A 1959 Oliver 770 owned by Montezuma’s Frank Helm is the 2022 Grinnell Ag Appreciation Day featured tractor. Helm will lead the popular Larry VanErsvelde Tractor Parade beginning at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25.

By J.O. Parker

    The Grinnell Lions Ag Appreciation Day is slated for Thursday, Aug. 25 from 3 – 7 p.m., in and around Central Park in Grinnell.
      Ag Day will offer food, fun, exhibits, activities for kids, a guest speaker, music, tractors on display, a tractor parade and just good family-friendly fun. A farm family will be awarded the Jim Urfer Spirit of Farming Award and an agribusiness will also be recognized. Al Maly will present the awards.
      Route 66 will provide the tunes. Jon Hubbert, state conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Iowa is the guest speaker.
     The Grinnell FFA will be hosting a petting zoo while the HLV FFA is offering a kidde tractor obstacle course and the Montezuma FFA is hosting a scavenger hunt.
    Grinnell Historical Society will have a display of Grinnell artifacts with Bill Hammen. The Iowa Corn Growers will have a trailer display showing corn production and the Iowa Lions Eye Bank will be on hand to share info on the eye bank and so much more. Grinnell’s Dari Barn will have their mobile food truck on site.
    Bill Menner is the Ag Day emcee.
    The event will end with the Larry VanErsvelde Tractor Parade, which starts rolling at 6:30 p.m.
    “Please encourage any and all tractor owners to bring them to Ag Day,” noted Maly. “New, old, show quality or right from the field. The bigger the tractor parade, the better.”
Schedule
    • 12 – 3 p.m. – tractor registration 
    • 3 – 6 p.m. - exhibitor displays open
  Old and antique tractors on display including the featured tractor – a 1959 Oliver 770 owned by Montezuma’s Frank Helm.
   Also featured are: Alliant Energy – electrical safety; Bayer Crop Science – farm and household safety; Community 1st Credit Union – business info; Dura Crop with Jayson Gaunt – company info; J.J. Nichting Company, Case IH – equipment display; Lowry Motorsports/RV/Construction/Rental – equipment display; New Century Farm Service – business info; Rocoza LLC, Sam Rockwell – drones and spraying service; Steve Link Ford – vehicle display; Sunset Hills Bison Ranch – business info; Van Wall Equipment – equipment display; Wes Finch Auto Plaza – vehicle display; Farm Bureau Financial Services, Jenny Bos – providing free water; Theisen’s – free popcorn and gates for petting zoo; Cub/Boy Scouts – information on Boy Scouts; Child Care Resource and Referral of Central Iowa – business info; Grinnell Fire Department – fire truck and fire safety display; Poweshiek County Extension/4-H – extension service and 4-H info; Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation (GPCF) – foundation info; Mid-West Ambulance Service – ambulance; Poweshiek County Conservation Naturalist – archery trailer; Poweshiek SWCD/NRCS – soil conservation display; Practical Farmers of Iowa –organization info; Unity Point Health – Diabetes Awareness and Covid shot.
    • 4 – 5:45 p.m. – Route 66 to provide the tunes
  • 5:50 - 6:15 p.m. – Program and featured speaker – Jon Hubbert, state conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Iowa 
   • 6:15 - 6:25 p.m. – Spirit of Farming and Ag Business Awards – Al Maly will present the awards
   • 6:30 – Tractor parade announced
  • 6:35 – The Larry VanErsvelde Tractor Parade will wrap up the evening led by Frank Helm and his 2022 featured tractor - a 1959 Oliver 770. The parade starts on 4th Avenue west to Broad Street, north on Broad Street, west on 5th Avenue, south on Main Street, east on 4th Avenue, south on Broad Street and will finish at 1st Street.

​        The 49th Annual Grinnell Car and Bike Show is slated for Saturday, Aug. 27 beginning at 8 a.m. The event, which is held in Central Park, is open and free to the public. It is hosted by the Grinnell Vintage Auto Club.
       Vehicle registration is 8 – 11 a.m. with awards presented at 2 p.m. The cost is $20 to enter a vehicle in the show. The club will hand out 35 trophies plus five special trophies.
      LP33 will be providing the tunes. There will be door prizes and a 50/50 drawing. The Grinnell Optimist Club will be serving breakfast until 10 a.m.
        For more information, contact Bob at 515-249-3001 or Bud at 641-990-1123.

