Kinzee Hemann, a rising junior at Gladbrook-Reinbeck and also the G-R FFA president, competes on Sunday, July 27 in the Central Iowa Showdown in Webster City at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY KJ PHOTOGRAPHY

GRUNDY CENTER – For Kinzee Hemann, a rising junior at Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School, this summer’s county fair season has been nothing short of extraordinary.

A longtime 4-H and FFA member, Hemann showed four pigs at the Grundy County Fair last month and came away with some impressive honors including Grand Champion Breeding Gilt, Reserve Champion Purebred Market Hog, Reserve Champion Purebred Breeding, and 2nd Place in class with her Crossbred Barrow.

Winning Grand Champion Breeding Gilt earned her a coveted spot at the Central Iowa Showdown – an elite competition bringing together top livestock exhibitors from nine central Iowa counties. She was the only Gladbrook-Reinbeck student to qualify for the Showdown in any species, making her selection even more notable.

“This is a huge honor I didn’t take lightly,” Hemann said. “It was my first time qualifying, and the first time I’ve ever won the entire breeding show at our county fair.”

The Showdown was held Sunday, July 27 in Webster City. Each exhibitor had to submit a photo and write-up about their animal, which was read aloud as they took to the ring alone in front of a large crowd. After nearly a full day of prep which included washing, clipping, and grooming her pig “Penny,” Hemann entered the ring to compete against other county fair grand champions.

Kinzee Hemann pictured with her Reserve Champion Commercial Gilt on July 27 at the Central Iowa Showdown. Hemann previously won the hog breeding show at the Grundy County Fair to advance to the Showdown where she competed against champion commercial pigs from nine other counties. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“The judge said the decision between grand and reserve was so close he wished he could send both pigs forward,” Hemann explained. “I ended up Reserve Champion, which was still a huge honor given the level of competition.”

While she didn’t advance to the finale in Oskaloosa, fellow Grundy County exhibitor Delany Schafer did, placing as Market Beef Champion. Kinzee and Delany were the only two from Grundy County to place in the Top-2 in their species at the Showdown.

Hemann’s journey in the show ring began in third grade as a 4-H Clover Kid where she got her first experience showing pigs alongside older members. “That’s when I realized how much I loved pigs,” she shared. “They all have their own personalities and are just fun to be around.”

She began officially competing in fourth grade and hasn’t missed a fair season since. Now also showing under FFA, she’s faced older competition at the Iowa State Fair – sometimes competing against students up to age 22. “It’s intimidating, but I’ve learned so much from it.”

Hemann plans to take three of her top-placing pigs to the Iowa State Fair this year, along with a Hampshire breeding gilt. “My new goal is to win a class with my crossbred at the State Fair,” she said. “I’ve been Reserve Champion in the Hampshire breeding class the past two years, and I’d love to finally earn Grand Champion.”

PHOTO BY KATRINA HEMANN

Her passion for pigs runs deep as her uncle Nate Hemann raises their purebred Hampshires and Durocs, and Hemann enjoys helping pick show pigs from the nursery and even got to present one at a sale earlier this year.

It’s not all glamour though. It takes Hemann about an hour of work per pig each day to get them “fair ready,” and she rotated between seven pigs this summer. Her dedication is fueled by a true love of animals, which she hopes to turn into a career.

“My overall goal is to keep working with animals and pursue a degree in ag or animal science.”

PHOTO BY KATRINA HEMANN

PHOTO BY KATRINA HEMANN