There's nothing like going out on top of your game.
At age 21, Emily Montgomery Gerke just aged out of showing her pigs and cattle at the Missouri State Fair, but she did it the right way.
First, she exited her final arena with her friend, Alyssa Reid, also 21 and thus retired. Reid's mother, Barbara, co-founded Remade for a Purpose in downtown Fulton.
The pair started showing at the state fair together at age 8.
And second, Gerke's cross-bred steer, Johnny, was proclaimed a winner and will sell at the Sale of Champions on Saturday - an immense honor with only the two best of any species eligible. This was her first time showing a steer, but she won the same honor a few year ago with a barrow pig.
Her mom, Sandy Montgomery, is absolutely proud.
"This is a major, major honor," she said. "As far as I know, Emily's the only one from Callaway County to win twice with two different species."
Montgomery's throat choked up with emotion.
"These two young ladies - they have represented us well. I just can't even describe ," she said.
Gerke is a prodigy in her own right. She graduated from North Callaway High School in 2015, and then graduated from the University of Missouri last December with a bachelor's degree in animal science.
"I took a lot of hours and a few summer classes," she said.
She married her husband, Tyler, a farmer, in April and they live near Smithton, just east of Sedalia. She manages Leeton Feed and Seed store.
"We raise pigs ourselves and a few show cows," Gerke said, adding she looks forward to working with upcoming 4-H and FFA students as they start their own show careers. "We really like helping the kids."
She will miss her show career, however.
"It's pretty much the only thing I've done my whole entire life," Gerke added. "I've had a bunch of mentors."
She mentioned Kevin Bryant and Michael Curtis of Curtis Show Pigs, in the Hatton area.
"I've always bought my show pigs from him; he's been a big part of my show career," she said.
Gerke also has to say farewell to Johnny after the sale.
"Saying goodbye is the hardest part," she said of Johnny the steer, whom she acquired last August. "It gets harder as you get older."