      A number of Poweshiek County 4-H’ers had projects advance to the 2022 Iowa State Fair. Following are the results:
Educational Presentations
Anna Johnson, Poweshiek Pioneers, Avian Bird Flu Presentation
Dasha LaRue, Mighty Golden Clovers, American Paint Horse Presentation
Lucy Turley, Mighty Golden Clovers, Service Dogs Presentation
Working Exhibits:
Molly Turley, Mighty Golden Clovers, Origami 
Share-The-Fun:
Anna & Samuel Johnson, Poweshiek Pioneers, Taekwondo
Slane McCue, Mighty Golden Clovers, Oboe Solo
William Schalmo, Mighty Golden Clovers, Piano Solo
Animals:
Cameyon James, Sugar Creek 4-H’ers, “Hereford an American Born Pig”
Linkyn Bru, Madison Moovers, Wheelchair for a disabled duck
Ag & Natural Resources:
Cameyon James, Sugar Creek 4-H’ers, Deer Food Plot
Photography:
Kinze Lacaeyse, Poweshiek Pioneers, 8 X 10 Photo of Sunset & barn
Leyton Lacaeyse, Poweshiek Pioneers, 8 X 10 Photo of Rainbow
Thea Larsson, Mighty Golden Clovers, 8 X 10 Photo of a Red Cone Flower
Thea Larsson, Mighty Golden Clovers, 8 X 10 Photo of Dog holding a rag
Grace Schalmo, Mighty Golden Clovers, 8 X 10 Photo of a Tree Frog on a Leaf
William Schalmo, Mighty Golden Clovers, 8 X 10 Photo of a Frog in Moss
Ireland Sebetka, Sheridan, Photo of a Golden Retriever sitting in a Truck
Tinsley Stowell, Poweshiek Producers, 8 X 10 Photo of a Robin’s Nest
Visual Arts:
Alea Bru, Madison Moovers, Clay Carving and Painting of a Horse
Molly Turley, Mighty Golden Clovers, Drawing of a girl
Lucy Turley, Mighty Golden Clovers, Painting of a nurse and a Covid Germ
Food & Nutrition:
Breckyn Brand, Sugar Creek 4-H’ers, Dutch Letter Bars
Hayley Burnett, Deep River Helping Hands, Molasses Cookies
Alayna Huff, Deep River Helping Hands, Donut Macaroons 
Gracie Kaufman, Mighty Golden Clovers, Banana Bread
Ivy Kellogg, Sheridan, Coffee Cake
William Manatt, Poweshiek Pioneers, No Knead Bread
Home Improvement:
Andrew Arkema, Sugar Creek 4-H’ers, Black Wooden Chair with Cushion
Evan Arkema, Sugar Creek 4-H’ers, Square Wooden Table
Sewing & Needle Arts
Grace Schalmo, Mighty Golden Clovers, Crocheted Coasters 
Personal Development:
Breckyn Brand, Sugar Creek 4-H’ers, Hippology Quiz
Casey DeZwarte, 4 Bar H, “For the Vets” Tri-fold
Ava Seney, Sheridan, Seed Cards
Science, Engineering, & Technology:
Keaton Iverson, Sugar Creek 4-H’ers, Mounting of Deer Antlers and Barb Wire on Fence Posts
William Manatt, Poweshiek Pioneers, “The Noble Gases” Tri-Fold

​    Rylee Mauss, a member of the Sheridan 4-H Club, received Grand Champion Horse honors at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

      Following are the 2022 Poweshiek County Fair Horse and Pony ​results:

Junior Showmanship: Sophia Semprini
Intermediate Showmanship: Rylee Mauss
Senior Showmanship: Morgan Jones
Grand Champion Horse: Rylee Mauss
Reserve Grand Champion Horse: Hadley Marsh
Grand Champion Pony: Morgan Jones
Reserve Grand Champion Pony: Lucy Semprini
Grand Champion Mule/Donkey: Mario Romo
Grand Champion Junior All Around Horse: Breah Lowry
Reserve Grand Champion Junior All Around Horse: Hadley Marsh
Grand Champion Intermediate All Around Horse: Rylee Mauss
Reserve Grand Champion Intermediate All Around Horse: Gracie Kaufman
Grand Champion Senior All Around Horse: Wyatt Eaton
Reserve Grand Champion Senior All Around Horse: Madison Spencer
Junior Horsemanship: Breah Lowry 
Intermediate Horsemanship: Rylee Mauss
Sr. Horsemanship: Morgan Jones
 
