By Kerri Pepoy,Staff Writer

FRYEBURG – Ronald Gankofskie isn’t quite sure how he raised such a hardy daughter.

“This kid takes on anything,” the proud, smiling dad said, raising his hands in a “go figure” gesture after his daughter, 15-year-old Leah, roped a calf in the calf scramble competition Friday at the Fryeburg Fair.

Leah was the only girl among the 10 teenage contestants, and she was the second contestant to rope a calf. Even more impressive, the petite blonde wasn’t pulled over as the animal, weighing at least 400 pounds, pulled her around the ring, doing its best to unleash itself.

Her father said she has always been a rough-and-tumble kid, so the fact that she competed against nine boys, some of whom had the girth of a football player, isn’t a surprise.

“When she was little, she would get invited to birthday parties with all boys, so she could go over and climb into their treehouses,” he said.

Wiping her brow after the contest, Leah said she’s treated like one of the guys – almost. “They joke around with me a little bit about it, but they’re pretty cool,” she said.

Ronald and his wife, Lauren, own Gankofskie Farms in Clinton. Leah’s ewe was named overall champion of the sheep shows at the fair. The Franklin County 4-H Club member has competed in sheep shows around the country, including at fairs in Ohio and Indiana.

Teens who compete in the calf scramble each year must be 4-H members from either Maine or New Hampshire. They also must submit an application to be in the calf scramble. A random drawing determines who will compete.

Ten contestants chase down eight calves, each weighing an average of 400 to 500 pounds. The eight teenagers who rope a calf get to keep the animal, raise it, and bring it to the fair the following year to be judged and sold.

The Gankofskies have a son, Jake, and another daughter, Kalee, a sophomore at Unity College who also displays a daring spirit.

Kalee is studying to become an adventure educator who will take people on rock-climbing and whitewater-rafting tours. “Right now, she’s hiking the Appalachian Trail with a sprained ankle,” her mother said.

But Leah doesn’t plan to completely follow in her older sister’s footsteps, choosing instead a calmer profession. “I want to study architecture,” she said.