Six of Stephenson County's top 4-H livestock exhibitors put their skills, knowledge, and showmanship to the test during the 10th Annual Stephenson County 4-H Master Showmanship Contest, held Thursday, July 23, at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds.
The prestigious contest featured six outstanding 4-H members, ages 14 to 18, who had the opportunity to compete for the title of Stephenson County Master Showman and the chance to represent Stephenson County at the Illinois State Fair Master Showmanship Contest on Friday, August 14, at 6:00 p.m. in Springfield.
Now in its 10th year, the Master Showmanship Contest at the Stephenson County Fair, showcases the highest level of skill, dedication, and sportsmanship among the county's senior livestock exhibitors.
The competition began at 4:00 p.m. in the swine show ring before moving to the sheep arena and concluding in the beef barn. Contestants were challenged to exhibit animals outside of their primary project area while demonstrating proper handling techniques, species knowledge, ring etiquette, and confidence under pressure. Throughout the event, exhibitors proved their versatility as they adapted to different species and answered questions from the judge.
Judge Leah Maciejewski of Grafton, Wisconsin, evaluated each contestant on their livestock handling abilities, animal knowledge, professionalism, and overall showmanship. The competition remained close throughout all three species, making for an exciting contest from start to finish.
After an outstanding three rounds of competition, Greyson Zumdahl of the Florence Crickets 4-H Club earned Third Place. Brogan Keltner of the Pearl City Hornets 4-H Club was named Reserve Champion Master Showman, and Dillyn Heslop of the German Valley Golden Eagles 4-H Club captured the title of 2026 Stephenson County Master Showman.
As Stephenson County Master Showman, Heslop will advance to represent the county at the Illinois State Fair Master Showmanship Contest in Springfield this August, where the state's top 4-H livestock exhibitors will compete for the Illinois Master Showmanship title.
"The Master Showmanship Contest truly represents the best of the best in our livestock project areas," said Jen Schultz, Stephenson County 4-H Youth Development Extension Program Coordinator. "These young people have already excelled in their individual species shows. This contest challenges them to step outside their comfort zones, apply what they've learned across multiple species, and demonstrate the confidence, knowledge, and character that make 4-H members exceptional leaders."
Cash prizes and special awards were presented immediately following the contest. The event was made possible through the generous support of the Stephenson County Farm Bureau and The Curt Miller Family, who provided a special donation in memory of Curt Miller, a dedicated advocate for agriculture and longtime supporter of Stephenson County 4-H. His legacy continues to inspire young people and strengthen the livestock program he cared so deeply about.
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.