Creatures – great and small – get prepped for show ring

Posted 21 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Sue Cook – Antonio Farruggia washes Lady for showing by wetting her down and then scrubbing her with a brush.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

KNOWLESVILLE – Judging at the 4-H Fair is already under way and most animals are already prepared for the week ahead.

Marilyn Munzert warms up Wild Rose Bizarre. Behind her Riley Seielstad rides Edna. Munzert is a 4-H leader for the Bits and Pieces Club.

Wild Rose Bizarre needed to be acclimated to the fair situation. Munzert explained that horses are fight-or-flight animals, but often choose flight. The movements of the people in the judging booth and the fairgrounds were startling the horse. After a little while, Wild Rose Bizarre was able to stand right next to the judging booth without getting upset.

“You can’t simulate a fair situation without going to the actual fair,” Munzert explained.

These baby rabbits belonging to 4-H Leader Barb Kurzowski cuddle up for a nap while their mother sneaks away for a bite to eat.

The white goats, Princess and Bella, stood and shouted to American Honey, the dark brown goat laying down, until she stood up and talked back to them. The goats were brought by Natalie Mrzywka of Nic-Nat Farms for the Busy Bees Club.

Emily Fearby’s hens got to be neighbors and shared a conversation with each other.

Penny gets a good brushing from Jamie Scheiber, a member of the Wrangler 4-H club. Penny and the other Wrangler llamas will participate in an obstacle course event, a pack class and general showing.

Leader Kristin Flint brought three kids with five llamas. The llamas belong to her and the kids in her club meet regularly to care for the animals and help train them. Flint says that she personally uses the llamas on hikes to hold packs. This helps offer additional training for the pack class event.

Flint also explained that spitting isn’t as common as people think. “Llamas spit at each other for dominance,” she said. Llamas can be taught that spitting at humans doesn’t work the same way.

Trevor Bentley brushes Tanto in the cow barn. Tanto is a male that will be used for showing all week and then is being sold in Saturday’s meat auction.

Owen Shaw holds his black mini rex rabbit after clipping its nails.