The annual county fair is something that kids look forward to throughout the summer, especially kids that show animals like pigs, sheep, and rabbits at these fairs. To most kids these animals are more than just an animal, they are pets and friends. The joys and lessons that come from raising animals shapes these kids and who they are.
Though winning can be a reward when competing, senior Sam Stuczynski, who has shown pigs for nine years, said his favorite part, “…is the process. Getting to watch your project grow and mature each day and hopefully win shows, is very rewarding.”
Another senior, Noah Spoelstra, whose had sheep since he was seven years old and started showing in third grade, said, “I enjoy seeing how the animals progress as they grow. They also become your friend, so the project becomes quite enjoyable throughout the entire summer.” He enjoys the relationships he develops with his animals. Those relationships are often built over a short period of time, sometimes only a few months, but can still get super strong, making it very hard to let your animals go when it is time for them to be sold.
Senior Claire Lewallen, who has shown rabbits since she was eight, credits persistence to success: “Over the years you learn and you fail but you never give up and that’s why I have become so successful in showing rabbits. What I enjoy the most is teaching people about this hobby.” Claire brought up how she’s learned and failed but never given up, lessons that come along with raising and showing animals.
Raising and showing animals demands responsibility. Amara Beaudoin, a senior who has shown many animals from rabbits to pigs, said, “It has taught me responsibility and accountability. Raising these animals has held me accountable in maintaining a consistent schedule for them. These animals are also a huge responsibility especially if you would like to do good at the fair, so feeding, watering, walking, and cleaning your animals is crucial.”
Stuczynski agrees and adds that the life lessons for such work are many: “Your animals depend on you to survive so I will do anything it takes to ensure the best life for my pigs and I feel that lesson will take me places in the future.” Just because responsibility is the only lesson talked about there are so many others learned along the way.
These local students learned many things by raising and showing animals; they learned lessons that they will take with them for the rest of their lives.
Author’s Note
Growing up on a hobby farm, I’ve always been around animals and once I got into 4-H and realised I could show animals, I immediately got involved. I first got into showing poultry when I was eight years old. Now, nine years later, I haven’t missed a year, and recently, even started traveling throughout the Midwest to show my ducks. I do everything myself from nurturing breeding pairs and trios to incubating every egg then letting every duckling grow out so I can tell if I want to sell it or keep it. My favorite part is how the process leads to the reward. I’m thankful enough to have had quite a bit of success in showing my ducks that I understand how much work really goes into every step. My parents aren’t actually too involved with my project which I am both proud to say and happy about as I am very particular with how things work and very specific with how things go. The most I need from my parents is to do things when I’m gone and that includes my dad taking care of my birds if I’m not home and my mom helping to turn eggs.
