4-H grand champions from northeastern SD to be recognized Saturday at Brown County Fair
Some of the top 4-H'ers in livestock events from across northeastern South Dakota will be recognized Saturday in Aberdeen.
They'll also have a chance to take home some cash.
Folks wanting to see elite animals from 16 counties should add the Brown County Fair's Sweet 16 County Showdown Event to their list of can't-miss events this week. Grand champion beef, swine, sheep and goats will be at the event, which starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Holum Expo Building addition at the Aberdeen fairgrounds.
Youth from Campbell, Codington, McPherson, Brown, Walworth, Edmunds, Faulk, Spink, Potter, Day, Marshall, Roberts, Clark, Grant, Hamlin and Deuel counties are invited.
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The regional 4-H show began in Aberdeen in 2018 and has been held annually, with the exception of 2020 because of COVID-19.
While there will be four different types of animals that show, each has a market and a breeding category.
Jeff Wolff, co-chairman of the showdown, said the event will feature more than 80 4-H participants showing more than 100 top animals. Each county is able to send up to eight participants, he said, but not all counties will. Those who do not attend will be acknowledged with a short biography during the show.
Wolff said the goal of the event is to honor 4-H'ers who put in countless hours throughout the year getting ready for county fairs and achievement days.
"It's a big recognition event," he said. "More so to focus on the kids with elite animals."
He expects a crowd of close to 1,000 spectators, recalling full bleachers during the 2021 show.
More: Farm Bureau hosts farm bill discussion Friday
Similar shows in Iowa
Wolff said the idea for the show came from Iowa where similar regional shows were organized.
"They started these in Iowa about six years ago now. Iowa has eight of them in the state," he said, as well as a final statewide showdown.
In South Dakota, Aberdeen is one of three communities that host regional showdowns. The other two in Salem and Wessington Springs.
Cash prizes are awarded with the grand champion in each division receiving $1,000. Wolff said progressively smaller cash prizes are awarded for each subsequent place. Those prizes are due to support from more than 75 businesses in the region.
"Every kid goes home with something," he said.
Judging this year's entries will be Terry Burks from Bowling Green, Ky.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Sweet 16 showdown 2022 is regional 4-H event at Brown County fair
