Angola’s Lexie Schworm wins Supreme Showman at Steuben Fair BY DAVID VANTRESS | News

When the sawdust settled, in a close competition not decided until the final event, it was Angola High School rising senior Lexie Schworm emerging victorious — and earning the traditional dousing with eight buckets of cold water.

Schworm edged out her younger sister Taylor for the honor. Lexie Schworm said she and Taylor, an Angola junior, are as close as can be.

“This feels pretty darned cool because I got to be in it with my sister,” Lexie said. “It’s a pretty neat feeling to be able to compete with her. She’s honestly my best friend.“

When Lexi gets home from school at 3 p.m., it’s right to work until 10-11 p.m. sometimes.

Lexie has been involved in 4-H for nine years and will reach the sought-after 10-year plateau as a senior. Taylor just completed her seventh year in 4-H.

Lexie is looking forward to hopefully defending her Supreme Showman title as a senior — and probably going up against her sister again.

Lexie plans to major in ruminant nutrition — which focuses on the dietary management of animals with a four-chambered stomach (cattle, sheep, goats) with a minor in business. She hopes to earn a scholarship to a school like Purdue University, Oklahoma State or Michigan State.

She’ll compete at the Indiana State Fair later this summer and then a national show in Louisville.

Lexie’s advice for younger 4-Hers is to persevere through adversity: “Even when you get tired or burned out, you have to push through it because at the end of the day it will be worth it.”

Lexie cites her parents Todd and Stephanie as her role models. “They taught me that you have to work hard to be successful.”

Cade Bachelor, Emma Creager, Jacob Foster, Corbin Gardner, Piper Hasselman and Tysen Weible were the other Supreme Showman finalists.

The fair concluded on Thursday with the annual livestock auction.