By 5 p.m. Friday evening it was evident that the Lyon County Free Fair was well underway as a long line of vehicles towing trailers full of animals snaked down the middle of the Lyon County Fairgrounds and into the road. The vehicles were taking their place in line for the vet check-in for sheep and goats.
Barry Kelley, meat goat coordinator, said when the animals come into the fairgrounds they are checked for signs of illness and disease so there isn’t an outbreak at the fairgrounds.
“We don’t want the kids taking stuff home to the rest of their animals,” Kelley said.
The animals’ tags also were being checked to make sure that everybody arrives and arrives with their own animal.
“We make sure they’re in the right class, et cetera,” Kelley said.
Barry Kelley’s daughter, Stephanie Kelley, 15, was nearby and waiting for her animal to be checked in by El Dorado Veterinarian Davy Harkins. She had a meat goat waiting to be checked so she could take it to a pen. Kelley has been in 4-H since she was about 8 years old, she said. Kelley said her first year in 4-H she raised bucket calves but then the family switched to meat goats. Kelley said her family actually founded the meat goat class in Lyon County.
“It’s a little easier than pigs because you don’t have to water them down every day,” Kelley said. “And they’re a lot easier to handle, especially for kids. It’s why a lot of kids got into it.”
Kelley, who is a 4-H Ambassador, said 4-H is an important part of her and many other kids’ lives.
“It teaches you about responsibility,” she said. “It gives you character.”
Tucker Lee, 10, was nearby sitting on the wheel well of a trailer that was carrying his three lambs. This is Tucker’s fourth year in 4-H. To get ready for the fair, Tucker said he worked with his lambs each evening and sheared them.
“It’s nice to do stuff with the animals,” Tucker said. “It’s just fun.”
While the sheep and goats were getting checked and cleared into the fairgrounds the rabbits and poultry were being put in place. Chelsie Youngblood, 9, was standing next to her four rabbits she entered in the fair. This is Chelsie’s second year in 4-H. Her grandfather, Billie Drowning got her started with 4-H, she said.
Chelsie said the amount of work needed to care for a rabbit depends on the breed.
“The lionhead and angora (rabbits) have to have stuff to cool them down because they have so much hair,” she said.
Rabbits aren’t the only thing Chelsie has in this year’s fair. She also has entries in bucket calf, dog and goat. She also will participate in the rodeo. Bucket calves are Chelsie’s favorite, she said.
“Just because they get so big and you can ride them and stuff,” she said, with a smile. “And you can practice for the rodeo.”
Wasp (anonymous) says...
With all the vets in emporia, why did we have to get one to come up all the way from El Dorado to check the animals in?
July 28, 2007 at 10:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
canchaser_412 (anonymous) says...
so they can't say that one vet played favorites, so they get a vet from out of town
July 30, 2007 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
47hclwym (anonymous) says...
Sorry to be picky but that is not a goat in the picture.
July 30, 2007 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )