Instead she won grand champion market lamb at the Clark County Fair, meaning it has to go through the virtual auction.
“Sad and happy at the same time,” she said when asked how she felt.
Choking back tears, she added, “I really didn’t want to lose him, but it’s also great to get grand champion, and it’s only my third year in 4-H.”
The member of the Little Rascals 4-H Club has had a strong run so far, winning reserve champion twice before taking home the top honor this year.
She attributed her success to hard work with help from her grandfather.
“He lives right down the road and he would come and work with me every day,” she said.
Her mother, Heather, noted Taylor comes from a long line of sheep exhibitors, and both were proud to say the champion was homegrown.
“She put the work and the time in, so I’m happy that sometimes it all comes together with the hard work and the animal,” Heather Workman said. “The judge happens to like it and you get lucky.”
She also expressed gratitude to the fair board for making sure the fair happened this year despite the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are very grateful to the sheep committee, to the fair board and to everyone involved to be able to make this fair happen,” she said. “I can’t imagine how difficult it was, but for all the kids who were able to go out and show, it was priceless. So I’m very grateful.”
Madison Waddle showed the reserve champion, which came out of the same division and class as the grand champion, while Gabby McNier had the No. 3 overall market lamb.
The fair continues through Wednesday in Springfield.
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