Hockemeyer, Tusing, Mosser, Egolf Win at State Fair
Published: Friday, August 16, 2024
Youths from across the state earned coveted purple banners Sunday night at the Indiana State Fair 4-H Supreme Drive.
The event showcased more than 100 youths from across the state. Winners in dairy showmanship, meat pen of rabbits, and llamas were recognized. Judges also chose supreme champion ewe, gilt, percentage doe, full blood doe, dairy heifer, and dairy cow.
Cortney Hockemeyer of Allen County showed both the supreme champion ewe, a Blackface Cross named Sassy, and the third overall champion ewe, a Hampshire named Miss Sausage.
"I'm excited," Hockemeyer said. "Sassy is sweet and wants to eat everything."
She added that she advanced to the Supreme Drive with "work every day" and help from her parents and friends.
In the dairy division, supreme champion dairy cow went to Ayden Tusing of Kosciusko County. After he received the purple banner for his Holstein, Tusing said he was speechless, and it was hard to explain how he felt.
Tusing has shown dairy cattle for five years. The most impactful lesson he's learned has been about teamwork.
"My parents helped me," Tusing said. "I couldn't do this without them."
Tusing said that the dairy project is rewarding for 4-H members.
"It's a lot of work, but it'll pay off one day," Tusing said.
The reserve supreme champion in the dairy show was a Jersey exhibited by Abigail Gordon of Elkhart County.
Dani Mosser from Adams County won supreme champion dairy heifer with her Jersey, Ella.
"I'm feeling pretty cool," Mosser said after her win. "That was really cool and unexpected."
A 10-year 4-H member, Mosser's participation in the dairy project has been rewarding.
"It's been a really good experience, and I recommend it for any other 4-H'er who wants to be part of it," Mosser said. "It does get complicated, and it is hard, but you just can't give up. You have to just accept your losses and learn from them as best as you can and try to move on."
Caroline Egolf of Whitley County was named champion senior dairy showman. She won the Holstein division. Breanne Freeman of St. Joseph County, from the Ayrshire division, received reserve champion senior showman.
Other senior dairy showmanship winners were:
• Brown Swiss: Amelia Stone, Hancock County
• Guernsey: Elise Mercer, Jay County
• Jersey: Cade Bachelor, Steuben County
• Milking Shorthorn: Charlie Hackman, Jackson County
More than 1,400 gilts were exhibited in the 4-H show. Rising to the top with supreme champion gilt was the champion crossbred shown by Mya Holderly of White County. Hudson Yoder of Elkhart County won reserve supreme champion gilt.
In the goat division, Tegan Walker of Clinton County took home both supreme champion percentage doe and supreme champion full blood doe. Piper Unger of Sullivan County received reserve supreme champion percentage doe, and Isaac Cruz Redden of Monroe County won reserve supreme champion full blood doe.
Victoria Gauck of Decatur County was recognized for her grand champion meat pen of rabbits. Ellie Burdine of Putnam County was recognized for champion female llama, Jade Lehman of Allen County for champion non-breeder llama, and Adelaide Jones of Boone County for champion male llama, which also received best of show.
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