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Last updated on Friday, July 20, 2018
(LAWRENCE COUNTY) - The Lawrence County Fair may be filled with livestock shows, projects and food, but truly, it’s all about the youth of Lawrence County.
Cassidy Clements entered her goat, Chigger, in the the Boer Doe Goat Show that took place on Monday.
"This one is Chigger, he's mine and this one is Skeeter, he's my sister's. We're going to sell them in the auction on Saturday," said Cassidy as she went through her herd of goats.
Chigger won 1st Place in his weight class and almost took Supreme Wether according to Cassidy.
"He got first place because of this muscle, bone and meat," she added.
Right: Cassidy Clements and Chigger
"I worked with him for about ten minutes every day for the month before the fair so we didn't over work them. We put their leads on them and set them up so they showed off their best muscle,"
Rose, one of Cassidy's Boer Goats, took Grand Champion Reserve for her weight class in the Doe Goat Show.
Cassidy said her favorite part of 4-H would be the animals and showing because she likes competition.
In the same barn, Jade Inman and Logan Phillips both entered goats into the Lawrence County Dairy and Pygmy Goat Shows, too.
Jade's goat is named Peanut and she has worked with the animal for one year. Jade says she likes her because she's the friendliest.
Left: Jade Inman and Peanut
Logan's goat is named Zada's Zen and is an American Alpine. He likes her because she's black.
Both Jade and Logan took home many Grand Champion and Grand Champion Reserve titles.
Sandra Thorp and Lee Phillips are the leaders of the Lawrence County 4-H Goat Club.
"It's very important for the kids. That's my daughter, that's his brother," Sandra said pointing to Jade and Logan.
"This is college. That looks good on their college application. Jobs, camaraderie, teamwork and it's not just about these guys, its all these 4-H kids. They all work together. There's two kids right here from the cattle barn, there's one from the sheep barn, they'll come over and help with goats. They'll clean pins and give them water. The goat people will help over there," said Sandra.
"It's good team building. They're good kids."
Left: Logan Phillips and Zada's Zen
Next door to the Goat barn is the Rabbit and Poultry Barn where you will find 4-H Rabbit Club Leaders Todd and Holly Nisley. The couple starting breeding rabbits about 5 years ago and never would have dreamed that this is where they would be today.
This is the first year they are 4-H Leaders.
"We approached it as a species of animal that is very accessible for lots of different types of families to be a part of. You don't need 5 acres, you don't need a huge feed bill. It can be taken care of in a relatively small space," Todd said.
Todd and Holly teach their 4-H members to raise their rabbits by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) guidelines, bring speakers to club meetings for the kids and put the kids first.
"We've appreciated being accepted. We'll keep it low key if we can do it right and take care of the kids. I'm willing to step away from the competitive side of things, because that's not what its about," Todd said.
The Lawrence County Fair will soon come to a close, but club members will be thinking towards their shows and projects for next year's fair.
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