Haddon tops first all-girl lineup to win Supreme Showmanship

It's truly a family affair Thursday night for the Haddon family as youngest child Emmie becomes the first in a family of strong showmen to hoist the Putnam County Supreme Showmanship trophy. Mom Melissa, dad Jerrod and older siblings Clay, Hunter and Bailey, as well as Reserve Supreme Showman Sydnee Boswell all crowd around to share in Emmie's joy at winning the event.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

A few minutes after Emmie Haddon was named the 2024 Supreme Showmanship champion at the Putnam County 4-H Fair, older brother Hunter shared what could have been a private family joke.

“Bailey,” he said to a fellow Haddon sibling, “now we don’t have to show against her anymore!”

A round of laughter erupted in the fairgrounds indoor arena, but this couldn’t have been a thought that was just on the minds of the Haddon family.

For the next four years of her 4-H career, no other showman in any of the seven large animal projects in Putnam County will have to worry about finishing second to Emmie Haddon. She has completed her showmanship career at the county level.

Thursday marked Emmie’s third appearance in the Supreme Showmanship competition — quite a feat to have accomplished by just her sixth year in 4-H — and from her first appearance two years ago, she was clearly a force to be reckoned with.

She’s done it all by age 14, a Putnam County record, as far as anyone can tell.

But something was different in the youngest Haddon’s demeanor this year. Still a serious showman, she also looked to be enjoying the moment.

“I was making sure I didn’t stress myself out since it was my third year, and I knew that I had most of the species down,” Haddon said. “I really struggled with horses at first, and I felt like I did really well with the horses this year, so that just set my mood for the rest of the day, and I just kind of cruised on through for the rest of the species.”

The horse portion competition was, as always, during the afternoon in the outdoor arena, with the contestants gathering again later in the evening to complete the Round Robin by showing swine, dairy, llamas and alpacas, beef, goats and finally sheep.

Though she represented the Beef Barn this week, Haddon also exhibits sheep, dairy cattle and goats, a breadth of experience that showed.

Once the scores were added up, Haddon was the Supreme Showman, followed by Reserve Supreme Showman Sydnee Boswell, a 10-year 4-H’er representing the Horse and Pony Club.

Haddon and Boswell were joined by, as far as anyone can remember, the first all-female lineup ever fielded in Putnam County Supreme Showmanship. The field also featured Maddie Elliott (dairy), Macy Burdine (llama and alpaca), Haelynn Everman (goats), Danica Overshiner (swine) and Braelynn Buescher (sheep).

“It actually was nice that it was all girls up there,” Haddon said. “They were all people I knew. They were all people I trusted. It was just really nice having all girls.

“I thought it was just a really fun group, we had a good time – especially the llama girl, Macy. She really made me laugh.”

Dating back to the first Supreme Showmanship competition at the Putnam County Fair in 1952, 52 of the 73 winners have been boys. However, girls have won nine of the last 13 competitions. On Thursday, there was no doubt, as all seven competitors were girls, including (from left) Reserve Supreme Showman Sydnee Boswell (horse and pony), Maddie Elliott (dairy), Danica Overshiner (swine), Supreme Showman Emmie Haddon (beef), Macy Burdine (llama and alpaca), Braelynn Buescher (sheep) and Haelynn Everman (goats).

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

It’s telling that, for all the stress that the most intense livestock competition of the fair can cause, Haddon’s biggest memory was of a looser moment away from the show ring.

“I think my favorite memory was definitely just when we came out for intermission, all of us were laughing and having fun, and we were just talking,” she said. “It was really loose and nice.”

Still, the night wasn’t without its challenges. Having cruised through much of the evening, Haddon got the not-so-pleasant surprise of drawing a lactating meat goat during that portion of the competition.

“That was really challenging because being able to set her feet around her udder was not really working,” Haddon said. “She had a dairy halter on, too, instead of a meat goat halter. So it was a little bit harder to get around the ring with that one.”

Even the horse competition, which set a positive tone, had a stressful moment.

“I felt like for the horses, the arena was a little wet, so when I went to pivot to do my 270, the horse sunk a little bit and stepped out of her pivot,” Haddon said. “I think that was the most challenging part of the night.”

The common thread was the composure Haddon maintained throughout.

