Dixieland 4-H had a great week at the 2026 Madera District Fair.
After months of caring for animals and practicing showmanship, members finally got to show what they learned.
“This was my first year showing a sheep,”Mia Pruitt said. “I was nervous, but my club members and leaders helped me feel ready.
The Cloverbuds were brave and tried new things. Camaiyah Nires showed a cavy for the first time, and tried peewee sheep showmanship. Madison Pruitt showed cavies, and also tried peewee sheep showmanship. Colt Lehman attended his first cavy show, and took part in peewee showmanship. Bailey Yost showed two cavies and one rabbit at her first fair.
Rabbit members earned many awards. Carsynn Nires won Champion 4-H Single Fryer, and placed in showmanship. Pruitt’s single fryer won 4-H Reserve Champion, and she placed sixth in intermediate rabbit showmanship and second in fur. Rylee Lehman placed third in judging and fourth in showmanship. Madison Medley won Best in White Fur, and placed with her Californian, Holland Lop and in junior showmanship.
In sheep, Pruitt placed second in natural-colored market class, and fifth in showmanship.
Rylee Lehman placed second in market and fourth in novice showmanship. Gage Covington placed third in market and seventh in showmanship, and Mesa Covington placed fourth in market and eighth in showmanship.
Wyatt Barklow won Reserve Champion advanced showmanship. Whitney Barklow won Champion intermediate showmanship and several bred-and-owned awards. Aubrey Vargas earned Intermediate Reserve Champion and Reserve Breed Champion. Kylee Wallert earned 4-H Reserve Champion Commercial Cross and placed eighth out of 18 in intermediate sheep showmanship. Dixieland also placed second in sheep.
In goats, Vargas won Intermediate Champion Showman, Reserve Mid-Weight Wetherdam Doe and Best Three Wetherdam Does. Madison Medley and Jackson Pierce also placed in their goat classes and showmanship. Madison Grant’s market steer was 4-H Reserve Champion. Isabella Rossette, Noah Rossette, Brooklynn Stringfield and Mathew Machado earned awards with their market animals and in showmanship.
The dog and horse members did well, too. Isabella Rossette won Junior Dog Showmanship and Obedience. Brooklynn Stringfield won Dog Showmanship. Jackson Pierce won advanced dog obedience and placed fourth in showmanship. Whitney Barklow won Champion intermediate horse showmanship, and Jenna Grant earned the 4-H Western Pleasure High Point award.
The donkey show was held the same weekend as the fair’s poultry and horse shows, so Wallert competed there, instead. Donkeys count under the 4-H horse project. She won High Point Youth In Hand and a buckle, and Reserve Champion Youth Driving.
Kade Deniz was named Small Animal Outstanding Exhibitor and won Intermediate 4-H Master Showmanship. Kade also won intermediate showmanship in pygmy goats, dogs, cavies, poultry, market chickens and rabbits. Other big awards included Lamb Fed and Bred Champion, Reserve Champion Natural Lamb, Reserve Champion Poultry, Reserve Pygmy Doe, Best Pygmy Pair and several top poultry and cavy awards.
Kasen Deniz placed first with a Silkie cockerel. Kasen also placed with two Mini Rex rabbits, in rabbit showmanship and with a natural lamb that was second in class and fifth overall.
Latigo Garlick won Advanced Small Animal Master Showmanship and was named Outstanding Rabbit Exhibitor. Latigo earned Champion Meat Pen, top rabbit fur awards and second in advanced rabbit showmanship. Latigo also won advanced cavy and pygmy goat showmanship and placed in dog, poultry, horse, sheep, market and meat goat classes.
Dixieland members also entered still exhibits and special contests. Madison Medley’s succulent won first and Best of Division. Isabella Rossette earned several awards with her succulents, and Jackson Pierce earned three photography awards. Brooklynn Stringfield was Senior Lad and Lassie Champion. Whitney Barklow placed second overall in Intermediate Master Showmanship, and Aubrey Vargas won Intermediate Master Showmanship Round Robin.