HARRINGTON – Mason Hay knows what it takes to be a champion.
The Harrington teen won his third consecutive Grand Overall Showman title Tuesday evening at the Delaware State Fair’s Livestock Extravaganza.
At the annual event, the grand and reserve champions are selected for each of the market species.
The Grand Overall Showman is also selected at the extravaganza. In this event, the Grand Champion Showman from each of the four departments competes for the title.
Mason won Grand Champion Showman in the swine department. He was joined by Riley Ridgley, the grand champion beef showman; Kassidy Hearn, the grand champion goat showman; and his sister, Alexiana Hay, the grand champion lamb showman.
In the competition, they do not get to use their own animals. This way, they must show their ability to show the livestock no matter the animal they are given.
It is no easy task to get to one of the biggest events for which a sshowman strives.
“It’s exciting,” Mason said. “But at the same time, it’s just like the past two years that hard work pays off.”
He comes from a family that has been dedicated to the livestock industry for many years. They are his biggest supporters and help him reach his goals.
“We all love it,” Mason said. “We do it together and we push each other to do the best we can.”
Mason also won Grand Champion Market Lamb and, with the honor, was awarded the Samuel Tatman III Memorial Trophy named for his late uncle..
The awards continued for the Hay family. Mason also won Grand Champion Market Hog and Reserve Champion Showman in the lamb department, following his younger sister Alexiana.
When asked what advice he would give to younger showman or those people looking to become a livestock exhibitor, his words were “Work hard and don’t give up.”
He is also on the soccer team at Lake Forest High School, an officer for the Peach Blossom 4-H Club and an FFA member.
He is a rising senior at Lake Forest High School. After graduation, wants to go to college through the SEED program at Delaware Technical Community College for the first two years and eventually finish college at another institution.
Mason also hopes to be in the running for Grand Overall Showman next year.
“It’s just another cup on the dresser and you hope that next year you are going to go for another one,” he added.
He has received the biggest livestock exhibitor awards at the Delaware State Fair. Because of this, Mason wants to take his skills to the next level.
“I want to win a national show,” he said.
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