Montrose County Fair & Rodeo: Judge impressed with market lambs, youth’s attitudes

MONTROSE — Fair participants and their families should be proud, as this year’s sheep show judge said he was impressed with the quality of lambs and the attitude of the youth who showed them.

“I’ve been judging for 45 years and I haven’t seen a show like this in the last 10 years (as far as) youth,” said judge Lyle McNeal, sheep and wool specialist at Utah State University. “The lambs here are state fair.”

The sheep show got underway Wednesday morning at the Montrose County Fairgrounds. In all, 72 market lambs strutted their stuff in the show ring.

The show started at 9 a.m.; there were eight market classes with lambs weighing from 100 to 150 pounds.

However, only the top two lambs in each class re-entered the ring for the final showdown to determine grand and reserve champion. The two lambs are sold first at Saturday’s livestock sale.

Walking away with a grand champion ribbon, belt buckle and banner was Maranda Mumm from Olathe, thanks to her 141-pound suffolk lamb named “stomper.”

Reserve champion market lamb went to 9-year-old Hailey Fansler from Montrose and her 131-pound suffolk lamb.

“It didn’t quite have the muscle yield and the chops were a little smaller,” McNeal said. However, it was the best in its category. He said it’s important with lambs that their skeletal mass meets with their muscle mass and doesn’t “get out of ratio.” He said these lambs demonstrated that, as did many others in the group. Overall, he said he was impressed with the quality of lambs he saw.

“All the lambs were very well balanced in terms of lean to bone ratios,” McNeal said. “Well fed, not over fat.”

Tuesday, participants showed their swine late into the night. There were 133 swine in this year’s market show.

Grand champion market swine went to Tasha Gibson and her 264-pound pig.

Reserve champion went to Cole Grett and “Burt,” a 256-pound pig.

“The judged like his body structure,” Grett said. The judge said Grett’s pig is really square and low to the ground. “His muscle tone wasn’t over done or under done,” Grett said.

Grett has been in 4-H for six years and got this year’s pig from Roger and Brenda Percival from Olathe.

When it came for swine showmanship, an Olathe family swept the competition. The Gibson girls received grand champion in all three age divisions. Terrica won the senior division, Tasha, the intermediate division and Taylor won junior division.

“You have to keep the pig in front of the judge,” Taylor said. “And under control.” She also had to answer several questions about her animal.

Taylor’s 247-pound pig won the carcass contest and will sell in Saturday’s show.