Siblings take 3 of top spots, Kerns takes grand champion

The Daniels family made quite the showing at the 2018 Lawrence County Fair’s market goat show and showmanship competition.

In the market goat show, Isabella Kerns took the grand champion and Gracie Daniels took the reserve championship. At the showman competition, Gracie’s brothers took the showmanship awards, with Gunner winning the junior showman for market goats and Garrett winning the senior division in senior showman for the market goats.

It was also a good night for the Over Yonder 4-H Club. This is the first year for the Franklin Furnace area club, and their members took the top awards in both shows.

Rachael Fraley, the Ohio State University Extension educator and 4-H youth development educator for Lawrence County, said it isn’t unprecedented for one club  to take all the top spots in a show.

“All the 4-H kids work extremely hard,” she said.

Kerns was first in division 9 and was the division 9 champion in addition to taking the overall championship. She said she was still trying to figure out how she felt.

“I’ve never won grand in my life,” the 11-year-old said. “Well, I won it in breeding, but never in the weathers. I have a whole bunch of emotions, I’m happy I won, but I am sad because my goat will have to go. I don’t really know what I feel right now.”

Gracie Daniels had two goats in the market goat competition and took first in division 8, second in division 9, and was reserve champion of division 3.

She said she was very excited to win.

“I’ve never won reserve overall,” the 14-year-old said, adding that raising goats is hard, but her brothers helped her out. “It’s easier when you have family helping.

Gunner Daniels also won the division 1 champion, first in division 3, and third in division 6.

The 10-year-old was happy to win junior showman.

“I’ve been in 4-H for two years,” he said. “I didn’t expect to take junior showman. “I was hoping to get at least reserve, so I am happy.”

Garrett Daniels also took first in division 4, and third in division 9.

“It’s awesome,” he said, of winning the senior division for showmanship. The 16-year-old has been showing goats at the fair for eight years. “I thought I was going to get second, honestly.”

The Daniels kids all have experience with goats since their family raises them at Daniels’ Show Goats. They’ve had to help raise about 60 goats this year alone.

Their mother, Jessica Collier, was very proud of all her kids for their win.

“So very happy,” she said. “I told Garrett that he’ll have to sleep with one eye open tonight because of his sister. They have a big rivalry going.”