Halter Class Placings: 
Miniature Horse: Purple: Wyatt Eaton, Carter Tuttle, Blue: Hadley Marsh, Casey DeZwarte
Halter Ponies, Mare 4 & Up: Blue: Lucy Semprini, Nathan Kloppenburg
Halter Pony Gelding 4 & Older: Blue: Morgan Jones, Colton Sieck
Halter Horse, 2 and 3 Year Olds: Blue: Hadley Marsh
Mare 4 Years and older: Blue: Alea Bru, Jamison Hidlebaugh, Emma Weeks, Lily Bushong, Tenley Kriegel, Lexi Williams, Madison Spencer, Alexis Kephart, Isabel Rubendall
Halter Horse Gelding 4 & Older: Blue: Rylee Mauss, Gracie Kaufman, Lily Moyer, Breah Lowry, Abbigail Kloppenburg, Emma Weeks, Carlie Tratchel, Dasha Larue, Carlie Tratchel
Halter Mules, & Donkeys, 3 Years Old and Older: Blue: Mario Romo
Performance Class Placings
Hunter Under Saddle Walk Trot: Blue: Hadley Marsh, Rylee Mauss, Breckyn Brand, Morgan Jones, Emma Weeks, Sophia Semprini
Hunter Under Saddle: Blue:  Breckyn Brand, Emma Weeks
Hunt Seat Equitation: Blue: Breckyn Brand, Hadley Marsh, Emma Weeks
Western Pony Walk Trot: Blue: Breckyn Brand, Hadley Marsh, Morgan Jones, Red: Nathan Kloppenburg
Western Walk trot, Horse Junior: Blue: Hadley Marsh, Breah Lowry, Ivy Kellogg, Emma Weeks, Lakeyn Stubbs
Western Walk Trot Horse Intermediate: Blue: Rylee Mauss, Gracie Kaufman, Dasha Larue
Western Walk Trot Horse Senior: Blue: Wyatt Eaton, Carlie Tratchel
Western Walk Trot Horse 1st Year Rider: Blue: Brooks Brand, Clara Erickson, Abbigail Kloppenburg, Lily Bushong
Ranch Horse Walk-trot Junior: Blue: Lily Moyer, Emma Weeks, Tenley Kriegel, Isabel Rubendall
Ranch Horse Walk-trot Intermediate: Blue: Jamison Hidlebaugh, Linkyn Bru, Mario Romo
Ranch Horse Walk-trot Senior: Blue: Alea Bru, Lexi Williams, Madison Spencer, Carlie Tratchel
Ranch Horse Western Pleasure, Junior: Blue: Emma Weeks, Isabel Rubendall
Ranch Horse Western Pleasure, Intermediate: Blue: Linkyn Bru
Ranch Horse Western Pleasure Senior: Blue: Lexi Williams, Alea Bru, Carlie Tratchel
Pony Western Pleasure: Blue: Breckyn Brand, Morgan Jones
Western Pleasure Horse Junior: Blue: Breah Lowry,
Western Pleasure Horse, Intermediate: Blue: Rylee Mauss, Gracie Kaufman, Dasha Larue
Western Pleasure Horse, Senior: Blue: Hayden Eaton
Western Pleasure Horse or Pony 2 & 3 Years Old: Blue: Hadley Marsh
Western Pleasure 1st Year Rider: Blue: Lily Bushong, Clara Erickson
Hitch: Blue: Wyatt Eaton
Trail - Junior: Blue: Hadley Marsh, Breckyn Brand, Red: Breah Lowry, Emma Weeks, Lily Bushong
Trail – Intermediate: Blue: Rylee Mauss, Red: Gracie Kaufman, Dasha Larue, Linkyn Bru, Jamison Hidlebaugh
Trail – Senior: Blue: Lexi Williams, Red: Wyatt Eaton, Spencer Madison, Morgan Jones, Alea Bru, Carlie Tratchel
Trail Mini Horse or Donkey: Blue: Wyatt Eaton, Hayden Eaton
Tandem Bareback Walk-Trot: Blue: Breckyn Brand & Breah Lowry, Hadley Marsh and Rylee Mauss, Gracie Kaufman and Dasha Larue, Emma Weeks and Tenley Kriegel, Alea Bru and Isabelle Rubendall
Senior Barrels: Blue: Madison Spencer, Lexi Williams, Carlie Tratchel, Wyatt Eaton, Hayden Eaton, White: Alea Bru, Eaton Wyatt, Morgan Jones, Alexis Kephart
Intermediate Barrels: Blue: Jamison Hidlebaugh, Linkyn Bru, Gracie Kaufman, Rylee Mauss, Dasha Larue, Mario Romo
Junior Barrels: Purple: Blue: Clara Erickson, Emma Weeks, Blue: Breah Lowry, Breckyn Brand, Tenley Kriegel, Lily Bushong, Hadley Marsh, Lakeyn Stubbs, Ivy Kellogg, Abbigail Kloppenburg, White: Lily Moyer, Nathan Kloppenburg
Senior Pole Bending: Blue: Alea Bru, Madison Spencer, Carlie Tratchel, Wyatt Kephart, Lexi Williams
Intermediate Pole Bending: Blue: Jamison Hidlebaugh, Gracie Kaufman, Linkyn Bru, Rylee Mauss, Mario Romo, White: Dasha Larue
Junior Pole Bending: Purple: Clara Erickson, Emma Weeks, Blue: Lily Bushong, Tenley Kriegel, Ivy Kellogg, Abbigail Kloppenburg, White: Lily Moyer, Lakeyn Stubbs
 

