HERALD, CA (MPG) - Local 4H member Paige Otto, 12, took home the highest recognition for her show lamb during the California State Fair on July 12 at Cal Expo. 

With this being only her third year showing sheep, Paige has already demonstrated success in livestock exhibition with Tank the lamb winning the title of Grand Champion Market Lamb (the best market lamb of all breeds).

The next step for the local ag standout: heading to the California Youth Agricultural Exposition in Tulare, happening the first weekend in August, to compete to be within the top five and sell her award-winning lamb in a premium auction. 

If Tank makes it in the top five, Paige will also have the opportunity to take him to a national show this fall held in either Kansas City or Louisville. 

Paige told The Galt Herald that she was initially having troubles with Tank cooperating but was determined to take control, which worked in her favor.  

“Tank was not feeling his best at state fair and was not cooperating at all during the Grand Drive,” said Paige. “I started to get frustrated and thought that I really needed to calm down and keep working at it. He finally started to calm down when it really counted and it all worked out.”

According to show lamb standards, ideal show lambs need to be sound in terms of their structure, eye appeal and muscle. Many other factors also go into consideration, such as stoutness of skeleton, shallowness of body, rib shape and neck length. 

“Paige’s lamb excels in stoutness, eye appeal, soundness and show ring presence. Tank, her lamb’s name, just wants to be a show lamb and it’s evident when he’s in motion in the show ring,” said Brady Otto, Paige’s father, who helps with the Herald 4H Club. 

All the animals are shown by breed and by weight class within their respective breeds and are judged among contemporaries at shows.

On July 12, Paige and her lamb, Tank, first claimed first place in their weight class within the natural breed division. From there, they went on to win Champion Natural Market Lamb, competing against all other class winners within that division.

Later that evening, all breed champions and reserve champions returned to the ring for the final round of competition. Paige and Tank stood out once again, ultimately earning the title of Grand Champion Market Lamb.

Paige, an Arcohe Elementary School seventh-grader, is quickly making a name for herself in sheep showmanship. 

Paige’s ability to guide Tank, even when he wasn’t at his best, and Paige’s awareness of how her own emotions affected their performance, helped to set the pair apart.