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CASSOPOLIS — Robert Tharp has made himself right at home Monday morning in the Cass County Fair Youth Dairy Show ring.

For the second straight fair, the Niles native took home Champion Showman honors at Monday’s Cass County Fair Youth Dairy Show. His sister, Faith, was named Reserve Grand Champion.

 “It feels really good,” Tharp said. “I was really nervous because my younger sister was right behind me and I thought for sure she’s gonna beat me.”

Tharp has been showing in the fair since he was eight years old and will attend Lake Michigan College this fall to pursue welding. He has been working with his dairy cow, Belle, for seven years and was last year’s Reserve Grand Champion in Showmanship Sweepstakes.

This year, he is hoping to come out on top.

“When I first started, it was a rough process,” he said. “But then after she got the hang of it, it was super easy. You work with her consistently weekly and sometimes daily. As you get closer to fair and then when you get in the ring, it’s really about just being calm and confident in everything you do.”

Above all else, Tharp enjoyed being part of the fair festivities once again.

“I love the community,” he said. “The people you meet and learning how to show other animals and the temperament of different kinds of animals is a great experience.”