Two area 4-H’ers earn top honors at the Best of Best Competition

Dayton Mortvedt, 10, and Aden Wolfe, 11, are pictured with their animals at the Best of Best Competition which took place on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Iowa County Fairgrounds. Dayton won Grand Champion Commercial Breeding Ewe and Grand Champion Market Lamb. Aden won Grand Champion Commerical Breeding Gilt. Photos by Bethany MW Gorsch.

​   Two Poweshiek County 4-H’ers finished top in their individual classes at the 2020 Best of Best Competition on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Iowa County Fairgrounds in Marengo.
   The competition brings together the grand champions in swine, meat goats, sheep and beef from a 13-county area, including Poweshiek County, where they face off for the top honors. This is the third year for the competition.
   Dayton Mortvedt, 10, a first-year member of the Sugar Creek 4-H Club, earned not one, but two Grand Champion honors with his breeding ewe, Beatrice, and market lamb, Napoleon, at the show.
  He received $800 for each of his winning sheep for a total of $1,600 and two belt buckles. Both his winning sheep also earned Grand Champion honors at the Poweshiek County 4-H and FFA Fair.
   When asked, Dayton said the key to his success is hard work every day and going in there (the showring) and giving his best and seeing how it all comes out.
   “The best of best was really fun and exciting,” he said. “It is my first year in 4-H. It was really cool and awesome. I like hanging out with animals and I have a lot of fun showing my sheep.”
    Dayton said he has 10 sheep and one goat he cares for.
  Dayton is also a history buff and said he is studying middle ages history and that is where he came up with the names, Beatrice and Napoleon.
   When asked what he was going to do with his winnings, Dayton said save it so he can buy some sheep next year.
   Dayton is the son of Ryan and Carrie Mortvedt. He has one younger brother, Brock, who is a Clover Kid.
    Aden Wolfe, 11, a member of Sheridan 4-H Club, took his Grand Champion Commercial Breeding Gilt, Dolly, to the Best of Best Competition, where he took top honors while earning $800 and a nice belt buckle for his efforts.
   Aden went on to compete at the All-Iowa Showdown at the Union County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 8, where Dolly took top honors again, earning him a check for $750 and a belt buckle. Dolly also won Grand Champion honors at the Poweshiek County 4-H and FFA Fair.
    When asked, Aden said the key to his success is hard work and doing things on time.
    “Don’t give up no matter what your pig looks like,” he said. 
    Aden has nine pigs and some chickens and says he works with them in the morning and the evening.
   “It’s fun,” he said of showing animals. “They are very nice. They don’t get mad at you. They have a very good temperament.”
    Aden is showing his pigs at 10 different shows this year.
   When asked what he was going to do with his winnings, Aden said he hasn’t figured it out yet.
    Aden is the son of Matt and Ashley Wolfe. He has a younger brother, Anthony, who is in Clover Kids.

After taking top honors at the Best of Best Competition, Grinnell’s Aden Wolfe, 11, took his pig, Dolly, to the All-Iowa Showdown on Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Union County Fairgrounds, where he took top honors, earning $750 and a belt buckle. Submitted photo.