Fix captures Shelby Royal title at Shelby County Fair

Briley Fix found her calmness in the show arena.

Making her first appearance in the Shelby Royal competition at the Shelby County Fair, the rising Southwestern freshman was nervous. She did all the preparation leading up the event, but the pressure was mounting in her mind.

“I think I was pretty nervous for the past few days just getting ready, but once I walked in here and got with the animals, I think all of the nerves went away,” said Fix. “I’ve shown most of them. I was ready to show and have fun.”

Fix (photo) defeated five other participants Friday morning to earn the Shelby Royal title – the second presented at the 177^th Shelby County Fair.

The Livestock Pavilion was busy Sunday night with a Shelby Royal competition for the 2025 qualifiers. Southwestern’s Kentley Gosser earned the award. Those competitors had a full year to prepare to show six different animals.

The scheduling change meant the 2026 qualifiers would have just days to prepare. Wednesday night’s storms made preparation a little more challenging, according to Fix.

“Yesterday, since we didn’t have animals here (at the fairgrounds) because of the storm, me and a couple friends went to different houses and worked dairy (cattle), we worked goats and sheep. I’ve never shown goats or dairy. That’s what we worked on.”

The Shelby Royal competitors Friday were (from left): Mariah Davidson, Ruby England, Lucy Jackson, Briley Fix, Jude Parker and Miller Tandy.

Friday’s contestants were the highest placing 4H Senior showmanship winners in each of six species – beef cattle, sheep, swine, goat, dairy cattle, and horse and pony.

To win the Shelby Royal, the competitors must display ease and expertise managing each animal.

“You have to stay confident. If your animal acts up don’t get mad at it because that will ruin you,” explained Fix. “You just have to stay confident and have fun.”

Miller Tandy, left, and Mariah Davidson, right, show dairy cattle Friday during the Shelby Royal competition.

Fix, age 14, is the daughter of Andy and Katie Fix.

“It is really special because I’ve been wanting to be in it for a while,” she said. “Now that I am finally in it, I am really proud.”

The other Shelby Royal competitors Friday were Mariah Davidson, Ruby England, Lucy Jackson, Jude Parker and Miller Tandy.

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