LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Participants in the Allen County Junior Fair Horse Program kicked off fair week with a special tradition Saturday.
The 10th annual Blessing of the Horses was held to pray for the safety of the horses and their riders. Organizers say starting fair week with the blessing helps get the young competitors started on the right path spiritually and also giving them an opportunity to thank the fairgrounds crew for maintaining the arena.
The arena was filled with competitors and their horses, with participation increasing from previous years. Organizers say the growth is a positive sign for the 4-H program.
“It means our youth are getting involved, which is exactly what we want. 4H is big in this community, so seeing our horse numbers go up means that the 4H numbers are going up as well. Very proud of these kids. It's something that they get to do year-round. It's not like some other livestock where they only have them for a certain amount of time. These are these kids' livelihoods and they’re part of their family. So, watching them put in the work of the effort is just great. It's a put a smile on my face every year,” says Taylor Brown, 4-H adviser.
The Junior Fair Horse Program also recognized 11 students who competed with their horses at competitions during the Ohio State Fair earlier this month.
Organizers encouraged the public to attend the various horse competitions throughout the week, with the major Junior Fair horse shows scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
