Children show off sheep, swine at Boone County Fair

COLUMBIA — The air was filled with tension and glee Wednesday as friendly competition introduced children to the world of sheep and swine shows at the Boone County Fair.

Outside of the MFA Show Palace where the competition occurred, the fairgrounds were still empty, too early for visitors. The Ferris wheel stood still, and vendor booths stood uninhabited. In the section designated the MFA Show Palace was a gated arena where, precisely at 9 a.m., two children began walking with lambs in a chokehold.

“These are two nice ewes,” the competition’s judge, Chad Price, said. Price went on to position and reposition the sheep, feel their recently sheared wool, and pass his judgment.

After the next round, Kassie Rankin, 12, walked out of the arena with her lamb and a smile on her face as she approached her mother holding a blue ribbon. The night before, Kassie won grand champion of the South Down Sheep Show at the fairgrounds. Wednesday morning, she won the Reserve Champion title in the White Face Ewe competition and a 5th place blue ribbon for her Speckle Face Ewe Lamb.

This year’s fair was the first year Kody Walters, 8, participated in showing sheep. It is the first year he is eligible because of his age, and he says he’s been preparing for showing them for about five months.

Kody had his work cut out for him, as one lamb he was showing ran out from underneath him and tried to escape out of the arena. A woman at the gate harnessed the sheep and brought her back to Kody so she could continue to compete. Even though the sheep, which he affectionately called Megan, was 107 pounds to his small-framed 60, Kody handled the lamb like a pro for the rest of the showing.

“She’s crazy! It’s ‘cause she’s in heat though,” Kody said. “It felt weird when she got away.”

Kody said he spends three to four hours every day with his sheep, taking care of them and walking them to prepare them to be shown. He even helps shear them for the show.