Niles’ Wagner wins dairy showmanship in final fair
Published 9:11 am Friday, August 15, 2014
Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT
In her last week competing at the Berrien County Youth Fair, Niles’ Emily Wagner was named the senior and overall dairy showmanship winner. She is pictured here Thursday showing her Holstein, Priya.
BERRIEN SPRINGS — When the dairy senior showmanship competition began Thursday at the Berrien County Youth Fair, Emily Wagner was nowhere to be found.
The 21-year-old Niles woman was still in the dairy barn thinking about whether or not she wanted to compete.
“It was a last minute decision on whether I do showmanship or not. I was fortunate enough to win it the first year that I was in the senior division and then I went on to win (showmanship) sweepstakes. At that time, I was like, ‘okay I’ve had my run, I’ve done this.’
“This being my last fair, I thought, what the heck, why not do it one last time? Honestly, it was just for kicks and giggles — just go out there, have fun and see what happens.”
As the other competitors took their spots around the show ring, Wagner emerged through show arena gate about a minute late leading her Holstein, Priya.
Despite not being in the competition in several years, she seemed at ease while answering the judge’s questions and leading Priya around the ring.
By the time it was all over, she had won her second senior dairy showmanship overall title.
“I didn’t know if I should do it, but I did and I had fun,” Wagner said. “She (Priya) was a doll in there. She was really good.”
At age 21, Wagner has reached the age limit for competing at the fair as a youth. She is the last of three Wagner children to show at the fair, including brothers Carl, 26, and Jake, 24.
Carl and Jake were also good showmen, Emily said. Jake is a past showmanship sweepstakes champion, while Carl showed the overall grand champion dairy animal in his day.
“It will be sad coming back next year because I won’t have my spot anymore,” said Emily, pointing to the Wagner stall in the front corner of the dairy barn. “We’ve been there ever since I started at the fair.
“This is the end of the Wagner era.”
Emily is a senior at Michigan State University, majoring in agribusiness management and minoring in agronomy.
She said she hopes to return to the fair as a volunteer.
“I’d like to try to give back, but I don’t’ know what my schedule will allow,” she said. “Maybe I will help in there (show arena). I’ll find some way to give back to the fair.”
