It was a classic underdog story. A cocky youngster wins an upstart victory over a larger bruiser — a ringer brought in just for the sake of winning a competition known for fowl play.

Yes, the Northwest Montana Fair’s famed Rooster Crowing Contest was a sight to behold (and hear).

Organizers, members of the media, 4-H’ers and random onlookers searching for a place to sit in the shade were in attendance for the thrilling showdown.

Sarah Johnson, a 12-year old from Coram, took her Dutch Bantam “Blue” all the way to the finals. It was the highlight of her young life — or at least the day.

“That was pretty cool. I didn’t think he was going to crow,” said the thoughtful champion. “I’ve been raising chickens a long time. My favorite part is showing them, I love the showmanship.”

During the contest, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Or a talon, depending on who is doing the cutting.

The three-minute competition in the sweltering barn was rife with surprises. The first rooster to crow was one tucked in the back of the building and wasn’t even entered in the contest.

One minute went by, then another. Time was almost up before Blue crowed four times in quick succession.

With only one rooster crowing, the barn managers shrugged and proclaimed a winner.

After a quick discussion, they decided to hold a second round to get a second-place crower. The idea for a sudden-death playoff was not received well.

A Black Jersey Giant, brought into the barn just to win the prizes for best crower, picked up the slack and crowed three times to get the silver medal.

His owner, Shirley Elam, thought the competition was over when she was informed otherwise.

“I won? That’s good,” she said. “I got them as babies, around maybe three days old. I’ve just been feeding them ever since and they got huge. I didn’t know for sure, but I knew he was a crower, so I hoped I’d win.”

Johnson walked away with a certificate stating she was the winner, bragging rights and a $50 gift certificate to Murdoch’s.

Stacie Marinaccio, the poultry helper at the Poultry and Rabbit Barn, was laughing during the contest. Not at the cuteness or absurdity of the little game, but the fact that the usually cacophonous barn was silent during the stifling August heat.

“Only one rooster crowed the entire contest,” she said. “Normally there is a little bit more crowing going on.”

That was a bit of an understatement, since during the buildup to the contest, just about every hen was clucking and rooster cock-a-doodling. Then, it can be surmised, the humans went silent to listen and the poultry followed suit.

Tammy Johnson, the barn manager (and the champion’s mother) in her third year of running the building, said the competition was a fun little event for the fair.

“It started about the same time I arrived here,” she said. “It’s had it’s ups and downs.”

As for the champion, she’s not sure if she will defend her title next year or hang up her feathers for good.

“I might come back. I don’t know yet,” she said, before giving tips to aspiring crowing-champions. “Let them free range. You shouldn’t keep them locked up in a dark space.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.