In a family featuring its share of livestock showmanship talent and then some, Emmie Haddon (third from left) is the first to win the Putnam County 4-H Supreme Showmanship title. She is joined following the grueling competition by (from left) sister Bailey, dad Jerrod, mom Melissa and brothers Clay and Hunter.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Competing at a high level in showmanship is becoming a theme for the Haddon siblings. Last year, oldest brother Clay was the Reserve Supreme Showmanship in his final year of 4-H. Now middle siblings Hunter and Bailey (who represented the Sheep Barn in 2022) have a shot at continuing the tradition.

Still, it was the youngest child of Jerrod and Melissa Haddon who was the first to get to the top of the mountain.

“I think that’s pretty cool,” Emmie said. “I think my older siblings have a shot at it next year. I know my brother (Clay) last year got Reserve Supreme Showman, and that was a big moment for all of us. When I was competing with him, I knew that he was really good at showmanship.

“It just really feels awesome.”

Though one major goal is now behind her, Emmie still has her eyes on some big accomplishments over the coming four years.

“My goals are to go and kind of cruise through the rest of my Putnam County career and to make it on the dirt at the State Fair,” Haddon said. “As I get older, I hope to win the Senior Showmanship in the Sheep Barn at the State Fair and make it into the Supreme Drive there.”

If Thursday’s pattern holds true, she’ll make a great run at it and have a good time doing it.

Joining 2024 Supreme Showman Emmie Haddon (left) in her celebration is Sydnee Boswell, who took home Reserve Supreme Showmanship honors.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Putnam County Supreme Showmanship winners

2024: Emmie Haddon, Beef
2023: Ethan Harcourt, Sheep
2022: Handley Everman, Goat
2021: Bree Mahoney-Sutherland, Goat
2020: Seth Ariens, Dairy
2019: Katie Fry, Beef
2018: Grace Fry, Sheep
2017: Brynne Shuee, Swine
2016: Jessica Hays, Goat
2015: Nolan Ensor, Swine
2014: Lauren Johnston, Sheep
2013: Preston Porter, Dairy
2012: Emily Gilley, Horse & Pony
2011: Logan Pell, Horse & Pony
2010: Garret Porter, Dairy
2009: Brock Jones, Sheep
2008: Kyle Alcorn, Beef
2007: Dakota Parent, Sheep
2006: Kalen Brattain, Swine
2005: Jordan Berry, Sheep
2004: Neal Knapp, Sheep
2003: Ashley Clifford, Beef
2002: Dustin Thornberg, Swine
2001: Rhonda Gottschalk, Beef
2000: Keri Jackson, Swine
1999: Tiffany Tippin, Beef
1998: Ryan Hendricks, Sheep
1997: Tammy Gottschalk, Swine
1996: Kyleen Jensen, Beef
1995: Paul Hodgen, Beef
1994: Sara Stanley, Beef
1993: Mike Jackson, Swine
1992: Robert Hodgen, Beef
1991: Jim Bowling, Swine
1990: Doug Parent, Beef
1989: Brent Branneman, Swine
1988: Jenny Merkel, Beef
1987: Jenney Jessup, Goat
1986: Jeff Stanley, Sheep
1985: Charles Poynter, Swine
1984: Tony Stanley, Beef
1983: Brian Williams, Beef
1982: Andy Beck, Beef
1981: Brad Davies, Swine
1980: Lisa Sutherlin, Horse & Pony
1979: Jeff Davies, Swine
1978: Jake Zaring, Beef
1977: Gary Williams, Beef
1976: Brad Cash, Dairy
1975: Jerry Torr, Beef
1974: Gordon Smith, Swine
1973: Phillip Fry, Swine
1972: Terry Tippin, Dairy
1971: David Bruner, Sheep
1970: Beverly Hurst, Sheep
1969: Steve Judy, Dairy
1968: Kent Brattain, Swine
1967: Ken Carrington, Beef
1966: Robert New, Sheep
1965: Ralph Fry, Dairy
1964: Keith Carrington, Beef
1963: Bill Judy, Dairy
1962: Noble New, Sheep
1961: Tommy Hendricks, Sheep
1960: Frank Hartman, Beef
1959: Ted Britton, Beef
1958: Neil Irwin, Swine
1957: Byron Gough, Beef
1956: Bowen Akers, Beef
1955: Charles Nicholson, Dairy
1954: Bernie Harris, Sheep
1953: Gordon Whitman, Beef
1952: Ken Torr, Beef