ROME TOWNSHIP— All the hard work the 4-Hers who raised goats put in paid off Sunday evening as the exhibitors took their pygmy, breeding and dairy goats to the livestock arena to be judged, and the top in each category were named.

Starting off the goat shows were the pygmy goats where 18-year-old Celsey Huisman was named grand champion and Hannah Maynard, 14, received reserve champion honors.

“It means a lot to be grand champion,” Huisman said. “It’s quite easy to raise them, but you have to take care of them each year.

Huisman is from South Point, has been a 4-H member for nine years and said she has won grand champion honors from the county fair twice before.

“It means a lot because I feed them and keep them at my house,” Maynard said.

Although Maynard has been in 4-H for three years, this was the first year she showed a goat at the fair.

Sisters Hayley Pancake, 14, and Isabelle Pancake, 11, of Pedro, received grand and reserve championship honors respectively in the breeding goat category.

“I’ve been raising goats for a couple years now,” Haley Pancake said. “I show up to the big shows where all the big farms compete, and I like coming to the county fair and trying my best.”

Isabelle Pancake said she likes the process of raising goats.

“It’s fun to raise goats,” Isabelle Pancake said. “Seeing them grow is interesting.”

11-year-old Layne Bell, of Proctorville, was named grand champion of the dairy goat show, while Huisman also took home reserve champion honors for the dairy goat category.

“I’ve never won grand champion before, so it feels good,” Bell said.

Twelve-year goat judge Beth Adams of Bethel takes pride in not just judging goat shows, but helping the children while she does it.

“I really like working with the children and trying to teach how to show their animals,” Adams said. “Some judges judge open and just give them reasons. I teach them things that they can do better, but 100 percent working with the children is what I enjoy the most.”

Following the goat shows were the junior showmanship awards for those 8-13 and the senior showmanship awards for those 14-18.

Winning first place in junior showmanship was Garrett Daniels while Gracie Daniels took second and Isabelle Pancake claimed third.

Dylan Black won first place in senior showmanship. Hayley Maynard won second place and Celsey Huisman third.