Pendleton County exhibitors represented their community well at the 2026 State Fair of West Virginia, bringing home numerous placings, championships, and premier exhibitor honors across multiple livestock species and horse events.
Starting in the goat barn, several Pendleton County youth earned recognition in both showmanship and market classes. Gracie Hedrick was named champion novice goat showman and exhibited the reserve lightweight market goat. Reagyn Atkins earned fifth overall lightweight market goat and was named eighth overall junior goat showman. Bella Hoover placed third in class in the lightweight division and fifth in class in the heavyweight division, and was recognized as ninth overall novice goat showman. Tia Heavner captured champion intermediate goat showman honors and earned second and fifth place finishes in her market classes. Breymann Keesecker finished as 10th overall junior goat showman and earned third and fifth place class placings. Ty Heavner placed third in his market class. Adalyn Rumer was named reserve senior goat showman, while Jaelyn Rumer earned reserve junior goat showman honors.
Moving into the market lamb barn, Katie Keyser brought home fifth overall market lamb and third overall intermediate lamb showman honors. Kallie Keyser was recognized as third overall junior lamb showman and placed sixth in her market class. Tia Heavner earned fourth overall intermediate lamb showman and recorded two fourth-place and one fifth-place finish in her market classes. Tori Heavner was named fourth overall junior lamb showman and placed seventh in her market class. Ty Heavner finished as eighth overall senior lamb showman and earned one fourth-place and two eighth-place class finishes. Hedrick was recognized as 11th overall junior lamb showman and placed 13th in her market lamb class. Keesecker earned eighth and 10th place class placings, while Aiden Whetzel received seventh and 10th place class placings.
In the beef barn, Tori Heavner had a successful week, earning sixth overall junior beef showman, first in class with her breeding heifer, fourth in class with her prospect steer, third on hoof and second overall carcass merit honors with her performance steer.
Brynleigh Ruddle was recognized as eighth overall novice beef showman. Bailee Kiger earned eighth overall senior beef showman and a class win with her breeding heifer. Aubrianna Holloway brought home third overall market heifer honors. Branson Smith also exhibited a market steer. Brynleigh Ruddle was recognized as eighth overall novice beef showman. Bailee Kiger earned eighth overall senior beef showman and a class win with her breeding heifer. Aubrianna Holloway brought home third overall market heifer honors. Branson Smith also exhibited a market steer.
In the swine division, Lindsey Smith was named ninth overall senior showman and earned second and sixth place finishes in her market classes. Tia Heavner was recognized as seventh overall intermediate showman and placed seventh in her market class.
Premier exhibitor awards combine junior showmanship placings, class placings, and skill-a-thon scores into one overall ranking. Pendleton County’s premier exhibitor results included Tia Heavner, fifth, senior goat; Keesecker, fifth junior goat; Tori Heavner, fifth junior lamb and fourth junior beef; Kallie Keyser, third junior lamb; and Katie Keyser, fifth senior lamb.
Kiger also earned honors in the horse arena, placing fourth in draft horse under saddle and second in draft under saddle youth competition.
A new addition to the state fair this year was the Wether Dam Ewe and Doe Show, held in conjunction with the open livestock shows. Katie Keyser earned champion intermediate commercial ewe showman and third overall heavyweight commercial ewe honors. Kallie Keyser was named reserve junior commercial ewe showman and placed 11th in her ewe class. Tori Heavner received fourth overall junior commercial ewe showman and 10th in her commercial ewe class.
The accomplishments of these exhibitors reflect the dedication, hard work, and commitment of Pendleton County youth and their families. Their success at the State Fair of West Virginia continues to showcase the strength of the county’s livestock and youth development programs on a statewide stage.
