Fair is almost here!

KateLynn Slaamot 
NLJ Correspondent
 
The Weston County Fair has been an annual event for many years, providing not only entertainment, but also an educational experience, time with friends and a chance to show off projects that local 4-H’ers have poured their energy and time into. 
One such 4-H’er is gearing up for her fourth year at the fair. Allie Auch is going to begin her junior year at Newcastle High School this fall, and her projects include showing a Black Angus steer and Hampshire-crossed pig and entering four photos for the photography contest. 
Auch decided to participate in fair because she lives on a ranch, she said, so the agricultural experience seemed to fit with her lifestyle. Auch also said that she enjoys growing and learning. 
“I just enjoy the challenge and the learning experience,” she said. 
“We raised him on the family ranch,” Auch said of her steer, Billy. She bought him from her family’s ranch and has been working with him for a while. Auch said that showing animals is something that is learned, including how to take care of the animals. 
Showing steers requires halter breaking them, Auch said. When showing her steer to the judges, Auch said, she has to have her steer stand different ways, position his feet correctly and practice other showmanship techniques. 
“I just love animals,” Auch said. 
Her pig’s name is Princess, and Auch said that showing pigs consists of trying to show the animal to the judge as much as possible – what it looks like, how the animal moves, etc. Both animals require quite a bit of time to work with, she said. 
Auch’s photography entries this year consist of two portrait photos and two landscape ones, she said. She takes a variety of pictures throughout the year so that once fair comes around, she has an assortment to choose from. Entering photography is pretty straightforward, according to Auch. The judges ask questions about the photo and about the type of camera used, as well as giving photography pointers. 
“It’s just one of my passions,” Auch said. “It’s just a good way for me to relax and do something fun.” 
Auch said that she believes fair is a “good learning experience” and allows kids to learn how to prepare and show things that they are interested in and experience things they don’t have knowledge about. It also educates students about the agricultural field and promotes “healthy competition.” 
However, not everyone showing off their projects at fair this year is a veteran like Auch. Nine-year-old Ethan Parsons is heading into his first year as a 4-H’er in the junior age division. 
Parsons is showing a chocolate mini Rex rabbit at fair this year, the first one he’s shown since aging out of the Tumbleweed age division. 
“I really enjoy working with rabbits,” Parsons said. “It just makes me happy when I have rabbits.” His rabbit is a very kind-hearted and tame animal – a joy to work with, he said. 
One of the important things in rabbit showing is to keep the animal calm, Parsons said. It’s important to know the breed and class of your animals, among other things, he said. 
Parson’s other project is a barn quilt that he painted. Parsons first drew the design on paper so he could use it as reference. It’s a complex design, he said. The painting process has required a lot of painting, taping and using a ruler to get the lines straight, according to Parsons. His colors are brown, yellow and white, and it also has a bucking horse on it. 
“It’s really looking good,” Parsons said. 
When asked what he likes about fair, Parsons said that he enjoys all the learning opportunities it presents. It teaches kids how to show animals and how to prepare for and execute projects by oneself, instead of relying on parents to do it, according to Parsons. 
Both Auch and Parsons noted people who have encouraged them along. Auch said that her parents have been a help to her, as well as photographers Kendra Paulton and Emily Hartinger, among other people. Parsons credited his parents and Brittany Hamilton, the local Extension educator, with helping him along the way. 
“I would like to get one ribbon on one of my projects,” Parsons said. He has worked hard on his projects, and he said that receiving a ribbon is a goal he has for fair this year. 
Auch’s goal is to show her family, FFA adviser and the community how much she’s grown over the years in her skills and projects. 
Auch and Parsons say they are ready and excited to see the community at fair this year and show them what they can do.