Some people really adore their cats and it's for those folks that the Cat Showmanship event is held at the Fair.
The cat showmanship gives feline lovers ages 9 through 19 a chance to show off their cat. As long as the cat is six weeks old then there is a chance to enter your cat through a local 4-H group to be judged.
This year they have a total of ten cats. There are nine contestants competing in the juniors' category and one in the seniors.
The age group of juniors is 9 to 13, and the age group for seniors is from 14- 19 years old.
This event is held yearly at the fairgrounds but Christina Dube, the judge of the cat showmanship show hopes to change that.
";We're hoping to change it to inter-county." Dube said. "; It's great for people to watch and for kids to enter if they have an interest in cats."
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She believes folks already coming for 4-H shows from all over Lewis and Clark County would like to show off their furry pets.
Dube gives points for the contestants' knowledge of their cat and asks a series of questions. For example the questions may range from, how old is your cat? What's your cats' name? Or where are the metacarpals on your cat?
Kim Stewart is in charge of organizing the cat showmanship show.
";The ribbons are based on the Norwegians ribbons - grand, reserve, purple, blue, red, white. Grand is first place and reserve is second place. In a sense, the colors are like grades, Stewart said.
";Purple is like and A, for going above and beyond, blue is like a B for meeting the guidelines, a red ribbon is like a C and that is awarded if the contestant fails to meet the criteria, and a white ribbon is awarded when you have made no attempt," she said. ";The cat showmanship has been going for at least 20 years."
Fannie Peterson, 11, from the Scratchgravel Wranglers 4-H group is competing with her cat Blackjack for the first time this year. She isn't sure exactly how old he is because as the cat was dropped off at their doorstep about four years ago. Blackjack was recently diagnosed with asthma and the Peterson family has been treating him for his recent wheezing for the last month. Peterson has noticed a change in attitude so she is hoping he will perform well.
";I got a grand champion ribbon on my education display (about cats)." Peterson said.
As she waited nervously for her name to be called, Blackjack slept in his house that Peterson made for him, ";La Cat Hotel."
Jessika Putnam, 14, competed in the seniors' category with her cat Sheba.
";My favorite part is decorating the cage," Putnam said.
This is Putnam's third year competing in this event, and after being judged by Dube, Putnam said she was asked to name different breeds of cats, and how to show her cats back claws and front paws.
After each contestant has shown their cat to Dube, she then decides what ribbon to give. Everyone will walk away with a ribbon depending on the effort put in, the knowledge of the cat, and the ability to answer questions.
Putnam presented well and earned a blue ribbon in the event, Stewart described that score as a ";B" if it were a letter grade.
