The eyes before the prize

It is unusually cool for the end of July, cloudy and overcast dulled by a light rain. It is also opening day for competition at the Cheyenne County Fair. Horses and riders wait to be judged by keen eyes, posted just inside the arena.

Judges Ashlynn Jensen and assistant Tonya Madden will bear the drizzle to assess each rider in the horsemanship competition. Yet they know the role means more than selecting a ribbon winner. Judges at the county fair help young riders learn their craft.

Madden's role is to make certain everything runs smoothly.

"Like in halter, I make sure the kids are lined up a safe distance from each other,” the Potter native explained. “During other events I signal when we want the kids to walk, lope and trot. I radio the crows nest so they can announce what they need to do—and I get to pick up all the hats that fall off."

Madden participated in 4-H for ten years and has been volunteering ever since. She understands both the effort and emotion involved in fair competition.

"Working hard I think that's an important life lesson that 4-H can teach,” she explained. “Hard work sometimes ends in failure and sometimes in success."

Madden has been helping with the fair since 2006. She said, "It's fun to see the kids do well when you work with them. The county fair is a great family event "

Jensen first earned her judging stripes that same year, in 2006. She is a farmer herself, with a small herd of Angus cattle in Alliance. Judges for this year's fair all travel from another city, in order to prevent any hint of bias.

"I really enjoy judging,” Jensen said. “I use to show when I was in 4-H. It's petty rewarding to be on the other side of things. I think if I would have asked more questions when I was showing I would have learned it a lot sooner."

She knows, however, the thrill of taking first place in the mind of a tough minded judge. At the age of 12, she guided her horse to top spont in trail.

“It was the first time I ever won a class and it was the first or second showing I did on that horse,” Jensen recalled. “I don't remember what I won—that didn't matter. It was the fact of winning."

Helping kids find their way through the steps of showing is a great experience for Jensen.

"Having a kid come up after the show and give me a hug and telling me that I am their favorite judge, that is so rewarding,” she said. “I love seeing the kids happy and I like helping out the kids. That's why I do this, I guess."