JANESVILLE 鈥 Taytum Bergsbaken of Milton FFA has been showing sheep since she was nine years old. On Friday, Bergsbaken, now 17, sold her grand champion sheep Milo for $62.50 per pound at the Rock County 4-H Fair Meat Animal Sale.
Trista Anderson of Consolidated 4-H Club in Janesville prepares to show her jersey calf, Harmony, at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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The Meat Animal Sale started at 9 a.m. Friday in the Sale Arena at the Rock County Fairgrounds and stretched until midday, as hundreds of animals were auctioned off.
The Meat Animal Sale is a key event at the fair, that kicked off on Tuesday and runs through Sunday at the Rock County Fairgrounds on Craig Avenue in Janesville.
And while that sale was going on Friday at the fairgrounds, other shows continued that didn鈥檛 ultimately involve an auction, such as dairy judging.
Over the years, Bergsbaken has shown more than 20 animals at the fair. This was her first grand champion.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very, very rewarding. I didn鈥檛 think I would ever win anything like this. The hard work pays off; when you work hard and you win something like this,鈥 Taytum said.
The lambs are born in January and Bergsbaken gets them in March.
鈥淚 start working with them, and then teaching them how to brace, and getting their legs worked with so I can touch their feet,鈥 Taytum said.
Whitley Coles, of Footville, leads her grand champion steer, Earl, from sale arena at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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Erica Bergsbaken, Taytum鈥檚 mom, said she was 鈥渧ery proud鈥 of her daughter.
鈥淪he does everything. She鈥檚 doing chores every morning and every night, working with them. I help her out when she鈥檚 at work and when it鈥檚 needed, but otherwise she鈥檚 their primary caretaker now,鈥 Erica Bergsbaken, said, adding that Taytum has been the primary caretaker for her animals since she was 12.
Taytum said the money she earned will go toward her next animal and college.
Whitley Coles, of Footville, is a member of the Evansville FFA and earned her first grand champion award this year, for her steer, Earl.
Earl came in at $7 per pound at the auction. Coles, who has shown animals for four years, said the grand champion award felt good to win.
鈥淚 worked all year long for this,鈥 Whitley said.
Liana Mulligan brushes her jersey calf, Mascara, at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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Along the way, she received a lot of encouragement from family, including her mom, Erika Weiss, and her brother, Colten. Whitley has persevered after many near wins in past years, Weiss said.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more proud,鈥 Weiss said. 鈥淪he is a kid who has the biggest heart and works and works and works, and always falls short. If she didn鈥檛 have bad luck, she鈥檇 have no luck at all. She can鈥檛 catch a break.鈥
Then, Whitley and Earl won grand champion.
鈥淵esterday gave her the confidence she never had to believe in herself,鈥 Weiss said.
Whitley bought Earl last fall. The past two months, the work intensified, she said. She got up at 5:30 a.m. to put him in the barn and let him out at midnight and 鈥渏ust work, work, work,鈥 Weiss said.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a remarkable young lady. She鈥檚 very independent,鈥 Weiss said.
Whitley said the money would go toward her next animal.
Liana Mulligan showed a dairy calf for the first time at this year鈥檚 fair.
Whitley Coles, of Footville, and grand champion steer, Earl, at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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I addition to the calf, Liana has brought pigs, turkeys, two calves and a sheep to the fair, and has the most experience showing swine. She has shown animals for the past two years as a youth exhibitor and prior to that participated in the Little Britches competition.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a fun learning experience,鈥 Mulligan said, adding that she likes 鈥渓earning about new animals.鈥
Liana said she plans to continue showing animals in future years.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to continue until he says no,鈥 Liana said, with a nod to her dad, Jared Mulligan.
This was Jared Mulligan first experience, too, with dairy calf. He said he was enjoying the experience.
Youth exhibitors show dairy cows at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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鈥淚 love it. I showed beef as a kid myself, so I鈥檓 used to the fair atmosphere just not the dairy aspect. Each species has their show tactic. We鈥檙e just learning the dairy part,鈥 Jared Mulligan said.
Trista Anderson of Consolidated 4-H Club in Janesville prepare to show her jersey calf, Harmony, at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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Liana had advice for anyone who with aspirations on showing animals at the 4-H fair.
鈥淢ake a bond with your animal. You want them to like you,鈥 Liana said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e my best friend.鈥
A youth exhibitor prepares to show cattle at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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A carnival ride spins at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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An aerial view of the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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An aerial view of the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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Aerial views of the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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An aerial view of the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025.
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A carnival ride at the Rock County 4-H Fair Friday, July 25, 2025. {p class=鈥漰2鈥潁
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