COEUR d’ALENE — For the Ellisons, 4-H is a family affair.  

It seems winning is, too.  

Sisters Keira, 15, and Kimber, 13, both won big during Saturday’s youth stock show and sale at the North Idaho State Fair.  

Hundreds of youth exhibitors took part in the show and sale across multiple classes, including beef, dairy cattle, market and breeding swine, market and breeding sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry. 

Keira was named Senior Grand Champion Showman and sold her pig for $10.50 a pound, while Kimber took the title of Grand Champion Intermediate Showman, as well as two additional titles related to her pig itself, which sold for $7 a pound.  

The sisters showed off their shiny new belt buckles with pride.  

“It’s amazing — it feels awesome,” Keira said. “Everything you’ve been working for comes true after years of hard work.” 

Keira explained that the livestock judge looks for “smooth movements” as participants guide their pigs around the pen, as well as the demeanor of who is showing the livestock. 

“You have to put your mean face on,” Keira said with a laugh.  

Both girls have been showing pigs through 4-H for three years and had shown rabbits when they were younger. 

This was both girls’ first time coming home as champions.  

“It feels really good,” Kimber said, recalling that she worked with her pig sometimes as long as five hours each day in preparation for the fair.  

Keira and Kimber’s younger siblings are already following in their footsteps: their younger sister is already active in 4-H, and their little brother will be, too, as soon as he’s old enough. 

Their mother, Jennifer Ellison, grew up in a 4-H family herself and wanted her own children to have the same learning experiences.  

“These kids work so hard,” Jennifer said. “To finally get out there and show everything they’ve done is really amazing.” 

Today marks the final day of the North Idaho State Fair. 

    Sisters Kimber (left) and Keira (right) both came out of this year's youth livestock show and sale at the North Idaho State Fair as winners.
  

    A teen focuses hard as she guides her pig around the ring during Saturday's livestock show and sale at the North Idaho State Fair.
  

    A teen shows his pig in front of prospective buyers during Saturday's youth livestock show and sale.