CASSOPOLIS — Cameron Hayden is one of the most decorated showmen the Cass County Fair has ever seen.

He’s already won three Showmanship Sweepstakes — where the best of the best compete in showing large animals for the ultimate title of the fair’s best showman — so earning a third title as grand champion swine showman during Monday’s swine show was just another notch on his belt.

With just one year of fair eligibility remaining, what is left for the 19-year-old Cassopolis man to accomplish?

That’s precisely the question that the swine show judge asked him Monday night.

“That question really hit home for me… it was a really great question,” he said. “It is really important that when you have those talents, you use them to teach the next generation. It is about improving the youth behind you.”

Hayden’s answer is an easy one to say, but a difficult one to put into practice.

But Hayden backed up his words less than 24 hours later during Tuesday’s market swine show when he let 6-year-old Azariah Brenneman, of Cassopolis, show one of his pigs.

Hayden explained that Brenneman had a rough time in the pee wee portion of Monday’s swine show. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Brenneman was unable to use the pig had had been working with all summer in the competition.

The pig Brenneman wound up using didn’t do what he wanted it to do.

“He was kind of bummed out about that,” Hayden said.

Sensing Brenneman’s disappointment, Hayden thought it would be a good idea to let the young boy show one of his pigs during Tuesday morning’s market swine show.

Before the event, Hayden reminded Brenneman where the judge was and Brenneman told him that he would keep the pig walking and keep him in the middle of the arena.

“Sure enough that’s what he did,” Hayden said.

Brenneman walked of the ring with a big smile and his first-ever ribbon for a swine event.

“Getting the ribbon,” Brenneman said, was his favorite part.

Hayden enjoyed it too.

“Making sure he had a positive experience was the most important thing, so that was really cool for me,” Hayden said, adding that because he does not have any younger siblings, he often adopts younger 4-Hers to mentor.

“I’m not going to be around forever, so you have to pass that knowledge on,” he said.

Fairgoers can see Hayden in action during Friday’s Showmanship Sweepstakes.

He is currently a sophomore at Lansing Community College enjoying a full ride on a leadership scholarship.