By Nikki Burkhamer
Examiner Contributor
Carter Crumm, a 13-year-old from Zanesfield, was selected as the youngest Showman of Showmen in Logan County Fair history during the contest that culminated on the final day of the 2025 exposition on Saturday, July 12.
A son of Rick and Amanda Crumm, Carter will soon be a seventh-grader at Benjamin Logan Middle School.
Every year, the best showman is chosen from each Junior Fair breed. Then, those showmen are judged while showing each animal to be chosen as The Showman of Showmen.
This year, representatives for each breed were: Madeline Nessler, horses; Brantley Karn, beef; Carson Spencer, dairy breeding; Wyatt Gordon, dairy market; Joslyn Cummins, sheep; Carter Crumm, goats; Lux Kipker, rabbits; Isabella Henderson, poultry; and Ricky Tevis, swine.
The judges were looking at the following criteria during their judging process: showmanship, handling, knowledge, confidence, poise, eye contact, appearance, handling, maneuvering, positioning of animal, confidence in animal control, knowledge and understanding.
This year’s judges for each category were: Lindsay Ferguson, horses; Allison West, beef; Luke Inbody, sheep; Janet Siders, rabbits; Vern Woodruff, poultry; and Ian Gehret, dairy breed, dairy market, swine and goats.
All the showmen who participated have had several years of experience showing their breed. However, Carter Crumm, who is much younger, was given The Dave Seeley Memorial Trophy for being judged and selected as the 2025 Showman of Showmen. This is quite a feat for the young man.
Of his win, Carter said, “It makes me feel amazing. It shows how hard I work for my animals. I was thinking that I was going to get last, and I wasn’t going to win at all.”
Carter, now an authority on how to be a showman in the ring, offered his advice for his fellow exhibitors for next year’s fair.
“Don’t get too mad if your animal doesn’t walk or cooperate with you. When your animal jumps around, you need to stay calm. Always try to do better. Like, if you make a mistake in your first show, learn from that mistake in your next show. Work harder off of your failure.”
