Just four months ago, Lukas Oliver got a goat named Bo.

On July 18, the Wellsville resident walked out of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds Youth Arena as grand champion in the goat category.
Lukas, a member of the Coon Creek Cronies 4-H Club, won grand champion honors for the second time in three years after his goat placed first out of eight competitors at the Junior Livestock Show.

“It’s an experience,” Lukas said. “I just think I had really good luck coming out here and competing with other goat showpeople.”

Bo weighs 115 pounds, over 60 pounds heavier than he was during originally weigh-ins several months ago. It’s one of three goats Lukas owns.

“He can be a bad boy every now and then, but he’s really good,” Lukas said.

There were 200 exhibitors at the four-hour auction that ended close to midnight. Lukas was one of 11 exhibitors who won either grand champion or reserve honors.

Two years ago, Lukas won grand champion honors with a goat named Teddy. He was the first exhibitor to have his name called. This year, Lukas – who will be a freshman at Wellsville-Middletown High School this fall – had to wait until 11:30 p.m. to have his name called during the auction.
Grady Korman of the Big Spring Busy Beavers was the first exhibitor to have his name called after winning grand champion honors in the sheep category. Last year, he placed sixth in the sheep category.

Chase Ebker of the Kountry Kids earned reserve honors in the sheep category.

In the rabbit category, Kendra Stille, who is also from the Kountry Kids, received a grand champion award for her rabbit named Potato. It’s her fourth year showing rabbits at the fair. Last year, she was 21st.

“It’s not too hard,” Kendra said. “But after you learn it, it gets easier.”

Aden Fortmann of the Coon Creek Cronies picked up reserve champion honors in the rabbit category. There were 52 rabbits that were sold in this year’s auction. Last year, there were 46.

Trenton Lampkin of Hermann FFA and Alaina Spurgeon of the Big Spring Busy Beavers earned grand champion and reserve honors in the steer category. Trenton finished third in the steer category last year.

Harrison Vomund, a member of the Bellflower Boosters, got grand champion honors in the hog category for the second year in a row. Katelyn McCurdy of the Middletown Meddlers received reserve honors. There were 82 hogs in the auction, more than any other animal.

Kenley Wessel, who is from the Kountry Kids, got a reserve award in the goat category. Last year, he got grand champion for her goat named Bubba.

Chase McCurdy of the Middletown Meddlers picked up grand champion award in the chicken category.