Mill Run teen achieves esteemed title, again
Kelsey May of Mill Run captured the title of Supreme Showman at the Fayette County Fair Friday night, winning the esteemed title two years in a row. Meanwhile, Chris Diamond Jr. of Smithfield won Reserve Supreme Showman on his first time in the competition. “It’s awesome, amazing,’ said a smiling May, the 16-year-old daughter of Keith and Susie May and a junior at Connellsville Area Senior High School.
This was May’s third time in the competition. She won Reserve Supreme Showman in 2006, her first time. In 2007, she was named Supreme Showman. She is following in the footsteps of her older brother, Daniel, who won Supreme Showman in 2003 and her sister, Bethany, who won the title in 2005.
Diamond is a newcomer to the Supreme Showman competition, and he worked hard to earn his title.
“It feels pretty good,’ said Diamond, the 18-year-old son of Chris and Linda Diamond, who is a recent graduate of Albert Gallatin Area Senior High School and a freshman at St. Vincent College. “I’m pretty impressed with myself, especially since it’s my first time.’
Cathy Brady, extension educator, announced the results of this very prestigious competition just before the 4-H Livestock Auction began at 5 p.m. in the Indoor Arena.
In the Supreme Showman competition, 4-H youths are judged on how well they handle and show animals in seven species: horse, beef cattle, dairy cattle, market goat, dairy goat, market lamb and market swine. There is a different judge for each species.
The youths who compete have been selected as grand champion showman for each of these species during individual competition for their animals during the fair.
The Supreme Showman competition took place Friday at 10 a.m. as the group of competitors met in the Indoor Arena, where Brady explained the rules.
Each champion showed the animal in the species competition he or she won. Six other animals were available for each species with the contestants drawing numbers for each of these animals.
The competition takes place throughout the fairgrounds, beginning this year in the Indoor Arena with the dairy cattle and beef cattle judging before moving on to the Horse Arena for the horse judging and then to the Show Arena where judging was held for market lamb, market goat, dairy goat and swine.
The youths are then released, with the results kept absolutely secret until the livestock auction Friday night.
Before naming the winners, Brady announced the names of all the competitors. Many were making their first appearance in the Supreme Showman competition.
They included:
May entered the competition as a grand champion showman for market swine.
Diamond entered as grand champion showman for beef cattle.
Rachael Peterson, 17, of Perryopolis, entered as grand champion showman in horse. She is the daughter of Tom and Christine Peterson and is a senior at Frazier High School. This was her first time in the competition.
Ryan Witt, 17, of Connellsville, entered as grand champion showman in market lamb. The son of Don and Eileen Witt, he is a senior at Connellsville Area Senior High School. This was his first time in the competition.
Shelby Hawkins, 14, of Scottdale, entered as grand champion showman for dairy cattle. She is the daughter of Keith and Candy Hawkins and a freshman at Southmoreland High School. This was her first time in the competition.
Chelsey Kreinbrook, 19, of Dawson, entered as grand champion dairy goat showman. She is the daughter of Doug and Kathy Kreinbrook and is in her second year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. This is her third year in the competition. She previously entered in 2001 and 2002.
Jessika Stoots, 16, of Connellsville, entered as grand champion market goat showman. She is the daughter of Karla and David Stoots and a junior at Connellsville Area Senior High School. This is her first time in the competition.
Brady asked the crowd to give all the competitors a hand saying, “They’re all winners.’
She told the Herald-Standard, “They did very well. It was really close between the grand and the reserve, only by a few points, and third place came close, too.’
Being part of the competition is considered an honor.
May said, “It’s definitely rewarding just to be in it.’
Each contestant has his or her strong points as well as animals they find difficult with which to work. This year, Diamond said he had trouble with the dairy goat, while May had trouble with the dairy cattle.
And they are facing off against talented and determined youths.
Diamond said, “It was very competitive and tough.’
May said, “It’s the best of the best. You’re all out there to win.’