Spring Showdown at Lake Metroparks Farmpark sees highest entry rate this year

May 26—Lake Metroparks Farmpark's fifth annual Spring Showdown Lamb and Goat Show saw its highest entry this year.

On May 26, 280 young men and women ages 8 to 18 from three states had shown their lambs, commercial ewes and market goats, demonstrating their showing abilities and animal husbandry skills to professional judges, as well as spectators.

The show is a collaboration between the Lake County Senior Market Livestock Committee, the Lake County Farm Bureau and Lake Metroparks. In addition to the 125 to 150 exhibitors in attendance, between 200 to 300 spectators were expected to visit the arena throughout the day.

"Prior to our show, the closest show for any local kids was two and a half hours away in southern Ohio," said Lindsay Friedel, who is in charge of running the show alongside Steve Ohnes. "We took the reigns and now we have what we have today."

Although a smaller show, many Lake County kids now have a chance to get their animals out closer to home and at an affordable cost, Friedel said. This year, just over $4,600 in cash prizes will be given out to the youth participating, as well as $1,500 in prizes donated by the event's sponsors.

The animals spectators were able to see today at the event will be able to also see them in July, August and September at the county fairs.

"We have new classes this year specifically for Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula County Fair animals," Friedel said.

Among the participants in the event was Kylie Ohnes, Steve's daughter. Kylie expressed it's easier showing lamb when long-distance travel isn't required.

"It's fun because there's more local people," she said.

Kylie has been doing lamb since she was about 9 years old.

"I just fell in love with getting to work with them," she said. "It's worth it. It's probably one of the most fun things I've ever done. You build a lot of friendships."

Even though showing lamb is hard work, the responsibility of it pays off, Kylie said. She plans to attend West Virginia University next year to pursue pre-veterinary medicine.

Alex Bowman, another participant in the show, said his sister got him started with lamb. He soon plans to breed two ewes with her.

Bowman encourages others in the field to spend time with their animals and work with them.

Friedel recommends that anyone interested in pursuing this should reach out to their 4-H extension agent in their county.

"They can put you in contact with anybody in the livestock side of 4-H or the family consumer science side," she said. "Most of these kids are in 4-H. You don't have to own an animal to be in 4-H."

Friedel hopes the show will continue to grow annually.

"At the end of the show, we send out a survey," she said. "Everything we do is for the kids."