Fair starts with lots of chores

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – The 4-H’ers have arrived at the fairgrounds in Knowlesville with a menagerie of animals: horses, rabbits, cows, poultry, pigs, goats and many other creatures.

It’s not all fun and games. This morning the animals had their cages and stalls cleaned, while bigger livestock were washed.

In the top photo, Faith Woody, 11, of Albion dumps dirty sawdust from her horse’s stall. Faith will be competing in some of the horse shows this week. “I’m happy it’s fair week because I get to hang out with my friends.”

Jenny McKenna, 19, of Barre cleans a dairy animal this morning, giving Jack Cecchini, 8, and his sister Jenna, 3, of Medina some tips. This is Jenny’s last time showing at 4-H and Jack’s debut. “It’s bittersweet, being my last year,” Jenny said. “Being able to teach them the ropes makes it fun and worthwhile.”

Amelia Sidonio, 12, of Holley cleans out a cage for one of the three rabbits she is showing at the fair this week.

Kaitlin Zwifka, 14, of Albion cleans Sundance’s stall, one of two horses she will be riding at the fair. She will be competing four days this week.

Janie Schutz, 18, of Waterport blow dries a heifer, one of three she and her sister Rylie Lear, 14, brought to the fair. They also brought a calf. The sisters slept on hay bales in the barn last night.