Sep 18, 2026, 4:25 PM CT
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The 2026 Richland County Fair Junior Shows brought together talented local youth exhibitors to showcase their dedication, skill, and passion across a comprehensive suite of livestock and animal competitions. From impressive handling in showmanship rings to top honors in market, breeding, and performance classes, young agriculturalists demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship throughout the week. The fair office extends warm congratulations to every participant whose hard work made this year's junior exhibition a standout community success.
In the Junior Beef Show, Raelynn Ragsdale delivered a remarkable performance, earning the highly coveted Grand Champion Steer banner alongside titles as Champion Fit Beef Breed Steer and Junior Showmanship champion. Morgan Kleppe also achieved top honors throughout the day, securing Reserve Grand Champion Steer, Reserve Champion Fit Beef Breed Steer, and Senior Showmanship honors. Showmanship competition across all age divisions saw top honors go to Gunner Gunderson in Intermediate Showmanship, Bristol Nielsen in Novice Showmanship, and Gavin Hilby in Beginner Showmanship. The overall steer lineup saw strong competition through the top five placings, with Riley Banker taking Third Place, Maggie Kershner placing Fourth, and Kinleigh Frost rounding out the drive in Fifth Place. In division championships, Frankie Bailey claimed Champion No-Fit Beef Breed Steer with Cooper Unbehaun as Reserve Champion, while Baylee Solchenberger took Champion Dairy Breed Steer with Sierra Pinkham taking Reserve Champion. Solchenberger also earned Top Rate of Gain Dairy Breed Steer, and Tenae Krause secured Top Rate of Gain Beef Breed Steer.
The Junior Beef Heifer Awards highlighted top breeding stock, where Raelynn Ragsdale continued her success by earning Champion Female of the Beef Show and Champion AOB. Kaycee Wanek secured Reserve Champion Female of the Beef Show alongside Champion Chianina honors. Riley Banker placed third overall as Third Place Female of the Beef Show while taking top spots as Champion Shorthorn, Champion Commercial, Champion Cow-Calf Pair, and Champion of the Richland County Beef Producer's Heifer Program, with Wyatt Banker taking Reserve Champion in the Heifer Program. Morgan Kleppe was named Fourth Place Female of the Beef Show and Champion Herford, Gunner Gunderson claimed Fifth Place Female of the Beef Show, Gavin Hilby was named Champion Simmental, and Landen Layer earned Reserve Champion Cow-Calf Pair.
In the Junior Dairy Show, Faith Studnicka captured Senior Showmanship honors while Anna Cornell won the Intermediate Showmanship title along with the Golden Gallon award for her Jersey cow, as well as multiple breed championships. Ayston Putz secured the Ayrshire Heifer championship, and Andrew Cornell earned Reserve honors in the Cow classes. Aydin Kloehn, Derrik Putz, Kathryn Stadele, and Lukas Putz also stood out among the premier dairy contenders, representing local clubs such as the Cazenovia Willing Workers with high distinction.
The Junior Swine Show featured high-energy competition where Ayston Putz continued a stellar fair run by winning Grand Champion Market Hog, while Aidan Imhoff and Spenser Nelson put on impressive performances in market barrows and gilts. Ethan Birkrem earned top accolades in market classes, with Easton Nelson sharing in the honors. Competition was equally fierce in the Junior Sheep Show, where Kaycee Wanek earned Overall Reserve Grand Champion Ewe, Champion Wool Breed Ewe, and Grand Champion Market Lamb. Bristol Nielsen earned Beginner Showman and Grand Champion Commercial Ewe, Elsa Hady secured Intermediate Showman, and Grace Wanek was named Senior Showman and Champion Commercial Ewe, while Faith Studnicka added the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb title.
The Junior Poultry Show displayed impressive talent across breeding, market, and showmanship events. Leo Perna took home the Beginner Showmanship crown, with Brynnley Berghorn taking Intermediate Showmanship and Sam Harpin winning Senior Showmanship. Sam Harpin and Will Harpin excelled in breeding poultry, while Owen Knuth, Olivea Mathews, and Marissa Biba claimed champion ribbons across bantam, waterfowl, and large fowl categories. In market poultry, Mason Berghorn was awarded Grand Champion Market Poultry, while Reagan Jelinek earned the Champion Eggs title alongside Champion Turkeys from Leo and Luke Perna, and Champion Broilers from Mason and Eleanor Jelinek..
Exhibitors in the Junior Rabbit Show demonstrated incredible depth of knowledge and care. Elizabeth Ueeck captured Beginner Showmanship, Kinley Porter won Intermediate Showmanship, and Elizabeth Wiertzema earned Senior Showmanship. Oliver Wallace achieved the highest honor as Overall Grand Champion Rabbit, while Max Woodman claimed Reserve Overall Grand Champion Rabbit along with multiple breed and fryer titles. Anna Cornall, Abigail Pellett, Lane Buscher, and Mason Berghorn picked up top honors breeds.
Rounding out the junior animal events, the Junior Goat and Llama Shows highlighted versatile handling and showmanship skills. Fulton Salisbury earned Beginner Showman in Dairy Goats, with Olivea Mathews named Intermediate Showman and Joe Mathews taking Senior Showman. Kendal Salisbury and Kaycee Wanek dominated Market Goat classes, earning Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion awards respectively, while Aubri Imhoff and Max Mathews added key breed victories. In the Junior Llama Show, Blakely Levy was crowned Champion Llama Showman, with Eleanor Jelinek named Reserve Champion Llama Showman, bringing a celebrated close to the 2026 junior show series.
Todd Coppernoll oversees local news for WRCO and WRCE radio in Richland Center. Having served Richland Center as Mayor for three terms, Todd brings a unique perspective, and a familiar voice to the news. The focus is local, and so is the reporter.
Adam Hess has been involved in radio broadcasting since 1990, with many of those years spent on the air at WRCO FM in Richland Center. Currently, Adam hosts the Weekend Wake-up and Prime Mover Saturdays on WRCO FM, jumps in and helps out with news duties, handles Social Media duties for WRCO and WRCE, and is the Director of Technology at a Southwest Wisconsin School District. Reach him at adam.hess@civicmedia.us.
