Bookless crowned Showman of Showmen
Emily Bookless, center, earned the coveted title of Showman of Showmen at the Coshocton County Fair on Wednesday evening, Oct. 4. She is a junior at Ridgewood High School and a member of the Kamelid Kushers. Bookless is pictured with all four of the previous winners of the contest. From left are: Rachel Duncan, Waverly Reidenbach, Bookless, Liz Porteus, and Jenna Wyler. Mark Fortune | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Ten youngsters competed for the Showman of Showmen title at the Coshocton County Fair on Wednesday evening, Oct. 4. Each of the 10 youth took their turn at showing hogs, llamas, horses, goats, sheep, small animals, poultry, fielded questions about dogs, feeder calves and dairy. At the end of the evening and traipsing from Hunter Arena to the Junior Fair Barn then the dairy barn and back to Hunter Arena for the announcement of the winner, an enthusiastic Emily Bookless, a 16 year old junior from Ridgewood and a member of the Kamelid Kushers, took home the title.
Bookless has competed in the contest before and learned how to improve each year. She said, “This is my third year competing in the Showman of Showmen. I am very shocked about it – it is a lot of hard work going between all the breeds and trying to learn everything all in one day but I’m really excited. It’s a fun experience.”
“The toughest animal to show was the sheep – just trying to brace it – I’m very little so it was kind of hard. The beef seemed the easiest to me (besides the llama which Emily shows). It means a lot to win this contest – I have been working really hard to get it, it just blew my mind when I got it.”
Bookless said, “I practiced all day. I’ve been doing my research on the internet, basic facts, terminology of each animal, it really blew my mind. That really helped a lot.”
Other competitors were: Alex Incarnato, Extreme Achievers; Madison Whitt, Ridgewood FFA; Hunter Cannon, Good Times 4-H; Evan Duncan, Ridgerunners 4-H; Abigail Lillibridge, Above & Beyond 4-H; Abbie Kellish, Ridgewood FFA; Serenity Cannon, Above & Beyond 4-H; Sydney Zinkon, Progressive Livestock 4-H; Emily Burrier, Happy Tracks 4-H; and the winner, Emily Bookless, Kamelid Kushers 4-H.
The contest is sponsored by the Ridgewood FFA Alumni and the Coshocton County 4-H Advisory Committee. The winner receives $500 and each of the other contestants receives $25.
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