| Lamb handlers earn top honors at Cleveland County Fair |
by Dave Blanton
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 A young handler shows off her lamb for a judge in Monday’s showmanship event.
About 25 young people, ranging in age from 5 to 18, have worked to raise a young lamb for show since winter or early spring. They’ve fed and groomed for the young mammals from about 25 or 30 pounds to well over 125 pounds.
Monday night’s competition was the last stop on the circuit for the young farmers, who have showed their lambs at McDowell County, Hickory and Burke County competitions since August.
Based on a culmination of points total from those competitions (and Monday night’s) Megan Lawing emerged as the handler for the Grand Champion for her age group of 15 to 18 years old. For that age group, Brooke Wheeler was named Reserve Champion.
At the intermediate level, which includes ages from 10 to 14, Regan Mitchem’s lamb earned Grand Champion while Charity Rodatz’ charge picked up a Reserve Champion title. Top prizes in the showmanship circuit were $35.
But organizers and sponsors say the real prize isn’t money. Instead, it’s about learning the responsibility that goes with taking care of the animals.
They learn a lot about animals and biology,” said Maggie Hamm, a representative from the event’s main sponsor Carolina Farm Credit. “They learn that the animal is dependant on them. They learn a lot about attention to detail without even knowing.”
Hamm, who herself grew up showing cattle, joined judges and staff members from area N.C. Cooperative Extension Service offices Monday in handing out awards at the Weathers Arena event.
Judging was performed by Tom Devine, while the showmanship contest was emceed by Cleveland County N.C. Cooperative Extension Service director Greg Traywick.
Monday night’s judging was primarily about handling skills. The judge was especially looking at how handlers maintain poise and position with the lambs.
“This is positive lesson for the kids involved,” Traywick said. “It helps build a good sense of self and it helps build good sportsmanship.”
The young handlers in the months long circuit competition that covers the western part of North Carolina, represent small and large farms in Alexander, Buncombe, Burke, Catawba, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford Counties.
Carolina Farm Credit provides loan to farmers for operational costs, including land, seed, equipment and livestock. It’s a co-op, which means that its customers are shareholders. Hamm said that enables the borrowers to decrease their interest payments by about one percent.
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