Dillon McNickle was crowned senior champion showman of market goats at the Inter-State Fair in Coffeyville on Thursday, August 17.
The seventeen year old youth, a resident of Mound Valley, Kan., also won grand champion commercial doe.
McNickle is no stranger to showing livestock, especially goats. He began his showing career thirteen years ago, starting with goats and adding sheep and cattle as he got older.
He has a few secrets he’s learned along the way, to be a good showman. “Lots of ring presence,” he said. “The more experience you have, the better. You learn from other people, you watch what they do, and copy what you like.” In the ring, “make sure your goat is always set up square, and make really good eye contact with the judge.”
McNickle should know. At the Labette County Fair last month, he won grand champion showman in the sheep show, and had the grand lamb and the reserve grand champion steer, which he raised. And at the American Royal in Kansas City last year, he won fourth overall in goat showmanship. He also shows at the state fair and the Kansas Junior Livestock Show.
Practicing at home with your animal is crucial. “You practice all the time at home. Take your animal out in the yard, walk it around, pet it, and let it get used to you. Make friends with it.”
McNickle will be a senior at Labette County High School this fall. He plays baseball, is a member of the FFA, and is on the A-B Honor Roll.
In addition to his four goats (Diva, Greg, Shaq and an unnamed doe), he showed three sheep yesterday (Carter, Ewe and Elliott) and will show a steer (Mocha) tomorrow.
There’s not much time for play with eight head of livestock at the fair. After animals are fed and watered each night, he goes straight to bed. The fun will be Saturday night, at the end of fair. Then McNickle may partake in some carnival rides.
He is the son of Gary and Brenda McNickle.
Sponsor of the goat show at the Inter-State Fair is the Labette Bank. Judge of the show was Barrett Carlisle, Kansas City, Kansas. Results of the show follow.
– ### –
Market Meat Goat Show Results
Grand Champion Meat Goat: Izzy Lewis, Bartlesville, Okla.
Reserve Champion Meat Goat: Marissa Harvick, Nowata, Okla.
Grand Champion Commercial Doe: Dillon McNickle, Mound Valley, Kan.
Reserve Champion Commercial Doe: Andrea Blum, Copan, Okla.
Grand Champion Registered Doe: Jesse Woodward, Vinita, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion Registered Doe: Galen Zook, Columbus, Kan.
Grand Champion Buck: Jesse Woodward, Vinita, Okla.
Showmanship
Junior: Izzy Lewis, Bartlesville, Okla.
Intermediate: Bryar Bailey, Vinita,Okla.
Senior: Dillon McNickle, Mound Valley, Kan.
Cutline: Dillon McNickle poses with one of his goats, Diva. He won the senior showmanship with another one of his goats, Shaq. Photo by Ruth Nicolaus
