We caught up with Ms. Sydney Messick, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb and at the 2023 Delaware State Fair. Learn a little more about Sydney below!
Age: 18
Grade: Senior
How do you stay focused on reaching your goal?
have learned to stay focused by thinking about how proud my younger self would be if they seen me at that position. I began showing sheep at just 6 years old, I have always looked up to the older kids in the show ring.
Do you show any other species besides sheep? If so, what other species?
No I do not but I would like to in the future.
What’s your favorite show? and why?
My favorite show is the Delaware State Fair. This is my favorite show due to the fact that our state is so small that when all the livestock kids come together for ten days it feels like a family. The atmosphere is just truly amazing to explain. My favorite part about the show is the extravaganza due to the fact that it feels like your walking into the red carpet of the show.
What do you do to celebrate after a big win?
I celebrate a big win by giving thanks to the people who have helped me achieve my goals. I would not be able to achieve a big win without the help of my support team. We have a big dinner for my support team so that we can all celebrate together and show appreciation to everyone that has helped me along the way.
What has showing livestock taught you?
Showing livestock has show me the power of hard work and never giving up. Over the course of the five years I have show lambs I have not once made it to the extravaganza. I would get discouraged but I knew that little me would never want me to give up on her passion. Year after year I began to learn more and work harder. This year I put in countless hours into my project close to every single day. Come fair time my hard work had finally paid of and my dreams had come true. This taught me a valuable life lesson, to stay focused and work hard even when you don’t think you can make it.
What’s your biggest dream?
My biggest dream is to be able to win a banner at NAILE . This is one of my biggest dreams because NAILE is such a large show and being able to win a banner there would mean the world to me. I would also like to start being able to breed my own quality lambs in the future to give back to other sheep kids in the industry and provide them with the experiences that I have been fortunate to have.
What’s your lambs name? and what made him/her so special?
Jerry, this made him so special due to the fact that he was my first banner animal. I have been showing market lambs for only 5 years and the feeling of your animal winning your first banner is a feeling that I’ll never forget. Jerry was my first animal that I was able to achieve my lifelong goal with which made him different from my other animals.
Who do you look up to?
I look up to my Dad. My dad is my biggest supporter when it come to my lambs. When my dad was young he showed lambs at our fair. He has always been so proud of me either way and being able to show him that my hard work had finally paid off was so meaningful to him. He is the hardest working person that I know and I wish to grow up and be just like him because he is truly my biggest inspiration.
