Klaiber named Reserve Grand Champion

 

ROME TOWNSHIP — It took a bit longer than two shakes of its tail, but in the end Parker Rowe of Starlite 4-H Club took home the trophy for Grand Champion Market Lamb on Tuesday at the 2014 Lawrence County Fair.

Rowe, 16, of Ironton, admitted after the win his foray is goats, which he’s been involved with for the past six years.

“This is my first year exhibiting with lambs,” he said. “It’s nice to win grand champion in the market show my first time with a market lamb.”

Judge Matt Martin, of Attica, chose Morgan Klaiber’s market lamb as Reserve Grand Champion. Klaiber is a member of Gingham and Denim 4-H Club.

“I’m happy,” she said. “I worked really hard and it’s always good when hard work pays off.”

According to the national 4-H website, market lamb projects are popular project among 4-H/FFA members.

“A market lamb project is an excellent way for a young person to learn life skills and develop a basic understanding and appreciation of the sheep industry,” according to the website. “The sheep project teaches youth basic management skills, including feeding, housing, and basic nutrition. The market lamb sheep project also introduces youth to other aspects of the industry, such as: marketing, growth, and carcass performance, feed efficiency and quality evaluation.”

Martin, a self-proclaimed “thorough” judge for the past 20 years, has been involved with the sheep industry his entire life. He raised and showed market lambs and breeding sheep nationwide.

There were 20 exhibitors in the market lamb show.