This past week was filled with the sights and sounds of the Barton County Fair.

For 4-H members, this is an opportunity to showcase the project learning they have been engaged in all year! There were exhibits on beautiful woodworking, carefully constructed outfits, cakes and pies and cookies – Oh My!

It is also an opportunity for youth to share fun, laughter, and some commiseration with one another. Some of my favorite moments include youth preparing for Round Robin. To qualify for the Round Robin competition, you must be selected as the top showman or woman in your age division and species. They then show all of the animals within their Round Robin division. For our large animal, youth take turns showing a sheep, meat goat, horse, beef, and pig. For our small animal, youth take turns showing a dairy goat, dog, rabbit, chicken, and bucket calf. You may be really good at showing your rabbit but that doesn’t mean you have any idea what to do with the bucket calf. Knowing that they will compete against one another, youth will volunteer to show someone how to show their animal to help everyone do their best!

During the Beef Show on Friday the judge remarked on one of the older 4-H members who was assisting young members in the ring and how impressed he was with that steady assistance. The Horse Show judge on Saturday commented on how impressed she was with the camaraderie and help from horse team members and their families throughout the event. They cheered one another on and sometimes, cheered one another up! 

Another of my favorite moments happened as I walked through the barn. Two young men were playing a game of corn hole; one is 15 and the other is 10. They were chatting away as they enjoyed some downtime and I hope that they both remember that afternoon as a fun time with a friend.

There are also some tears. Sometimes the heat and schedule get the best of us, and we just need to have a moment, know that people still support us, and move forward. What wonderful life skills we can teach in those moments!

Putting together an event of this size takes incredible teamwork from the Barton County Fair Association and Cottonwood Extension to the massive number of volunteers to write comments, and set up pens, and tables, and chairs, and display cases, and flags ... and the list goes on and on. I am so proud to be a partner in this crazy week we call FAIR!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent for the Cottonwood District, Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.