​     Reserve Grand Champion Horse honors went to Hadley Marsh, a member of the Sheridan 4-H Club, at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

​      Grand Champion Pony honors went to Morgan Jones, a member of the Sugar Creek 4-H Club, at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair. Morgan also earned senior showmanship honors with her pony.

     Lucy Semprini, a member of the Poweshiek Producers 4-H Club, showcased the Reserve Grand Champion Horse at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair. Her sister, Sophia Semprini, also a member of the Poweshiek Producers 4-H Club, won junior showmanship honors with the same horse.

​     Grand Champion Mini Horse honors went to Wyatt Eaton, a member of the Grinnell FFA, at the 2022 Poweshiek County Fair.

​     Rylee Mauss, a member of the Sheridan 4-H Club, received Intermediate Horse Showmanship honors at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

​     Wyatt Eaton, a member of the Grinnell FFA Chapter, is the proud owners of the Grand Champion Senior All Around Horses at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

​      Madison Spencer, a member of the Grinnell FFA, is the proud owner of the Reserve Grand Champion Senior All Around Horse at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

​      Rylee Mauss, a member of the Sheridan 4-H Club, earned Grand Champion Intermediate All Around Horse honors at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

     Gracie Kaufmann, a member of the Mighty Golden Clovers 4-H Club, earned Reserve Grand Champion Intermediate All Around Horse honors at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

​      Breah Lowry, a member of the Sugar Creek 4-H Club, is the proud owner of the Grand Champion Junior All Around Horse at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

     Hadley Marsh, a member of the Sheridan 4-H Club, earned Reserve Grand Champion Junior All Around Horse honors at the 2022 Poweshiek County 4-H/FFA Fair.

     The Poweshiek County 4-H Event Day was held on Saturday, June 25 at BGM Community Schools. Following is the list of results for each category that area 4-H members participated in. They include:
 
Educational Presentations
     Anna Johnson, 10th grade, Avian Bird Flu, Seal of Excellence
     Slane McCue, 7th grade, Hockey Gear, Seal of Merit
     Lucy Turley, 7th grade, Service Dogs, Seal of Excellence
     Dasha LaRue, 7th grade, American Paint Horse, Seal of Excellence
     Hanna McCue, 4th grade, How to Choose a Tree, Seal of Excellence
Wardrobe
Clothing Selection
     Lindsey Henry, 8th grade, Blue
     Elsie Beyer, Clover Kid, Participation
$15 Challenge
     Lindsey Henry, 8th grade, Blue
     Elsie Beyer, Clover Kid, Participation
     Hanna McCue, 4th grade, Blue
Food Challenge
     Peyton Tindle, 8th grade, No Bake Cheesecake Bites, Purple
     Gracie Kaufman, 7th grade, Banana Bread, Blue
     Lindsey Henry, 8th grade, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Blue
     Elsie Beyer, Clover Kid, Pizza Quesadillas, Participation
     Slane McCue, 7th grade, Carmel Popcorn, Blue
     Hanna McCue, 4th grade, Oreo Fluff, Blue
Share the Fun & Working Exhibits
    Slane McCue, 7th grade, Share the Fun, Oboe Solo, Seal of Merit
    William Schalmo, 7th grade, Share the Fun, Piano Solo, Seal of Excellence
    Cora Schalmo, Clover Kid, Share the Fun, Piano Solo, Participation
  Anna and Sam Johnson, 10th and 7th grades, Share the Fun, Taekwondo Form/Board Break, Seal of Excellence
    Molly Turley, 12th grade, Working Exhibit, Origami, Seal of Merit
Advancing to the State Fair
Educational Presentations
    Lucy Turley, Anna Johnson and Dasha LaRue.
Working Exhibits
   Molly Turley
Share the Fun
   Anna and Sam Johnson, William Schalmo and Slane McCue

