We caught up with Ms. Trenna Cherney, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb at the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair. Learn a little more about Trenna below!
Age: 19
Grade: Sophomore at Iowa State University
How do you stay focused on reaching your goal?
One of the biggest ways I stay focused on my goal is to do it as a family. Everything we do in the barn and with the animals, we do any a family, and we push each other to stay focused and remind each other of the goals that we set for ourselves.
Do you show any other species besides sheep? If so, what other species?
Other than sheep, I also show pigs. Pigs are actually what I am most familiar with, and I grew up raising show pigs with my family.
What’s your favorite show? and why?
My favorite show is NAILE in Louisville. This is my favorite show simply because of the atmosphere. Who doesn’t love the green shavings and the bulky round lights hanging from the ceiling? It is also my favorite show because we always treat it as a girl’s trip, no boys allowed. I like how it’s a very low-pressure show where we can have fun. You also can’t forget about the shopping!
What do you do to celebrate after a big win?
After the big handshake in the coliseum, I simply tried to soak everything in. This was my last year as a junior exhibitor at the Wisconsin State Fair, and accomplishing a goal like this was a dream come true. The night of the big win, my family took a trip to the big slight shot at the fairgrounds, where my sisters enjoyed the thrill of their lives while giving everyone a good laugh. I surrounded myself with my family and friends and told stories the rest of the night.
What has showing livestock taught you?
Showing livestock has truly taught me more than I can imagine! It has taught me work ethic and how to get out of bed in the morning. It has taught me to be passionate, set goals for myself, and reach for the stars. The livestock industry has taught me how to communicate with others and make friends from all over the country. It has also taught me that sometimes things don’t go your way, and there will be ups and downs, just like in our everyday lives. With all of that being said, the biggest thing that the livestock industry has taught me is how important family, and the people you surround yourself with are. Everything I have accomplished throughout my showing career is simply because of my family pushing me, being there for me when I needed them, and making this process fun. I don’t know if I will ever really know how much I have learned from this industry, but I know I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.
What’s your biggest dream?
My biggest dream in life was winning the Wisconsin State Fair. Fortunately, I have been Reserve Overall Market Lamb twice, and In 2019, my biggest Dream came true, and I was Champion Overall Market Lamb. Reaching a goal and dream like this was simply an out-of-body experience and something I will never forget!
What’s your lambs name? and what made him/her so special?
My Sheep’s name is Dennis Rodman. We pick a theme for our lambs each year, and this year, it was “The Last Dance.” Soon after we got our lambs, we knew that he was the one that needed to be Dennis. Dennis will always be a special lamb to me because he was the last lamb I will ever show at the state fair, and it was very special that I was so successful in my last year showing at the state fair!
Who do you look up to?
There are no other people that I look up to more than my parents. They are two of the hardest-working people that I know, and I never hear them complain. They wake up early every day with my sister and I and help feed, walk, and work animals every day. They have always told me that I can do anything I want in life and always pushed me out of my comfort zone. My parents have formed me into the person I am today, and I don’t know what I would do without them. My hope is to someday be a great parent, be successful, and have a “never give up” attitude like they do.
