Erika Hepler claimed grand champion honors as Alfred State agriculture students participated in the 2026 Showmanship Day. The contest, held at the college farm, featured dairy, sheep, goat, and poultry competitions.
“Showmanship day sees students with extensive show experience working alongside students who have never set foot in a show ring,” commented Agriculture Assistant Professor Patricia Eshelman. “A highlight of the semester is watching these students practice with their animals, schedule in extra time, wash, clip, and then work through their nerves in the showring.”
Hepler took home top honors after an amazing showing. Prior to being overall grand champion, she earned both master sheep showman and master poultry showman.
Hannah Holmes earned the overall reserve champion honor. Earlier she was reserve master dairy showman and reserve master sheep showman honors.
Lily Hess was the winner of the dairy competition and Alyssa West was the winner in the goat category. Mulligan Palmerton was the reserve master showman with the goats and Laura Mills was reserve master showman in poultry.
Most of the students that participated in contest are enrolled in the Small Ruminant Management or Dairy Production and Poultry Management classes. Additional students from agriculture and vet tech classes also competed. Taylor Leach, ’20, and Deb Bigley judged the contests.