Jenny McKenna wins Grand Master Showman
Barre girl follows her 3 sisters in winning title
Photos by Tom Rivers – Jenny McKenna, back left, shows a goat while next to Elizabeth Storm during the Grand Master Showman Competition on Friday. Tammi Kron serves as one of the judges.
KNOWLESVILLE – Jenny McKenna captured won the Orleans County 4-H Fair’s most prestigious titles on Friday, winning the Grand Master Showman.
The competition takes the top showman in nine different animal breeds and has them compete for the grand master showman, showing nine different types of animals. Jenny, 19, won in her final year as a 4-H’er.
“It’s a great way to end my 4-H career,” she said. “It’s been a lot of hard work and determination.”
Jenny McKenna shows a dairy cow during Friday’s event. She showed eight other animal breeds in the grueling three-hour competition.
Her three sisters – Caton, Kerri and Betsey – have all won the title. Jenny just completed her first year of college at Roberts Wesleyan. She is transferring to Cornell University to major in animal science with a minor in agricultural business.
After the grand master event, McKenna quickly changed clothes to compete in the grease pole competition. She was part of the Iron Fists team that included her mother, Iva.
Tammi Kron of Alden was one of the judges for the Grand Master Showman. She said McKenna stayed positive in the show ring and could answer her questions about each of the animal breeds.
“She had a lot of show ring presence,” Kron said.
Jayne Bannister, 16, of Point Breeze was the reserve champion. She is shown working with a goat during the Gand Master Showman Competition. Jayne has won the title before.
Melanie Klossner sets up a llama before judge Jim Lasel of Albion during the Grand Master Showman Competition.
Nicole Mrzywka answers a question from judge Tammi Kron while Nicole’s sister Natalie, left, waits her turn.
McKenna qualified by winning the dairy cattle showman title. Other master showmen include Elizabeth Storm, representing Horses – English; Kiley Stadmiller, Horses – Western; Claudia Drechsel, sheep; Natalie Mrzywka, meat goats; Nicole Mrzywka, dairy goats; Rylie Lear, swine; Melanie Klossner, llama; and Jayne Bannister, beef cattle. Last year’s grand master showman, Janie Schutz, also was invited back for the competition on Friday.
