Porter reigns supreme

While showing six different species of animals Thursday night, Preston Porter was as cool as the weather for the 2013 Putnam County 4-H Fair.

Representing the dairy barn, the 14-year-old kept his composure as the youngest competitor for the 2013 Supreme Showmanship title.

When his name was announced, however, Porter let it all out, shedding tears of joy and taking some time to gather his thoughts.

For all the composure he showed through six classes of different species, Preston Porter let out all his emotion after he was named the 2013 Putnam County 4-H Fair Supreme Showman on Thursday evening.

"It's overwhelming," Porter said. "I can't really believe it."

Three years ago, it was Preston's older brother Garrett standing in the same boots as the county's supreme showman.

After that show, Preston walked into the barn to find his brother and older family members overcome with emotion. He asked why everybody was crying.

Three years later, he understands.

"It's a great thing to keep in the family I guess. It's a great honor."

There is one more Porter sibling to go -- younger brother Briggs. Preston said he and Garrett would have to share their insights with little brother.

The win was not simply a family affair. Although Porter was representing the dairy barn on Thursday, he also shows swine and sheep. After receiving his trophy from the Tom Hendricks family, the first hug Porter received was from runner-up Grant Colvin, who represented the swine barn.

The runner-up award is presented by the Phil Fry family.

Other barn representatives competing on Thursday night were Bailey Goff of horse and pony, Andrea Steele of beef, Hannah Wyttenbach of sheep and Mikayla Roach of goats.

The other five competitors each had between eight and 10 years of experience, but a six-year 4-H'er managed to rise above them all.

Porter said he had been told he is the youngest competitor ever to win the Supreme Showman crown.

"It's a great honor," Porter said. "Youngest one ever to win it is kind of cool."

As much as the Supreme Showmanship event heightens the nerves as the six competitors await an announcement, when a winner is announced, things remain friendly, like this hug between champion Preston Porter and runner-up Grant Colvin.

Supreme showmanship winners

2013: Preston Porter, Dairy
2012: Emily Gilley, Horse & Pony
2011: Logan Pell, Horse & Pony
2010: Garrett Porter, Dairy
2009: Brock Jones, Sheep
2008: Kyle Alcorn, Beef
2007: Dakota Parent, Sheep
2006: Kalen Brattain, Swine
2005: Jordan Berry, Sheep
2004: Neal Knapp, Sheep
2003: Ashley Clifford, Beef
2002: Dustin Thornberg, Swine
2001: Rhonda Gottschalk, Beef
2000: Keri Jackson, Swine
1999: Tiffany Tippin, Beef
1998: Ryan Hendricks, Sheep
1997: Tammy Gottschalk, Swine
1996: Kyleen Jensen, Beef
1995: Paul Hodgen, Beef
1994: Sara Stanley, Beef
1993: Mike Jackson, Swine
1992: Robert Hodgen, Beef
1991: Jim Bowling, Swine
1990: Doug Parent, Beef
1989: Brent Branneman, Swine
1988: Jenny Merkel, Beef
1987: Jenny Jessup, Goat
1986: Jeff Stanley, Sheep
1985: Charles Poynter, Swine
1984: Tony Stanley, Beef
1983: Brian Williams, Beef
1982: Andy Beck, Beef
1981: Brad Davies, Swine
1980: Lisa Sutherlin, Horse & Pony
1979: Jeff Davies, Swine
1978: Jake Zaring, Beef
1977: Gary Williams, Beef
1976: Brad Cash, Dairy
1975: Jerry Torr, Beef
1974: Gordon Smith, Swine
1973: Phillip Fry, Swine
1972: Terry Tippin, Dairy
1971: David Bruner, Sheep
1970: Beverly Hurst, Sheep
1969: Steve Judy, Dairy
1968: Kent Brattain, Swine
1967: Ken Carrington, Beef
1966: Robert New, Sheep
1965: Ralph Fry, Dairy
1964: Keith Carrington, Beef
1963: Bill Judy, Dairy
1962: Noble New, Sheep
1961: Tommy Hendricks, Sheep
1960: Frank Hartman, Beef
1959: Ted Britton, Beef
1958: Neil Irwin, Swine
1957: Byron Gough, Beef
1956: Bowen Akers, Beef
1955: Charles Nicholson, Dairy
1954: Bernie Harris, Sheep
1953: Gordon Whitman, Beef
1952: Ken Torr, Beef