Grand master showman emerges from talented field at Fair

Photos by Tom Rivers: Gary Donofrio holds the trophy after winning the grand master showman title on Friday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. He is congratulated by, from left: Henry Dresser, Isabel Nesbitt, Kyler Bennett and Ian Kingdollar.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair held one of its most prestigious competitions on Friday, with the master showmen from several different breeds of animals all vying for the title of grand master showman.

When it was all over, after about 2 ½ hours, Gary Donofrio was the champion.

The competition features the master showman in nine different animals: horse Western, horse English, dairy goat, meat goat, sheep, swine, llama, dairy cattle and beef cattle.

Donofrio, 16, of Bergen qualified by winning the showman title for sheep. He also shows pigs and beef cattle.

He remembers watching the competition as a young 4-Her and aspiring to be in the competition. But in recent years he couldn’t quite win the showman title for beef or with pigs. This year he decided to add sheep showing to his repertoire, hoping it would increase his chance to get in the grand master event. That paid off for him on Friday.

“I like that it takes the best people at showing animals and puts everyone together,” Gary said after he won the title.

The participants had to show all of the different animals, and they couldn’t show their own.

Gary said he enjoys raising and training animals from soon after they are born. The animals imprint of the humans that first work with them. During the grand master event, Gary said his beef animal seemed confused that it wasn’t Gary leading it in the show ring.

Gary and his family live in Bergen in Genesee County. They have been active in the Orleans County 4-H program, where they said they feel welcome and many of the participants strive for excellence, pushing each other to be their best.

Donofrio will be a senior at Byron-Bergen this year. He is hoping to get into the HVAC business, while also continuing to work with animals.

He was praised by Nick Kron, one of the grand master judges, for his versatility and intensity through the competition on a hot summer day.

“He was the most consistent,” Kron said. “He maintained good eye contact. He was the most alert and had a good feel for showing each species.”

Bree Clark, judge for horses and llamas, keeps an eye on the grand master showmen participants as they lead llamas and alpacas. From left in back include Gary Donofrio, Kyler Bennett and Allison Merle.

Ella Christ of Kendall holds an alpaca’s head up high. Behind her is Ian Kingdollar of Lyndonville.

Christ was the reserve grand master showman. She qualified after winning the Western horse showmanship. Kingdollar qualified by winning the meat goat competition.

Kyler Bennett, 12, of Barre shows a horse during the opening event of the grand master showmen competition. Kyler qualified for the grand master by winning the dairy cow showmanship.

Allison Merle, 18, of Holley stoops to show a sheep. The showmen had to lead this animal with their bare hands and no halter. Allison qualified by winning the llama showmanship.

Isabel Nesbitt, 12, of Lyndonville is asked a question by judge Nick Kron. Isabel won the pig showmanship competition to qualify for the grand master. She was among several younger 4-Hers in the grand master event. Kyler Bennett is at left.

Amelia Paratore, 15, of Corfu leads a llama in front of judge Bree Clark. Amelia qualified by winning the meat goat showmanship.

Henry Dresser, 11, of Medina keeps his eyes on the judge while trying to get a sheep set up in the show arena. Henry won the beef cow showmanship.

Emily Smith-Flatley, 12, of Medina and Ian Kingdollar, 16, of Lyndonville get their sheep in position during the grand master showmen event. Emily qualified by winning the English horses competition while Ian was the top showman for dairy goats.

Ian said showing all the different animals was a great experience.

“You get to meet the other showmen who are the top of their class,” he said.

Showing a beef cow, the biggest of the all the livestock in the event, was the toughest.

“They are very heavy and head strong,” Kingdollar said.

Donofrio, the grand master champ, said sheep and goats are taxing on the body because the 4-Hers often are stooped over to show them.

The cows and llamas take a toll on the shoulders, Donofrio said.

The master showmen try to get their pigs under control. From left include Ian Kingdollar, Henry Dresser, Allison Merle, Kyler Bennett, Gary Donofrio, Ella Christ and Emily Smith-Flatley.