BERRIEN SPRINGS — When Zoe Popielski and her mother, Jennifer, walked into the horticulture show room at the Berrien County Youth Fair, they were shocked.

It was not because of an exceptionally large vegetable or a terrifying scarecrow, but because a large purple ribbon was on Popielski’s scarecrow. She had won grand champion.

Horticulture awards were made public Monday, but it was not until 1 p.m. Thursday at the fair’s Mall Arena that the 10-year-old Buchanan resident and 58 other 5-to 20-year-old recipients were recognized.

Popielski received the Carole Bronicki Trophy from Berrien County Youth Fair King Runner-Up Jackson Hall. She also shook the hands of other fair royalty while on stage.

Popielski has taken in part in the fair’s exhibitions for the past three years, but her scarecrow was the first time she entered a still exhibition, let alone won one. It made the win all the more surprising, she said.

Despite being new to the scarecrow scene, she said the work behind her win was simple.

“It was pretty easy,” she said. “I picked out all the stuff, and people helped me put it together. I told them where to put it, and they put it on.”

Popielski received help from tasks where hot glue was needed, but she designed and stuffed her scarecrow herself.

Her scarecrow is meant to mimic a big cat animal trainer.

“I like animals, and also, I wanted a big cat trainer because I like cats,” she said.

Popielski’s scarecrow has blue, pink and white hair that is topped with a straw hat adorned with yellow flowers. It wears a plaid shirt and overalls “just like I’m wearing now,” she said Thursday.

On the scarecrow’s shoulder sits a leopard kitten stuffed animal. Around the scarecrow’s neck is a neon whistle, meant to help it train cats.

Designing the scarecrow last fall was both the most fun and most challenging part of her task, Popielski said.

“Trying to pick all the items out, you don’t want too much, and you don’t want too little,” she said.

Stuffing the scarecrow with copious amounts of hay was difficult, too, her mother added.

Her animal trainer scarecrow will hang in the horticulture barn at the county fair until the weeklong fair ends Saturday night.

As an avid animal fan, Popielski has shown other animals this week. On Tuesday, she participated in horse showmanship and market chickens. On Wednesday, she showed her market rabbit. She was unable to sell her rabbit because it had a damaged toenail.

“You don’t even eat the toenail,” she exclaimed.

Now, her rabbit will be a pet. After the exhibition, Popielski named her Blackberry.

Shortly after receiving her grand champion trophy Thursday, Popielski went off to prepare her chickens for the market exhibition with her mother following alongside her.

The following five Niles and Buchanan-area resident also received horticulture awards Thursday.

• Abram Clark, of Buchanan, won Most Humorous Scarecrow.

• Amber Fleisher, of Buchanan, was reserve champion of dried gourds in the 15 to 20 age division and reserve champion of vegetable creations in the same age division.

• Jamieson Hunsberger, of Niles, was champion of booth displays in the 5 to 11 age division.

• Claire Mckee, of Niles, was reserve champion of dried gourds in the 5 to 10 age division.

• Jessa Rydwelski, of Buchanan, was reserve champion of bales of hay or straw.