Young 4-Her with intensity takes grand master showman title

Isabel Nesbitt, 13, wins competition featuring top 9 showmen at the fair

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Isabel Nesbitt, 13, of Lyndonville is congratulated by judge Kirby Palmer after winning the grand master showmen title for large animals on Saturday. It is one of the most prestigious awards at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

Nesbitt may be the youngest grand master showman in the fair’s history. It is typically won by a seasoned 4-Her with years of experience showing many species of animals.

Natalie Miller, 12, of Lyndonville (in front) was the reserve grand master, with Isabel Nesbit the grand master (in back). They are showing pigs during the competition. The two were tied in points, and tied in the number of first places after nearly 3 hours of the competition. The judge favored Nesbitt after two tiebreakers.

The judge commended both for their skills in showing a variety of animals. 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.

Isabel qualified after winning the beef showmanship while Natalie won the pig master showman.

The judge said Nesbitt’s intensity stood out, and she showed great determination working with some uncooperative animals.

Isabel Nesbitt shows a sheep during the grueling event on Saturday at the fair. The exhibitors had to learn how to show animals they usually don’t work with during the fair.

“I love the competition,” Nesbitt said after winning the grand master title.

She has been showing animals at the fair since she was 8.

“It’s a true passion,” Nesbitt said. “I’ve learned so much from the older kids at the fair.”

Natalie Miller shows a dairy cow among the many different species during the grand master showmen competition. Behind her is Kaitlin Bennett of Barre. Natalie said showing the llamas was the most difficult because they are so tall and her arms had to be outstretched to control the animal with a halter.

Carissa Klosser, 18, smiles while showing a llama. She qualified as a llama master showman.

Gary “GJ” Donofrio, 17, of Bergen won the grand master title a year ago. He is shown keeping a dairy cow under control in the show ring.

Marissa Young (left), 14, of Kendall and Brooke Jurek of Kendall show sheep. Marissa qualified by winning the Western horse title. Brooke, who just graduated from Kendall, was the English horse showmanship champion.

Celes Paratore, 18, of Corfu leads a steer in the show ring. She qualified as the top meat goat showman. Earlier on Saturday she won the small animal grand master showman.

Kaitlin Bennett, 17, of Barre shows a dairy animal during the competition. She qualified as a the dairy master showman.

Kate Bennett, 15, of Brockport shows a llama. She won the dairy goat master showman title.

Judge Kirby Palmer keeps a close eye on how well the showmen are maintaining eye contact and leading the animals in the ring, as well as setting them up to best show off their desired characteristics.

Palmer said all of the showmen are clearly hard workers who she expects will be leaders in the future.

Brooke Jurek leads a horse as part of the grand master competition.

The showmen try to keep control of these pigs with gentle taps with a show stick.