For Nathan Lambert, leading his steer around the show ring did the trick.

Saturday, July 15, 2000

For Nathan Lambert, leading his steer around the show ring did the trick.

The Rock Hill High School graduate’s skill handling the one-ton animal broke a three-way tie Friday, securing him the title of Showman of Showmen.

There was no pressure, though, Lambert said.

"I like pressure and there’s a lot of good people here," he said, walking back through the barn with his trophy. "Every family helps each other out, and we have a lot of great fun."

This is Lambert’s last year in 4-H, and the last year showing animals. But it won’t stop him from coming back to the Lawrence County Fair in the years to come.

"These are all my buddies, it’s fun and we can still work together – that’s the key right there, working together."

The showmanship competition is different than the animal competitions, although it follows the same order.

FFA and 4-H students can win grand champion or reserve titles for the quality of the animals they raise.

In showmanship, the people compete in how well they can control and show the animals to the judges.

"I tell kids what’s great about showmanship is you can have a good animal but if you can’t show it, you can lose some places," Lawrence County 4-H extension agent Laura Jane Murphy said.

Watching the five finalists Friday from the announcer’s station – just a few feet away from the trophies – Ms. Murphy said she could tell the young people had worked hard with their animals.

Some 4-Hers can buy better animals or find better breeding stock, but winning showmanship takes more than that, she said.

"It’s how they handle the animal; it’s showing what they’ve learned in their project," Ms. Murphy said.

"They can tell about an animal and the industry," she added. "These are the kids who you know they’ve learned.

"And our kids have learned, you can tell. It’s something Lawrence County can be proud of."

All the overall showmanship winners ages 14 and up – Lambert, Tricia Workman, Seth Colegrove, Toby Matheny, Matthew Wooten – took each type of animal, from chickens to steers, into the show ring Friday for the competition.

Parents and neighbors, whether in the stands, or leaning on rails around the show ring watched for signs of good showmanship.

And they can tell you about it, too.

Take showing hogs for example. The competitors have to watch both the judge and their animal.

They have to keep at least 15 feet away from the judge and can’t let the pigs get trapped in a corner. They then have to maneuver them not only with style but also with precision.

Steers, on the other hand, must stand a certain way and you have to control them – move them around in such a way to show the meat quality of the animal.

"It’s not easy," Lambert said. "I’ve handled each animal before but it still takes a lot of practice."

And practice makes a perfect trophy.