     Pictured are area 4-H’ers who participated in the $15 Challenge. They are, from left: Hanna McCue, Elsie Beyer and Lindsey Henry.

​      Pictured are three area 4-H’ers who participated in the Share the Fun and Working Exhibits events. They are, from left: Slane McCue, Anna Johnson and Sam Johnson. William and Cora Schalmo are not pictured. Slane, Anna and Sam will give their presentations at the Iowa State Fair.

​By J.O. Parker
 
     It was July 1980.
     Paul Pohlson and his wife, Debby, were living in the Quad Cities at the time and Pohlson was running Head Start Preschool programs on the Iowa side of the two-state area.
    “It was a social work program and I didn’t make a lot of money,” recalled Pohlson. “My wife and I decided to make a move to be closer to family.”
    The couple, who met at the now closed Ottumwa Heights College, had been in the Quad Cities for about 10 years, moving there after getting married.
   They considered Ottumwa, Pohlson’s hometown, but settled on Grinnell where Debby grew up and had family.
     They loaded the moving van and headed west.
    At the time, Sarah, the couple’s daughter, was in preschool and she remembers riding in the front seat of the moving van with her dad.
    “She was right up there next to me,” Pohlson said.
   The couple also has a son, Scott, who lives in Vermillion, S.D. where he works as the University of South Dakota Dean of Enrollment and Admission.
    Once they settled into Grinnell, Pohlson had an opportunity to get a job in the insurance business.
    “And here we are,” he said of still working in the insurance and financial arena 40 plus years later. He’s also remained active in community service in the Grinnell area through the years along with all of his family.
    Sarah attended Grinnell High School where she swam for the Tigers. After graduating from GHS in 1994, she landed at Luther College in Decorah, where she swam and sang in the Norse choir. She went on to earn degrees in psychology and biology, graduating in 1998. 
     It was at Luther that she met her husband, Dustin, a native of Rock Island, Ill.
     The couple met in the catering department at the college.
    “We were scheduled to wash dishes together many nights and that did it, over dishes,” said Sarah with a light chuckle and smile.
     The couple also worked Sunday mornings serving brunch to guests.
     “I cracked eggs and Dustin made omelets,” she said.
   Dustin and Sarah married in 1999 and moved to Chicago for jobs. Sarah worked at Lincoln National Insurance Company and Dustin was a financial advisor for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. They spent eight years there before coming home to Grinnell in 2006.
     They have two children, Alex, who will be a freshman at Luther this fall where he will play baseball for the Norse, and Josie, who will be a sophomore at GHS in the fall.
     Sarah said she and Dustin are quite proud of their children. They were both on the swim team at GHS and Dustin played baseball for the Tigers.
     This fall, Sarah said, Alex and the Norse will play a baseball game against the Briar Cliff Chargers on the original Field of Dreams Movie Set in Dyersville. The game is slated for Sept. 16.
     “We are so excited for him,” she said.
     And Sarah remains involved in coaching the GHS girls’ swim team, where she will have a chance this fall to work with her daughter and the rest of the team.
     “She spends her fall with her mom,” said Sarah of coaching Josie.
      Sarah started coaching with the Grinnell Tiger Sharks Swim Club in 2008.
      “A job opened up at the high school,” she said. “And I love it.”
       This fall will mark her 11th year at the high school and 15th overall as a swim coach.
       In addition to her work with the swim team, Sarah spent a number of years as a volunteer board member on the Grinnell Newburg Community School Foundation.
       “Now, I am content to just be involved,” she said.
       Sarah currently works at Grinnell College as the Director of Outreach Programming and Events.
       “I connect campus and community through events and programming,” she said.
      She also remains active on the Dollars for Scholars Board and helps youth get a head start in college or trade school. And she is in her seventh year serving on the Unity Point Health – GRMC board of Trustees.
       In addition to her community service, Sarah is running for House District 53 on the Democratic ticket in November.
      When asked what led her to seek a political office, Sarah said some years ago while in the Poweshiek County Leadership Program, she spent a day at the State Capitol and got the bug.
        “I felt inspired to run someday,” she said.
       She returned home to Grinnell and let the Poweshiek County Democrats know that she was interested in running someday.
        That someday came a little sooner than later.
       She said in 2019, Rachel Bly, who had run for office, encouraged her to consider running. She reached out to the state Democratic Party and it went from there.
     “After coffees and phone calls with the House Truman Fund (a political funding arm of the Iowa Democratic Party), the now minority leader, Jennifer Confrst, encouraged me to run in 2020,” she said.
       After losing to Dave Maxwell that year, who she said is a great man, Sarah opted to run again. She will face Dean Fisher, a Tama County Republican, on the November ticket.
        Dustin is in his second term on the Grinnell School Board where he is vice president. He also serves on the Grinnell Hotel - Motel Tax Committee, where he serves as vice chair.
        Pohlson is involved alongside Sarah on the Dollars for Scholars Board. He also serves on the Iowa Valley Community College Board of Directors and said proudly, “I was involved in building the new Drake Community Library.”
        “What a great place for the Grinnell community,” he added.
      Debby is also active in the community arts and history, having just directed Frozen Jr. She has been in other community plays and in past years played Peter Pan.
        “She presently serves on the Grinnell Historical Museum Board and has done many musical shows with a group called, Shults and Company,” said Pohlson.
        Debby is currently the chair of the Unity Point Health – GRMC Foundation Board.
In addition, the family attends St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Grinnell where at one time or another, they have severed on the church leadership board.
         When asked about the importance of serving the community, Sarah thinks we need more opportunities to get together and listen to each other.
      “It’s important give back to the community and be a part of the community through involvement,” added Dustin, who spends his weekdays at Cirks Agency in Grinnell, a company that specializes in insurance and financial services.
       And Pohlson, who is seeking a seat on the Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors, currently works for the Truax Agency, an insurance agency based in Parkersburg, and also as a consultant for True North Agency in Cedar Rapids. He said people have been good to him in business and he has enjoyed spending time listening to the needs of people in the Grinnell community.
        “It’s time to give back and to continue to listen to people,” he said.

