An accomplishment was 10 years in the making for 19-year-old Kade Parks, who stepped out of the ring for the last time on Tuesday night after being named champion overall showman at the Montgomery County Fair.
Parks, a 10-year 4-H member of the Clark Hustling Hoosiers, considers himself “mainly a sheep and goat kid,” but for the overall showmanship competition, he found himself alongside six fellow champions showing six different species — horses, swine, meat goats, dairy goats, sheep and beef cattle — ultimately taking the topmost prize.
“It’s a lot to fathom,” Parks said. “To add this is my last, final goal.”
The victory follows his win last year as reserve champion overall showman. He has claimed several livestock championships at the state level, in addition to his accomplishments in the photography project.
“It’s just lots of hard work, and just trying to accomplish my goals and set my mind right,” he said. “Lots of praying today, and then just putting all the work in as soon as I found out I won senior showmanship to try to get to the next thing.”
Parks, who is the son of Sina and Mickey Parks, thanked his parents, his grandparents, his girlfriend, and the “long list of people” who have supported him during his 4-H career.
“It’s been one of his goals that he’s had for this fair since he was little, and he got to accomplish it,” Sina Parks said. “I’m just really proud of him and the work he’s put into it.”
Parks graduated from North Montgomery High School this spring. He plans to attend Nucor Technical Academy in Alabama in the fall.
