In a first-time event, Danielle Lamb had two firsts of her own.

The first she would like to forget and the second she likely never will.

During the Small Animal Showmanship Sweepstakes — held for the first time Friday at the Cass County Fair — the 15-year-old Dowagiac girl fell twice while showing her dog.

A mat, she said, wasn’t taped to the floor and slipped from beneath her feet as she brought the dog to the arena. As she was getting up, she fell again.

“I thought I had lost my chance because of that and I was completely embarrassed,” Lamb said.

To her surprise, Lamb recovered from her misstep to win the showmanship sweepstakes, topping runner-up Jami Suseland, as well as Courtney Hartline and Noelle Kraus, who finished in third/fourth place tie.

“It was very exciting because I didn’t think it would happen,” Lamb said. “After I fell I calmed down and brought my positive attitude back and continued on.”

Participants in the Small Animal Showmanship Sweepstakes were required to show rabbits, dogs, cats and poultry.

To gain entrance into the competition, youth must finish as grand champion showman in one of the small animal showmanship events.

Lamb was the cat showman, Suseland the rabbit showman, Hartline poultry showman and Kraus dog showman.

Lamb said she is thankful that the fair included the new event this year.

“It is important because most people don’t have room at home for large animals or don’t have an opportunity to show them,” Lamb said. “It is nice for us to get some recognition.”

Lamb will be a sophomore at Dowagiac Union High School in the fall.