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The Meat Animal Sale is a key event at the fair, that kicked off on Tuesday and runs through Sunday at the Rock County Fairgrounds on Craig Avenue in Janesville.

And while that sale was going on Friday at the fairgrounds, other shows continued that didn’t ultimately involve an auction, such as dairy judging.

Over the years, Bergsbaken has shown more than 20 animals at the fair. This was her first grand champion.

“It’s very, very rewarding. I didn’t think I would ever win anything like this. The hard work pays off; when you work hard and you win something like this,” Taytum said.

The lambs are born in January and Bergsbaken gets them in March.

“I start working with them, and then teaching them how to brace, and getting their legs worked with so I can touch their feet,” Taytum said.

Erica Bergsbaken, Taytum’s mom, said she was “very proud” of her daughter.

“She does everything. She’s doing chores every morning and every night, working with them. I help her out when she’s at work and when it’s needed, but otherwise she’s their primary caretaker now,” Erica Bergsbaken, said, adding that Taytum has been the primary caretaker for her animals since she was 12.

Taytum said the money she earned will go toward her next animal and college.

Whitley Coles, of Footville, is a member of the Evansville FFA and earned her first grand champion award this year, for her steer, Earl.

Earl came in at $7 per pound at the auction. Coles, who has shown animals for four years, said the grand champion award felt good to win.

“I worked all year long for this,” Whitley said.

Along the way, she received a lot of encouragement from family, including her mom, Erika Weiss, and her brother, Colten. Whitley has persevered after many near wins in past years, Weiss said.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” Weiss said. “She is a kid who has the biggest heart and works and works and works, and always falls short. If she didn’t have bad luck, she’d have no luck at all. She can’t catch a break.”

Then, Whitley and Earl won grand champion.

“Yesterday gave her the confidence she never had to believe in herself,” Weiss said.

Whitley bought Earl last fall. The past two months, the work intensified, she said. She got up at 5:30 a.m. to put him in the barn and let him out at midnight and “just work, work, work,” Weiss said.

“She’s a remarkable young lady. She’s very independent,” Weiss said.

Whitley said the money would go toward her next animal.

Liana Mulligan showed a dairy calf for the first time at this year’s fair.

I addition to the calf, Liana has brought pigs, turkeys, two calves and a sheep to the fair, and has the most experience showing swine. She has shown animals for the past two years as a youth exhibitor and prior to that participated in the Little Britches competition.

“I think it’s a fun learning experience,” Mulligan said, adding that she likes “learning about new animals.”

Liana said she plans to continue showing animals in future years.

“I’m going to continue until he says no,” Liana said, with a nod to her dad, Jared Mulligan.

This was Jared Mulligan first experience, too, with dairy calf. He said he was enjoying the experience.

“I love it. I showed beef as a kid myself, so I’m used to the fair atmosphere just not the dairy aspect. Each species has their show tactic. We’re just learning the dairy part,” Jared Mulligan said.

Liana had advice for anyone who with aspirations on showing animals at the 4-H fair.

“Make a bond with your animal. You want them to like you,” Liana said. “They’re my best friend.”