Sunnyside Up

By Nicole Rogers

The Clark County Fair saw “fair” weather last week. On Saturday the cool temperatures were a real treat compared to the many hot and sticky days of the past I have spent perusing the livestock barns and exhibit buildings. The fairgrounds have really evolved over the years, especially from when I attended as a member of the Parks Happy 13 4-H Club. Back in the olden days, the kids who showed animals, those who had to take care of the barns, were given the option of staying in a dormitory. Wow, what fun! I never stayed there but some of my farm friends did, and they sure had a blast. I did not grow up on a farm but was always farm-adjacent. We lived in town, but we were just two doors down from a dairy farm. I reaped the benefit of being near a farm but didn’t have to do farm chores like my farm friends did. There were no early morning wake up calls to milk the cows or feed the calves or clean the barn like I heard tell from other farm kids. I even heard stories of being awakened with a cold bucket of water in the face which, I think, came later during the rebellious teenage years. But I did have the unique privilege of being able to play in a pasture, slide down mounds of straw, climb hay bales, and enjoy the sweet country life without the blood, sweat, tears, or icy awakenings.

Alaina and Rosco on an early morning training session.

Through 4-H, my sister and I became good friends with the Fritz family who lived north of Owen. We spent countless days and numerous sleepovers at the Fritz farm and learned a lot about farm life and how much work it involved. Again, I was farm-adjacent so again I had all the fun and no backache. Later in life, I did get a healthy dose of farm life and was happy to be able to raise three daughters on a small dairy farm.

Our daughters were also in 4-H, the Woodgrove Workers; they did not show animals but showed nearly everything else, it seemed, from musical recordings, drawings, crocheting, ceramics, painting, sewing, cooking, flowers… we always unloaded a car full of projects. I am impressed with both the children and their parents of those who bring animals to the fair. It is not a drop-off-on-Wednesday and pick-up-on-Sunday project; it is driving every day, some days twice a day or more to take care of the animals. I was talking to one parent who said it’s an hour drive one way of which they must get chores at home done before and after the fair day. This shows great dedication as a parent. I spoke with another farm parent who expressed how proud she was of her son as he placed very well with his dairy calf. He beamed with pride as his mom spoke about his prize-winning animal and told him “See, taking that extra care and work each day paid off, see you got that purple ribbon.” 

The Owen-Withee FFA and Woodgrove Workers 4-H had a fine showing this year at the fair and should be very proud of their work. 4-H dad Jeremy Goessl said that all of the Woodgrove Workers dairy showmen made it in for the supreme showman. What an awesome learning and growing experience for these kids! How rewarding it must be to raise a calf, goat, sheep, rabbit, or chicken… feed it, clean up after it, interact with it, teach it, connect with it and then show it. Even if the child doesn’t earn a blue ribbon, walking into the show ring with their animal has to be a reward in itself.

I love to walk the livestock barns and see the kids caring for their animals. Often, I will see a girl or boy snuggled up with a calf or a friendly cow. I bet those moments will be ever-present and, hopefully, bring those young showmen and showwomen happy thoughts and confidence in their abilities and as they grow, help them to become happy and responsible adults. 

This week I have included a picture of Alaina Goessl taking an early morning walk with her pig. The time she spent with her show pig paid off at the fair as she earned high marks. The picture really speaks for itself, thank you Jeremy for sharing this with our readers.

Have a sunny week!