CASSOPOLIS — The eight finalists dressed in black T-shirts and blue jeans huddled together in a circle in the middle of the show arena.

One by one their names were called until only the top three remained in Friday’s large animal showmanship sweepstakes at the Cass County Fair: Cassopolis’ Cameron Hayden, Niles’ Matt Miller and Dowagiac’s Hali Jones.

Jones’ name was the first to be called, giving her a third place finish and leaving Hayden and Miller to see who was the fair’s best showman.

When the announcer said he had come in second, Miller gave Hayden a congratulatory handshake.

Hayden had just won his third straight sweepstakes and fourth overall, making him one of the fair’s most decorated showmen.

“I feel appreciative and blessed to have been given the opportunity not only to represent the swine species, but to pursue my passion for agriculture in showing and understanding that all the hard work is paying off,” said Hayden, adding that while he has one year of eligibility left, this might be his last fair. “It’s not set in stone either way. It just depends on how the year plays out.”

It was the last go around for Miller and Jones, who have both aged out.

“You never know what animal you are going to get so you have to do the best with what you’ve got — everyone has a fair chance at it,” said Miller, who has now finished first, second and third in the competition. “Cameron did a great job and is a great showman so I have no problem coming second to him… he deserves everything he has.”

For Jones, the third place finish was her best.

“It was amazing because I don’t have another opportunity to do that,” said Jones, who represented goats. “I felt really good about everything, except for my hog… He kept trying to run away.”

The large animal sweepstakes is arguably the biggest event at the fair, pitting the top showmen from swine, dairy feeder, draft horse, goat, dairy, light horse, beef and sheep against one another.

Each competitor shows each animal during the competition, which lasted nearly three hours.

Also competing Friday was: Madison Suseland (draft horse), Elizabeth Carpenter (dairy), Kaylee Groulx (light horse), Cole Menck (beef) and Jena Bradley (sheep).

Judges do not reveal who places fourth through eighth.