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Three-time supreme master showman takes crown in final year of eligibility

Lily Ansell, second place finisher, congratulates winner David Schultheis after he wins the supreme master showman contest at the 77th annual Butler Farm Show on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

BUTLER TOWNSHIP — A three-time supreme master showman took the crown one last time in his final year of eligibility Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Butler Farm Show.

David Schultheis was awarded first place in the supreme master showmanship competition, which featured nine showmen displaying their handling of hogs, sheep, dairy goats, market goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle, alpacas, a rabbit and a chicken.

“The biggest thing is, a great showman is someone who just gets out there and does it,” Schultheis said. “You can’t think about it, you just have to go out there and do it. That is the biggest advice I would give to someone.”

Schultheis, a 21-year-old Pennsylvania State University senior, qualified for the competition by winning the master showman title for beef cattle.

The nine showman qualified to compete for the supreme title by winning first place in the senior competitions for different species, according to Maren Mcintire, the public relations manager for the Butler Farm Show Junior Board, which organized the competition. She said the showmen who competed were aged 16-21.

For the chicken portion, the showman demonstrated how they would handle one using a stuffed animal. Mcintire said chickens had not been permitted at the farm show in recent years due to the potential for bird flu to spread. Chickens were invited back this year with restrictions like having a blocked off chicken coop.

David Schultheis shows a dairy cow during the supreme master showman contest at the 77th annual Butler Farm Show on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

“There’s a lot who may never have shown a dairy cow or another species, so we’re very proud of them,” said Annabelle Rapp, who judged the hog and market goat portions.

Schultheis said he also won the hog and dairy cattle competitions but earned the spot in the competition representing beef cattle.

“It’s a really good time,” Schultheis said. “We all compete with each other, but at the end of the day, we’re all friends. It’s still camaraderie, and it’s still just a fun time together.”

Second and third place were awarded to Lily Ansell and Morgan Teets, respectively.

The showmen were not allowed to work with their own animals in the competition and met each animal for the first time when they stepped into the ring together. Just after being introduced, judges expect the showmen to demonstrate a relationship with their animal by keeping them calm, attentive and proper as they’re led around the ring.

“That’s another thing that goes along with being a good showman is being able to take animal and show it to the best of your ability,” Schultheis said.

Morgan Teets competes in the goat portion of the supreme master showman contest at the 77th annual Butler Farm Show on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

He said the alpaca and the rabbit were the most difficult to show because of a different mindset the animals have and not being as familiar with them.

“Sometimes, it’s so new to me, too, and I’m not as comfortable with those animals,” Schultheis said. “So that animal might sense my kind of uncomfortableness with it. When an animal is comfortable, it’s going to show to its best ability.”

He said when an animal starts to get unruly, the best thing to do is lead out of the judging lineup in a small circle then come back and start fresh.

“Clear that off your plate, keep yourself calm and just get back to it,” Schultheis said.

The supreme master showmanship contest began the last day of the farm show at the livestock barn before moving to the dairy barn. Each showman took home a placement banner, and Schultheis won a large silver Butler Farm Show showbox to store equipment.

“It’s great to see they want to be here and want to learn, because that’s what the farm show is all about,” said Ken Metric, a member of the Butler Farm Show board who judged the chicken portion.

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