Big Walnut senior Aubrey Altizer (right) poses for a photo with her grand champion lamb alongside parents Ryan and Heather Altizer, and sister, Ella Altizer.
Courtesy | Heather Altizer
The Altizer dynasty reigns supreme in the Delaware County Junior Fair’s Market Lamb Show.
Appearing one last time at the fair, Big Walnut senior Aubrey Altizer capped off a remarkable show career by adding another first-place finish to her extensive list of accomplishments. This year’s lamb, which weighed in at 152 pounds, gives Altizer her second consecutive grand champion and fifth in the last six years.
“It’s been incredible,” Altizer said, fighting back emotions when asked to describe her remarkable run.
There has been no shortage of high-quality lambs to come through their barn, but Altizer said the overall quality of this year’s lamb rivals any she’d previously shown. And he had the personality to match his impressive physical build, she noted.
“He was just an overall well-structured, well-built lamb,” she said. “But I think what set him aside from a lot of other champions is that he had a great personality. We brought him home, and the name we gave him was ‘Bear.’ Needless to say, it stuck for the entire show season. The connection and the bond between Bear and I was definitely there. But his quality and everything on top of that is definitely what set him apart.”
Altizer, who also plays soccer at Big Walnut, said there was far more competition for her time this year than in past seasons, forcing her to be more deliberate to maintain the lofty standard she’d set for herself and her lambs.
“I think with it being my senior year of high school, it means a little more just because there’s definitely a lot more work I had to put in because I’m trying to get all my senior night stuff together for my last soccer season as well,” Altizer said. “So making sure I set some time aside to have the quality of animals we’ve had in past years was definitely something that took a little more time and effort. But needless to say, it definitely paid off this year.”
There was a point this year when Altizer wasn’t even sure she’d be physically capable of showing at the fair after a soccer injury forced her to undergo surgery in March to repair the labrum in her left hip.
“I had surgery on my left hip, which is the hip that about 90% of the show is on, so that was definitely a concern that we had with my decision on whether or not to have the surgery,” Altizer said. “My senior season of soccer and 4-H was definitely something that was going to be on the table. But the determination and getting back and making sure I was able to make those things happen was something I was definitely willing to do.”
While Altizer may have taken home the top honor once again, the family’s run of dominance doesn’t belong solely to Aubrey. Her younger sister, Ella, showed the Grand Champion Market Lamb in the 2022 Delaware County Junior Fair, and she had the reserve grand champion this year.
Their first- and second-place finishes this year mark the second time the sisters have taken home both honors in the same show. Being able to have her sister right behind her one more time only added to the special moment for Altizer. “Getting to end my last county fair with my sister behind me was really important to me,” she said.
Given the level of success she’s enjoyed, and everything that comes with a senior year of high school, allowing complacency to set in would be understandable for Altizer. However, her competitive nature — a trait Altizer said she inherited from her father — wouldn’t allow her effort to wane.
“I like to win, and allowing myself to have this sixth year in a row for the family and set the bar high for Ella to hopefully make it seven next year, I think that’s what helped me to want to win a little bit more this year,” Altizer said.
Although Altizer is the eldest daughter, she said there is plenty she has learned from Ella that has served to elevate her show career.
“In past years, I’ve had a bunch of people come up to me and tell me how much Ella shows like me, and I think that’s really rewarding,” Altizer said. “But I don’t think people understand how much I’ve learned from her, too. Being in the barn with her all the time, it’s definitely been really rewarding to see us working together and all of our work from the beginning of the season, pay off. We spend a lot of our summers together, so her teaching me some of her methods, and me helping her has been really special.”
She added, “I think if you would have told me nine years ago that this is the situation that Ella and I would be fortunate to have, my jaw would have been on the floor. Being able to do it will Ella and just sharing all the laughs, the tears, and the yelling in the barn, it all pays off when we get to the fair.”
And while she certainly enjoys winning in her own right, Ella Altizer was just fine finishing behind her big sister in their final show together.
“I would rather her have success in her last year than myself. It’s her last year, and I still have plenty of years to come,” Ella Altizer said.
Both Aubrey and Ella Altizer’s willingness to build each other up despite being in direct competition with each other isn’t always common among siblings. But the genuine joy the two share for the time showing together has afforded them, has led to a bond that transcends any awards or honors, and it’s been a pleasure for their parents to witness.
“Ryan and I couldn’t be more proud of the girls,” the girls’ mother, Heather Altizer, said. “Aubrey talked about the determination, drive, and grit, and they both have a little bit of that. So I think knowing how much they enjoy doing what they do makes it extremely rewarding when the hard work and effort pays off for them.
“But I think aside from that, the winning part isn’t the reward in my mind; it’s watching the two of them together. At the end of the night, I had a gentleman ask me, ‘Do they always like each other this much?’ I told him that win or lose, no matter what position each of them was in, they were always there to support each other. As a parent, to watch that, we couldn’t be more proud of them for just loving each other and supporting each other no matter where the chips fall.”
As her career comes to an end, Aubrey Altizer said the most enjoyment she’s received from showing did not come from triumphs but rather being around those who aspire to one day have the same success she and her sister have experienced.
“I think what I’ve enjoyed is the little kids,” Aubrey Altizer said. “There are a bunch of little 4-H’ers in our group who are coming into high school, and some of these kids work harder than Ella and I do at some points. And it’s really rewarding to see them watch me and just stand and cheer me on. I’ll definitely miss their support.”
She added, “But I’ll also miss being in the barn with Ella all the time. I know it’s not always sunshine and rainbows, but I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself with her help. I’ll miss that quality time with her.”
While one impressive run may be finished, another may have just begun. Armed with everything she’s picked up from her sister through the years, Ella Altizer has no intentions of relinquishing the family’s firm grip on the top honor in the Market Lamb Show.
Asked if she feels a responsibility to continue the family’s winning ways, Ella Altizer said without hesitation, “Definitely.”
Reach Dillon Davis at 740-413-0904. Follow him on X @DillonDavis56.
