PETOSKEY — The 119th Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair carried on under sunny skies on Wednesday, Aug. 20, with vendors, carnival rides, the grandstands and animals all welcoming people into the fairgrounds.
Among the day’s activities were different animal shows, where 4-H students got to show off some of their work.
Elle Orlarey, 12, from Boyne Falls, has been a part of 4-H for many years. She said 4-H has taught her responsibility and has made it easier for her to talk to people — an important skill when talking with buyers and making friends, too.
“It means a lot to even be able to show in an organization like this because it’s really nice,” she said.
During this year’s fair, Orlarey showed swine, lambs, rabbits and cattle.
“I like 4-H because not only do you get to win cool prizes and participate in shows that make you a better showman overall, but it’s about friendships,” she said. “I like being here because it feels like some sort of comfort — having a bunch of friends you can hang out with.”
The county fair is the finish line for 4-H kids, where they are able showcase the hard work they have put into their animals and projects over the past several months.
There are different options for children in 4-H to participate in, including husbandry, showmanship and market. When animals are presented for market, the animals are judged. When kids are doing showmanship, they are judged on their confidence and how they interact with the animal they’re showing.
Marlee Giem, 8, from Boyne Falls, was working a two-hour barn duty shift on Wednesday at the fair. While carrying around the aptly-named chicken named “Feather Feet” — because it has feathers on its feet — she helped answer questions for guests, kept the barn clean and allowed people to pet the animals.
Giem, in her second year of 4-H, said that last year she showed rabbits and chickens. This year, she’s showing a pig and meat chickens.
She added that her favorite part of 4-H is showing the animals and learning new things.
Victoria Fruk, 11, from Charlevoix, said she joined 4-H because her friend was in the program and she loves animals. While she walked around the barn on Wednesday, she showed off different animals, including her friend’s rabbit and her own Champion rabbit, Casper.
Fruk, in her second year of 4-H, said she showed pigs and rabbits last year. This year, she has added ducks to her list as well.
“Learning about all the animals and how to show them,” is Fruk’s favorite part of 4-H, she said.
— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @KarlyGrahamJrn.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 4-H students learn responsibility and confidence at Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair
Reporting by Karly Graham, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
