Trinkle won his senior showmanship class earlier in the evening and said, “I show lambs because I like working with animals, feeding them and getting to know them.”
The soon-to-be freshman at Chelsea High School is in his 8th year showing lambs at fair.
His younger brother, Tanner Trinkle, 12, won his Intermediate showmanship class. He says, “Lambs are easy to walk and more athletic than other animals.”
He said he enjoys showmanship because you learn skills and knowledge about the breed.
Both brothers also enjoy showing pigs at fair.
Also winning her showmanship class Wednesday night was Adalyn Gilbert of Grass Lake. The 8 year old said she’s won her showmanship class two years in a row at the Chelsea Fair. In addition, she showed a goat that was the judge’s pick for champion goat.
She said one of the keys to showmanship is to pay attention to where the judge is and be in the right position — which means always keeping the sheep between she and the judge and switching sides when necessary.
