Local 4-H club shines at fair

Krista Pagano earned a championship ribbon at the Deschutes County Fair.

The Cloverdale Livestock Club had a successful run at last week's Deschutes County Fair. The 19 members, who are in grades 4-12, all show sheep in the 4-H fair, with member Aubyn Geser also showing her dog.

Preparing and showing their animals in classes for market lambs, breeding ewes, and in showmanship kept the members busy.

Saturday was auction day, where the market lambs are sold to the highest bidder. Many 4-H kids have paid their way through college on the backs of their market lambs. Local Sisters businesses were very supportive of the auction, paying between $4 and $10 per pound for the lambs.

The successful bidder is given a photo of the 4-H'er and his or her lamb to display. Parent helper Pinky Pagano encourages locals to look for those photos in businesses around town.

In the market lamb competition, judges are looking at muscling, body length and finish, which is the amount of fat on the lamb. The most attractive package wins.

Breeding ewes are judged by breed and are chosen for their breed characteristics, structural soundness, and evident breeding potential. Cloverdale members showed Dorset, Suffolk and Crossbred ewes.

Showmanship classes are divided into age groups according to the age of the handler. The animal is not judged in this class; the handler is judged on the way he or she presents the animal in the ring.

Every Cloverdale member won a blue ribbon in Showmanship, with nine of the handlers called to return for the championship round. Aubyn Geser, in her first year of showing sheep, was named Reserve Champion Novice. Krista Pagano was Grand Champion Senior.

Aubyn Geser showed her dog at the fair.

Geser, who will be in eighth grade at Sisters Middle School, had a very busy fair week. Prior to the sheep show, she was busy showing her cairn terrier, Kitty.

An experienced dog handler, Geser took top honors in the showmanship classes, garnering Grand Champion Dog Handler.

This gave her the opportunity to participate in Master Showmanship for small animals.

In this unique class, each grand and reserve champion gets to show the other winner's animals. Geser had a brief time to learn how to show a rabbit, guinea pig, chicken, and pigeon.

When asked how one shows a chicken, she answered, "Well, you just let it sit there."

It was also discovered that the pigeon is attached to the handler by a string just in case the temptation for bluer skies becomes too great.

"It was a fun and interesting class," said Geser.

The livestock handlers also have a chance to become Master Showman, showing each other's sheep, pigs, cattle, goats, horses, and llamas.

There is even opportunity for the parents to have a bit of fun in the Adult Showmanship class.

Pinky Pagano, Don Miller and Steve Keeton took their children's best sheep and competed with 21 other parents.

"My arms were killing me during the class," Pagano said. "The kids make it look so easy. But it sure was fun".

At the end of a long day, Aubrey Cyrus observed that "fair is a lot of hard work."

But Krista Pagano added, "I encourage all kids to do 4-H. It gives you lifelong skills and teaches responsibility."

Interested potential livestock handlers can contact Pam Mitchell, Cloverdale leader at 923-6627.