WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO)— The sights and sounds of the Auglaize County Fair may only last a week, but for 4-H members, the work behind it takes months of preparation.
Before the crowds, the shows, and the ribbons, members like Korynn Sutherland are already putting in full days of work.
“Normally, I spend about 8 to 12 hours in the barn a day. We walk the goats in the morning, we rinse them and practice setting up and bracing,” said Sutherland, who has been involved in 4-H for seven years. “With the steers, we walk them at night, rinse them in the morning, blow them off, work their hair, and then we practice setting up at night.”
It’s a routine that takes time, consistency, and a lot of early mornings.
“We shave our goats, we clip their hair, we clip their hooves, we brush them down, wipe their nose and eyes, and we practice with them — walking them and setting them up,” said Remmington Steinke, a fourth-year 4-H member.
It’s not just the large animals that require care. Even poultry projects demand plenty of setup and attention.
“There’s a lot of setting up to do,” said Trevor Crouse, in his second year of 4-H. “We have to get bedding, we put boxes, give them toys. All that is probably what takes the longest, and then just getting here and setting it all up.”
When it’s finally showtime, these 4-Hers are focused on everything they’ve been preparing for.
“This is what I’ve worked all summer for,” Sutherland said.
“I think of how the goat’s supposed to be set up,” Steinke said. “I make sure I am keeping an eye on the judge, knowing which side I’m supposed to be on.”
They say fair week is fun, but it’s the hard work and responsibility in the barn that helps them grow the most.
“Responsibility, caring, people skills, being social, and just being a better person overall,” Sutherland said. “You learn hard work and the meaning of that.”
You can stop by and check out the animals all week long at the Auglaize County Fair.
