Swentesky twins prepare for fair

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
 
It’s that time of year again when the local youth get to showcase the projects they’ve been working on at the annual Weston County Fair, July 23 through Aug. 1, and twins Hollie and Christine Swentesky are entering a vast array of projects throughout the summer. 
The nearly 13-year-olds have been participating in the fair for three years, and they’re ready to come back this year with their animals, art projects and baked goods. Both girls also signed up for the open class horse show, and Christine will be showing her horse Peggy Sue for the first time at the 4-H horse show. 
“I just like riding my horse and doing stuff with her,” Christine said. 
The Swenteskys will be showing four pigs at the fair. Hollie said that showmanship is her favorite part about the fair because she can show off her animals and how much progress they’ve made. Christine’s favorite part is washing the pigs because she and her friends turn this chore into a fun activity. 
“Everybody helps you, and you basically end up in a huge water fight,” Christine said. 
Her pigs are named Crispy Bacon and Elvis Pigsley, and Hollie named one of her pigs Boris, but the other one remains unnamed. 
“I’m still trying to decide on a name,” she said. 
For the first time this year, the girls are entering their cat into the cat show because of the fun categories the show presents, including such categories as cat with the longest tail, a cat costume show, and fattest cat, “which is why Hollie wants to do it,” according to her mom, Rebecca Swentesky. 
“They’re both excited about the cat show,” Rebecca said. 
The girls are also entering their ceramic and wood-burning projects, as well as some baked goods, although they are still deciding what they want to bake. Hollie is also entering some of her photography.
“I just did it, and it’s fun,” she said about her crafts. 
Rebecca said she participated in similar activities when she was a kid, so she wanted her daughters to have the same experience. 
“I did 4-H and FFA when I was a kid. It’s just such a wonderful program (that) I wanted them to participate,” she said. 
To check out the animals that the Swenteskys and other kids in the community have been raising or the static exhibits they’ve entered, stop by the fairgrounds for a fun-filled week.