​       Megan Mauss, center, who was crowned the 2022 Poweshiek County Fair Supreme Showman, is shown with all the competitors in the Supreme Showman Competition held on Sunday, July 17. Pictured are, from left: Adam Carrothers, livestock judge; James Gruver, Megan Mauss, Dominick Clayton (back), Dayton Mortvedt (front) and Sophia Semprini. Megan is pictured with her winning banner and director’s chair. She also received a $100 gift.

By J.O. Parker
 
     Grinnell’s Megan Mauss took top honors at the first Supreme Showman Competition at the 2022 Poweshiek County Fair.
       The contest, which was held on Sunday, July 17, pitted the best overall showman of the five animal species – beef, sheep, goats, swine and horses – against each other. Each showman was challenged with showing all five animals (not including their own) and judged on how they did.
        Those participating included Megan Mauss, swine; Dominick Clayton, goats; Dayton Mortvedt, sheep; James Gruver, beef; and Sophia Semprini, horses.
          “My favorite part was leaning how to show other animals,” said Dayton Mortvedt, who showed sheep and goats at the county fair. “I enjoyed showing the hogs. I had fun and a good time.”
            Megan Mauss, who won the event, said the contest was challenging.
            “I’ve never shown sheep in my life,” she said. “It was a fun way to end the fair.”
Sophia Semprini said it was interesting getting to show a pig and goat.
        “I’ve never shown anything (outside of a horse) other than a bottle calf,” Sophia said. “It was a fun experience.”
           James Gruver, who knows a thing or two about showing cattle, said it was a fun experience showing the other animals.
          “It was different, but fun showing the other animals,” said Gruver.
        “It was fun and an interesting experience showing other livestock in the showring,” said Dominick Clayton of the competition.
         “It’s really interesting and different,” said Adam Carrothers, livestock judge of the show. “I think each one did very well. Everyone was enthusiastic.”
         “It was a class of great showman who stepped outside their comfort zone and did a great job showing other species,” said Cory Brand, fairboard member and competition emcee.

Horse Showmanship

Beef Showmanship

Sheep Showmanship

Goat Showmanship

Swine Showmanship