Gilley is 2012 4-H Supreme Showman

Nine-year 4-H'er Emily Gilley took one of the fair's big prizes Thursday night, winning the 2012 Supreme showmanship award.

After a 31-year drought, the horse and pony barn has a winning streak going in Putnam County 4-H Supreme Showmanship.

Following the lead of barnmate Logan Pell last year, Emily Gilley was named the 2012 Supreme Showman on Thursday in the indoor arena.

The nine-year 4-H'er did not know what to think when her name was called as the winner.

"I was not expecting it," Gilley said. "I was just sort of blank."

But the 17-year-old daughter of David and My Gilley made the most of her second appearance in the round robin competition. She said her previous experience in the competition, as well as show experience in swine and goats.

Gilley won the horse showmanship competition on Sunday morning, and spent four days running back and forth between the horse show arena and the other barns.

She said bringing the horse barn its second straight win in the competition and third overall meant being able to represent the barn and be a part of the fair in general.

"A lot of people think of us as a separate fair, but we like to consider ourselves part of everything," Gilley said.

The horse and pony representative accepted her prize from Fair Queen Sarah New following a night of showing six differenc species of animals, including unfamiliar livestock such as this Holstein cow (above). Gilley is the second straight horse representative to win the contest.

Asked what she would do to top this year's accomplishment in her 10th year, the Fillmore native said she has her eyes on a big prize in the horse competition.

"We have a pretty big class over at the horse barn, so I'm hoping to go for that," Gilley said. "It's senior versatility -- our all-around competition."

Second in the night's competition was Josie Parent of Russellville, representing the swine barn.

Other competitors were Ryan Stevens (dairy) of Greencastle, Lane Hacker (beef) of Cloverdale, Lauren Johnston (sheep) of Coatesville and Mikayla Roach (goats) of Roachdale.

The champion award was sponsored by the Tom Hendricks family, with runner-up presented by Phil Fry and family. Other sponsors include the Jim Baugh Memorial Fund and Baugh family on the competitors' shirts and the luncheon presented by Farm Credit Services.

One big moment of the night came shortly before the awards to Gilley and Parent, with the unveiling of a large board displaying the names of all winners and runners-up in the competition that started in 1952.

Many of the winners and runners-up were present Thursday -- including 1952 winner Ken Torr and 2012 winner Gilley shoulder-to-shoulder in front -- to be part of the unveiling.

The board, sponsored by Farm Credit Services, TCU, Co-Alliance, TSC, Cloverdale Agri Center, First National Bank and Farm Bureau Insurance, will be displayed on the south wall of the indoor arena.

Josie Parent took second in the Supermeme Showmanship contest on Thursday evening.

The final sponsorship of the board will be awarded to the highest bidder at tonight's livestock auction.