ROME TOWNSHIP - At one point, judge Mark Brooker of Wilmington turned to Lawrence County 4-H agent Laura Jane Murphy Tuesday and asked "Did you say this was only the second year for your meat goat program here?"

Clearly, Brooker was pleased with what he saw. After judging the goats, he told the 4-H club members he had to "split hairs" to determine the grand and reserve champions.

"Lawrence County needs to be very proud of the meat goat program you've got down here," Brooker said. "What I'm looking for is a stronger body, meaty and lean, and fortunately you have two or three of them."

In the end, Mariah Brock and Kara Burcham, both of the Getaway Go Getters, took home the grand champion and reserve champion trophy respectively.

Filling out the top ten were third place: Zachary Litteral, fourth and fifth places: Lesha Waller, sixth place, Ashley Pancake, seventh place: Corey Shepherd, eighth place: Shawna Myers, ninth place: Skye Barnett and tenth place: Kara Burcham.

In meat goat showmanship competition, Lesha Waller of the Deering Riders; Royce Coleman, of the Getaway Go Getters and Rachel Mootz of Gingham and Denim took the top three spots respectively in the 14-16-year-old category. In the 10-13 age bracket, the top three spots went to Cody Myers of Starlite, Olivia Brock of the Getaway Go Getters and Zephra Shepherd of Kountry Kidz. In the 8- and 9 -year- olds category, the top three spots went to Kyle Coleman of the Getaway Go Getters,

and Ashley Pancake and Daniel Mootz, both of Gingham and Denim.

In the skillathon, a competition that judges entrants on their subject knowledge, Cody Myers, Kara Burcham and Ashley Pancake took the top three spots respectively in the junior class, while Royce Coleman, Brittany Hamilton and Danielle Spears took the top three spots respectively in the senior category.