By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - Jeff Peterson really is king of the Cass County Fair.
He began the week by winning the crown to reign over the 154th fair and ended it Saturday evening toting the towering Showmanship Sweepstakes trophy.
Jeff, 19, the beef representative who finished second last summer to Nicole Osban, joins his two brothers in the exclusive fraternity.
He is the son of Mary Lou and Gail Peterson of Niles. His father is president of the Cass County Fair Association.
Alan Peterson, 19, won for the beef division in 2002. Dennis captured the Showmanship Sweepstakes in 1998.
Showmanship Sweepstakes is a fish-out-of-water event where anything can happen with many of the eight large animals outside of an exhibitor's area of expertise.
Jeff learned to show draft horses at the 2005 fair and, with one year of eligibility remaining, mentioned as soon as he left the show arena that next year he needs to work on light horses.
Second place went to Seth Carlson, goat representative, a 17-year-old from Marcellus.
Dairy representative Jenna Bowman of Niles, who also qualified in 2004 and in 2002, finished third.
Also qualifying for Showmanship Sweepstakes were: Anna Harwell, of Cassopolis, horses; Alex Suseland, draft horses; Margaret Foltz of Cassopolis, sheep; Joshua Wooden of Cassopolis, swine; and Julie Kater, of Niles, dairy feeder steers.