CASSOPOLIS — Whether walking, backs hunched, in a circle with their sheep or holding their animals in place with their legs and hands, all eyes of the 20 senior sheep showmanship exhibitioners remained on judge Christian Stover.

When Emily Luthringer, Class of 2019 Dowagiac Union graduate, won Monday’s exhibition at the Cass County Fair in Cassopolis, she broke that eye contact to give her sheep, Jojo, a kiss.

“She won me my class,” she said. “I wouldn’t be out here competing without this animal.”

As Luthringer prepared to get a photo with Jojo, she shared what makes a good showmanship performance.

“There’s lots of eye contact and consistency on making the animal look the best that it possibly can,” Luthringer said. “Not only is it that, it’s how you and the animal work together. I think that’s the most important part of the project.”

It was Jojo’s first time in the show arena and Luthringer’s third year showing sheep at competitions, but the 18-year-old has been showing animals, namely goats, since she was just out of kindergarten.

Her appreciation for and her winning streak with goats garnered her the nickname “Goat Girl.”

Just three weeks ago, “Goat Girl” became a champion senior showman at the Michigan Livestock Expo in Lansing. Her showcase market goat was purchased by Neogen for $2,000.

Luthringer decided to enter sheep showings on top of goat showings because many of her fellow goat show entrants also showed sheep.

This year, Luthringer practiced her showmanship for county fair exhibitions at Jackpot shows, which are one-day practice events for 4-H and FFA members.

She said she spent weeks preparing with Jojo and her other show animals, walking them for miles each week to keep their musculature at an idealistic standard.

Her mom, Kelli, said she is most proud of Luthringer’s “dedication to animals and dedication to doing better and better each time at shows.”

Luthringer’s work for county fair competitions was on top of finishing high school, preparing for college and helping handle her family’s 20 goats, three lambs, two sheep and one horse.

The Dowagiac resident did not attend the events like Jackpots just to help her win. She met some friends at the program, like Callie High, of Marcellus.

“We talk constantly on social media, sending pictures of our steers,” she said. “She’s kind of like having a best friend. At the fair, we can just hang out all week.”

That friendly fair atmosphere extends into the show arenas, too.

“You can meet everybody in your local community, but they can be from a different town,” she said. “At the end of the day, no matter who beats who, you’re still friends.”

The county fairs, and the paperwork and preparation needed for them, also offer exhibitioners a chance to develop skills like confidence, writing and public speaking, Luthringer said.

She said seeing her own confidence grow has been one of her proudest accomplishments through showmanship.

Now, Luthringer is in her last year showing. This fall, she will attend Southwestern Michigan College for its agriculture technology program. She hopes to transfer to Purdue University for an animal science degree.

With her confidence blooming and experience at its peak, Luthringer wants to pass insights down to others.

“I want the represent the best example I can be,” she said. “I don’t want to be a person who’s slapping an animal or mistreating it. I want to be the person going out there who’s petting it, giving me my kisses.”