Photo courtesy of Tabatha Shahan

Two Greene County 4-H’ers came home with top honors from one of the most competitive livestock shows in the state.

Greene County ISU Extension 4-H and Youth Coordinator Samantha Hardaway says the soon-to-be sixth grade twins of Avril and Beeca Shahan went to Oskaloosa this past Sunday, having qualified for the All Iowa Showdown. Hardaway tells Raccoon Valley Radio the All Iowa Showdown puts the best livestock exhibitors from the ten regional qualifying shows to see who is the best in the state in market beef, sheep, swine, goat or breeding beef, sheep, swine and goat.

Hardaway says Avril was named the reserve champion breeding ewe and the grand champion breeding sheep showman, and Becca was the grand champion market lamb. Hardaway believes winning at the All Iowa Showdown is more difficult to do than winning at the Iowa State Fair, because 4-H’ers have to win at their respective county fair, then at their respective regional show, before going onto win at the All Iowa Showdown. Whereas, Hardaway notes, the state fair, anyone can sign up and show their animal. 

Hardaway adds that on behalf of the Greene County 4-H program, she congratulates all of the 4-H’ers that competed at the regional show of the Heartland Throwdown and to the Shahan girls for their results at the All Iowa Showdown.