BENTON, Ill. – Local youth were excited to gather at the Franklin County Fairgrounds to exhibit beef, swine, sheep, and goats, and more during the annual 4-H fair. All livestock events allowed youth to display sportsmanship and exude confidence as they showed the "best of the best" during the shows.
4-H youth also had the opportunity to participate in the livestock auction. The auction is an opportunity for local businesses, families, and community members to purchase animals exhibited during the fair. The auction is a great way to support local youth as participants receive the full proceeds from the sale of their livestock. Those who placed in the 2026 shows include:
Cat Care
Grand Champion – Ella Topovich
Reserve Champion – Pearl Worley
Senior Showmanship (First) – Tanner Smith
Junior Showmanship (First) – Kate Newbury
Junior Showmanship (Second) – Ella Topovich
Junior Showmanship (Third) – Lylah Smith
Dog Care
Grand Champion – Reagan Herron
Reserve Champion – Kolbie Wortman
Senior Showmanship (First) - Jakson Page
Senior Showmanship (Second) – Wyatt Newbury
Senior Showmanship (Third) – Kolbie Wortman
Junior Showmanship (First) – Colt Tepovich
Junior Showmanship (Second) – Brantley Hamilton
Junior Showmanship (Third) – Mattalyn Beers
Dog Obedience
Grand Champion – Wyatt Newbury
Reserve Champion – Tilden Henderson
Rabbit (Buck)
Grand Champion – Eli Newbury
Reserve Champion – Beau Hall
Rabbit (Doe)
Grand Champion – Kate Newbury
Reserve Champion – Lydiann Smith
Rabbit Showmanship
Senior Showmanship (First) – David Hooper
Senior Showmanship (Second) – Tanner Smith
Junior Showmanship (First) – Eli Newbury
Junior Showmanship (Second) – Lydiann Smith
Junior Showmanship (Third) – Brantley Hamilton
Poultry
Grand Champion – Jacob Payne
Reserve Champion – Melody Hall
Chicken (Pen of Three)
Grand Champion – Brett Bauman
Reserve Champion – Tanner Smith
Poultry Showmanship
Senior Showmanship (First) – Annah Kopacz
Senior Showmanship (Second) – Makenna Drew
Senior Showmanship (Third) – Tanner Smith
Junior Showmanship (First) – Colt Tepovich
Junior Showmanship (Second) – Brantley Hamilton
Junior Showmanship (Third) – Ella Drew
Small Pets
Grand Champion – Tanner Smith
Horse Show (Mare)
Grand Champion – Greenlee Lindhorst
Reserve Champion – Hadley Bauman
Horse Show (Gelding)
Grand Champion – Greenlee Lindhorst
Reserve Champion – Della Phillips
Horse Showmanship
Senior Showmanship - Josh Hicks
Junior Showmanship (First) – Della Phillips
Junior Showmanship (Second) - Hadley Bauman
Junior Showmanship (Third) - Greenlee Lindhorst
Dairy (Female Cow)
Grand Champion – Lucas Karnes
Reserve Champion – Leo Stanhouse
Dairy Showmanship
First – Lucas Karnes
Second – Leo Stanhouse
Sheep (Female)
Grand Champion – Myla Adams
Reserve Champion – Westlynn Conner
Sheep (Lamb Wether)
Grand Champion – Myla Adams
Reserve Champion – Westlynn Conners
Sheep Showmanship
First – Myla Adams
Second – Ryker Cross
Third – Westlyn Conner
Dairy Goat (Female)
Grand Champion – Jentry Fowler
Reserve Champion – Beau Camden
Meat Goat (Female)
Grand Champion – Kodie Mefford
Reserve Champion – Grayson Clark
Pygmy Goat (Female)
Grand Champion – Wesley Androvandi
Reserve Champion – Kayla Whitlow
Goat Wether
Grand Champion – Maylee Adams
Reserve Champion – Lyla Mefford
Third – Kodie Mefford
Goat Showmanship
Junior Showmanship (First) – Jentry Fowler
Junior Showmanship (Second) – Noa Phelps
Junior Showmanship (Third) – Kodie Mefford
Intermediate Showmanship (First) – Kollyns Dublo
Intermediate Showmanship (Second) – Gentry Gaither
Intermediate Showmanship (Third) – Reagan Herron
Senior Showmanship (First) – Grayson Clark
Senior Showmanship (Second) – Maylee Adams
Senior Showmanship (Third) – Wyatt Newbury
Beef (Female)
Grand Champion – Lyla Mefford
Reserve Champion – Brantley Hamilton
Beef (Steer)
Grand Champion – Wesley Androvani
Reserve Champion – Karlie Phillips
Third – Karlie Phillips
Beef Showmanship
Junior Showmanship (First) – Hadley Bauman
Junior Showmanship (Second) – Lyla Mefford
Junior Showmanship (Third) – Wesley Androvani
Intermediate Showmanship (First) – Brantley Hamilton
Intermediate Showmanship (Second) – Karlie Phillips
Intermediate Showmanship (Third) – Kollyns Dublo
Senior Showmanship (First) – Knox Dublo
Senior Showmanship (Second) – Aubrey Armstrong
Senior Showmanship (Third) – Alivia Lovelady
Swine (Gilt)
Grand Champion – Dennison Clark
Reserve Champion – Grayson Clark
Swine (Barrow)
Grand Champion – Dennison Clark
Reserve Champion – Eli Newbury
Third – Trace Payne
Swine Showmanship
Junior Showmanship (First) – Holland Sniderwin
Junior Showmanship (Second) – Kate Newbury
Junior Showmanship (Third) – Deegan Corn
Intermediate Showmanship (First) – Eli Newbury
Intermediate Showmanship (Second) – Karlie Phillips
Intermediate Showmanship (Third) – Colt Tepovich
Senior Showmanship (First) – Dennison Clark
Senior Showmanship (Second) – Kayla Whitlow
Senior Showmanship (Third) – Grayson Clark
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.