The trials and tribulations of animals at the Northwest Montana Fair

Showing a critter in the Northwest Montana Fair is a lot of work, local kids note. But it’s a lot of fun, too.

Tierra Johnson of Coram got second place in showmanship and first place in feeder class for her lamb, Lyle.

“I think I did OK. I definitely could have done a little better,” she said.

She said that Lyle would move around a lot and hide behind her. She had to make sure the judge could see him. Struggling with her lamb made it difficult for her to make eye contact with the judge.

Lyle missed the minimum weight of 110 pounds by only three pounds, so instead of going to auction, she entered him into the feeder class. She said it is new this year and means that he can stay at the fair the rest of the week, but she will have to sell him privately.

“My family and I, we eat lamb, so we’ll either eat him or sell him,” she said.

She learned a lot about lamb such as gestation period and what to look for in a market lamb. She also had hands-on experience solving health problems with her lambs.

Johnson also was the reserve senior champion for her rabbit.

Her sister Sarah Johnson competed in swine. Sarah said she usually switches between lamb and pig with her sister.

“He has never shown before so he was kind of scared of all the pigs in there. He is not used to so many,” she said of her pig’s performance.

Sarah also got best of breed with her standard rex rabbit and Tierra got best of opposite sex for her standard rex.

Another sister duo is Miranda and Brookann Lauria of Columbia Falls. This is the first year Brookann has competed. Miranda admits that her focus shifted from her pig to her sister, and the other younger club members.

“I want to help them all out … kind of lost focus on mine a little bit,” she said. “I like being a good example for them.”

Another first year 4-H competitor is Trey Rice of Columbia Falls. He showed his pig, Bacon Bits.

“Like everybody says nothin’s perfect. She did the best she could. I could’ve done a better job showing her,” he said. “We took her out for a test run a couple days ago and she just wanted to go see other pigs … that’s kind of what just happened today.”

He hopes for better luck next year.

Cassidy Norick of Columbia Falls got a blue ribbon in showmanship for her hog, Otto.

“I did fine. I improve every year,” she said. The 14-year-old has shown a pig for at least five years.

“I feel that you make the most profit off hog. You do about the same amount of work, but get more money at the end of it.”

Kaitlyn May of Columbia Falls was the senior swine showman reserve champion. She tried to be humble, but knew the hard work paid off.

“My pig cooperated really well, I was proud of him too, because we’ve been working hard this year,” she said. “It is definitely an honor.”

Next year the 16-year-old will probably show a steer so that she has experience in all three livestock animals — swine, lamb and beef. She wants to work with livestock in her future career.

Other local winners included Kelsey Wright of Columbia Falls who received best of show and best of opposite sex for her mini rex rabbit. Tischel Dagnoli of Columbia Falls won grand champion for her adult miniature horse. Madisyn Ellis of Coram won the reserve champion in gelding class A “under.”