Stramel brothers take top honors as swine show opens fair’s livestock competition

Families filled the stands Tuesday morning as the swine show kicked off the livestock competition at the 2026 Thomas County Free Fair.

The July 28 show drew a strong field of animals and exhibitors, creating one of the first large gatherings of fair week. Officials divided the arena to make the competition more manageable while providing additional shade for spectators.

Judge Emma Eldridge, a former Colby Community College student familiar with the area and its 4-H programs, evaluated exhibitors on their ability to control and present their animals before turning her attention to the market and breeding swine.

The show represented the culmination of months of work for the young exhibitors—and plenty of dedication from their families. Parents watched intently and offered encouragement from the stands, recognizing that raising and preparing a show animal is often a project for the entire family.

Although the exhibitors were competing for championships, the atmosphere remained supportive. Spectators cheered for young people throughout the show, hoping to see each participant succeed in the ring.

Senior Swine Showmanship began the morning’s competition with 15 exhibitors competing in two heats. Brody Stramel from Solomon Valley 4-H Club earned the grand champion title, while Brynlee Reid from Brewster Prairie Gem 4-H Club was named reserve champion.

The Intermediate Swine Showmanship division featured 22 exhibitors across three heats. Cort Stramel (Solomon Valley) received grand champion honors, followed by Brody Reid (Brewster), as reserve champion.

In Junior Swine Showmanship, Brooklyn Reid (Brewster) was selected as grand champion from a field of nine young exhibitors. Kenzie Rietcheck from the Abilene Hustlers 4-H Club earned reserve champion honors.

The focus then shifted from the exhibitors’ showmanship skills to the quality of their animals for the Market Swine Show.

Kenzie Rietcheck (Abilene) exhibited the grand champion in the Prospect Class with a 219-pound animal. Quinn Mazanec (Abilene) showed the 184-pound reserve champion.

Cort Stramel (Solomon Valley) won Class 1 with a 233-pound entry, while his older brother, Brody Stramel (Solomon Valley), took reserve champion with another 233-pound animal.

Reid Crouse (Solomon Valley) earned grand champion honors in Class 2 with a 253-pound entry. Brooklyn Reid’s 260-pound animal was named reserve champion.

Morgan Mattix (Abilene) won Class 3 with a 271-pound animal, followed by Reid Crouse in reserve with a 270-pound entry. In Class 4, Brody Reid showed the 274-pound grand champion, and Mattix earned reserve champion honors with a 278-pound animal.

Siblings again claimed the top two spots in Class 5. Owen Baird (Abilene) exhibited the 288-pound grand champion, while his younger sister, Libby Baird, earned reserve champion honors with a 287-pound animal during her first year in 4-H.

Brylee Harter (Solomon Valley) won Class 6 with a 303-pound entry. Henrik Cersovsky (Solomon Valley) showed the 302-pound reserve champion.

In Class 7, Rees Standage earned grand champion honors with a 311-pound animal, while his older brother, Hunter Standage, took reserve champion with a 318-pound entry.

Reagan Frantz won Class 8 with a 322-pound animal. Kruze Denny exhibited the 324-pound reserve champion.

Frantisca Horinek and her 359-pound animal rounded out the market competition by earning grand champion honors in Class 9.

When the class winners returned to the ring for selection of the overall market champions, the Stramel brothers again rose to the top. Cort Stramel’s Class 1 winner was selected as the grand champion market swine. Brody Stramel’s entry, which had finished behind his younger brother in the same class, was named reserve champion market swine.

The morning continued with the Breeding Swine Show. Rayah Barnett earned grand champion honors in the under-6-month division.

In the over-6-month division, Reid Crouse was named grand champion and Henrik Cersovsky received reserve champion honors. The same two animals were then selected as the overall champion breeding swine and reserve champion breeding swine, respectively.

The event concluded on a lighthearted note with two classes of pee-wee showmanship. Younger children entered the ring for an informal opportunity to try their hand at showing, often following in the footsteps of older brothers and sisters.

Instead of selecting champions, Eldridge greeted the beginning showmen with encouragement, high-fives and congratulations. For families gathered around the arena, the pee-wee classes provided a fitting conclusion to a morning centered on competition, community and the next generation of Thomas County exhibitors.