Kalen Brattain earns 2006 Supreme Showman

Having a passion and never giving up was the mantra for Kalen Brattain during the Supreme Showmanship competition Thursday night.

After his name was announced by the emcee as the Supreme Showman, Brattain could not stop shaking. "It's an amazing feeling," he said. "Words can't say enough."

Brattain, the son of Kent and Kim Brattain, Greencastle, competed against the other 4-H'ers in the swine barn for the opportunity of being in this competition.

In the showmanship competition, one representative from the six barns competes by showing animals from those barns and public speaking. Each representative had to know how to handle the animals as if they were participating in that barn's show. The barns represented were the horse, dairy, beef, swine, sheep, and goat.

Brattain told the BannerGraphic even though he competed in this competition last year, he still practiced and continued a repetition. He said he went to each barn to work with the animals so he could be prepared for anything that might come his way.

"I felt like I had done well with each species, but I didn't know if it was enough to win," Brattain said.

But he kept giving the competition all his heart. Brattain said he enjoyed competing with his fellow 4-H'ers.

He would be willing to compete with them again if he could because they all had great attitudes and great poise.

The other contestants competing for the title were Ross Oliver representing the dairy barn, Lauren Greeson representing the beef barn, Andrew Fidler representing the goat barn, Dakota Parent representing the sheep barn, and Jada Buchanan representing the horse barn.

Buchanan was also named reserve showman.

Once a supreme showman has been named, that winner cannot participate in the competition again.

Brattain had been showing swine at the fair for nine years, and has loved the Supreme Showmanship competition ever since. "I have been wanting it [the trophy] for ever," he said.

Brattain is the second member of his family to compete and win. His father, Kent, won the competition back in 1968.

Even though Brattain won this title, he must work his way back up the ladder when he goes to the state fair.

Brattain's advice to young 4-H'ers is do not every give up, right or wrong. "It's a passion," he said. "You have to give it all your heart."