For Kara Burcham, seven years of experience showing goats paid off Monday night. Burcham, a 15-year-old Symmes Valley High School student, has the grand champion of this year’s market goat show at the Lawrence County Fair.

“I was so nervous,” she said.

In the crowded arena, Burcham and her goat were judged the best out of seven weight classes and 78 goats.

She said raising goats takes a lot of effort.

‘At least an hour a day,” she said. “And you have to feed them and water them everyday.”

The title of reserve champion went to Allie Pancake, a 12-year-old student at Symmes Valley Elementary. This year is Allie’s third showing goats and the first year she’s won the title.

The seventh grader said her favorite part of showing the animals is spending time with them.

“I had to walk it everyday and make sure it had water,” Allie said.

The judge of this year’s competition was David Carter of Lancaster.

“Overall I think they represent your county and this fair very well,” Carter said of Burcham and Allie. “I think you should be very proud of them.”