Local youths recently showcased their livestock knowledge and showmanship during the annual Chester County 4-H goat, dairy goat, and sheep shows. These activities took place during the 2026 Chester County 4-H Fair, held from Aug. 3 to 8 at the Romano 4-H Center in West Brandywine Township.

The annual Market Goat Round-Up was held on Aug. 3. Throughout the 2025-26 project year, members had dedicated countless hours to raising, feeding, training, and caring for their market goats and breeding does. Prior to the show, exhibitors carefully washed, clipped, and prepared their animals to present them at their best. In addition to competing in the show ring, members participated in the annual Goat Skill-A-Thon, demonstrating their knowledge of goat nutrition, health, equipment, management practices, and the meat goat industry.

The market goat show was judged by Caleb Wright of Halifax. The categories and their winners included Light Weight Market Goat, grand champion Alexis McCafferty and reserve champion Mackenzie McCafferty; Medium Weight Market Goat, grand champion Taylor Phy and reserve champion Beatrice Greiner; Light-Heavy Weight Market Goats, grand champion Maggi Wanner and reserve champion Jenna Phy; Heavy Weight Market Goats, grand champion Addyson Burgoyne and reserve champion Lyla Engle; and Overall 4-H Market Goat Champions, grand champion Market Goat Alexis McCafferty and reserve grand champion Market Goat Maggi Wanner.

Also, Senior Showmanship, grand champion Clara Greiner and reserve champion Gretchen McCafferty; Junior Showmanship, grand champion Lyla Engle and reserve champion Ella Howe; First-Year Showmanship, grand champion Addyson Burgoyne and reserve champion Mackenzie McCafferty; and Overall 4-H Market Goat Showman, grand champion Lyla Engle and reserve champion Clara Greiner.

The dairy goat show was held on Aug. 6. Fifteen goat projects were exhibited by seven participants. Judge Amanda Bauman of Penn Argyl placed the animals and provided advice to help the youths to improve their skills.

In the Mini Nubian class, a 3-year-old doe, Lil Bit of Heaven Tornado Beth, owned by Emma Magee of West Caln Township, was the grand champion.

In the Alpine breed, Evelyn Bove of Upper Oxford was the junior champion with her 5-month-old kid, Aristos Harvest Farm Violet. Marina Hendrickson of Little Britain Township in Lancaster was the reserve junior champion with her 5-month-old Aristos Harvest Farm Victoria. Evelyn Bove was also the senior champion with her 2-year-old doe, Aristos Harvest Farm Sage, and Marina Hendrickson was the reserve senior champion with her milking yearling, Aristos Harvest Farm Tatiana. Evelyn Bove's doe, Aristos Harvest Farm Sage, was selected grand champion Alpine.

In the American Oberhasli breed, Max Wingrave of Birmingham Township was grand champion and senior champion with his doe Fullhouse Acres Pina Colada and Ella Wingrave of Birmingham Township was the reserve senior and reserve grand champion with her aged doe, Pond Springs Vanessa. Max Wingrave's doe Brandywine Farm Tequilla was junior champion, and Ella Wingrave's Brandywine Farm Tea was reserve junior champion.

In the Toggenburg breed, Ella Wingrave's 3-year-old, Pond View Springs LMR Brandy, was the grand champion, and her Toggenburg, Wether, received a blue merit.

In the Pet Goat category, Sophia Beitler and Hope Hawkins, both of Londonderry Township, received blue merit recognition for their pet pigmy goats.

In the fitting and showing competition, Emma Magee was both the champion showman and champion fitter for the senior division. In the intermediate division, Evelyn Bove was the champion showman, and Max Wingrave was the champion fitter. Ella Wingrave was the champion showman and fitter in the junior division, and Hope Hawkins and Sophia Beitler received blue merit ribbons for showmanship and fitting.

Evelyn Bove was recognized as the top showman of the day, and her doe, Aristos Harvest Farm Sage, was selected as the best goat in the show.

The Sheep Round-Up was held on Aug. 4. Youths showcased their knowledge, showmanship, and quality of breeding and market sheep before judge Caleb Wright.

The event began with the senior showmanship competition, where exhibitors were evaluated on their knowledge of sheep production, handling skills, and ability to present their animals. Sawyer Lease was selected as champion senior showman, and Kendra Beiler earned reserve champion senior showman honors.

In the Junior Showmanship division, Melody DeLong captured the title of champion junior showman, with Amaris Kerner named reserve champion junior showman.

The showmanship contests concluded with the First-Year Showmanship division. Wesley Swanson was named champion first-year showman, while Tyler Mahoney earned reserve champion first-year showman.

The top exhibitors from each division returned to compete for the overall title. Sawyer Lease was named the overall grand champion sheep showman, and Melody DeLong earned the title of overall reserve grand champion sheep showman.

Competition then shifted to the breeding sheep show. Cheviot exhibitor Taylor Minacci received the champion ribbon for her yearling ewe entry. Sawyer Lease exhibited the champion crossbred ewe, with Kasey Engle receiving reserve champion crossbred ewe honors. In the Hampshire division, Melody DeLong exhibited the champion ewe, while Sawyer Lease earned the reserve champion recognition. The champion Shropshire ewe was exhibited by Taylor Minacci, with Lyla Engle receiving reserve champion Shropshire ewe. Conor Mahoney exhibited the champion Southdown ewe.

The supreme champion ewe of the show honor, sponsored by Stauffer Feed & Supply Inc., was awarded to Sawyer Lease for his Hampshire ewe.

The event concluded with the market lamb show, where exhibitors competed in lightweight, mediumweight, and heavyweight divisions.

In the Lightweight Market Lamb division, Kendra Beiler exhibited the champion lamb, and Lyla Engle earned reserve champion honors. Naomi Beiler claimed the champion Mediumweight Market Lamb accolade, with Melody DeLong receiving reserve champion honors. In the Heavyweight Market Lamb division, Sawyer Lease exhibited the champion lamb, and Kaycee Engle earned reserve champion honors.

Following the championship drive, Sawyer Lease was selected as the overall grand champion market lamb exhibitor. Kendra Beiler earned the title of overall reserve grand champion market lamb exhibitor.

The 4-H program is open to youths ages 5 to 18. For more information, contact the Penn State Extension Chester County Office at 610-696-3500 or ChesterExt@psu.edu.