By William Meiners
Herald Staff Writer
[private] The Gratiot County Fair For Youth heated up both literally and figuratively on Kids Day last Thursday when with a $15 wristband riders could create a breeze on the Sizzler, the Himalaya, or the high-flying swings that cut through the humid air.
Away from the Maple Leaf Amusement rides, however, other kids tended to large animals in barns. Bethany Bowerman, a 14 year old from St. Louis, fed Sevi, her nine-year-old horse, just a day after the two competed in speed events. Not too far away, a cow name Steve tried to beat the heat with 16-year-old Brayden Bonga. The pair got second place in the market competition, the smiling young man from Stanton reported.
Thad Whitmore, an Ithaca 14-year-old, hosed off his cow just outside of a barn. “I’m getting ready for the showmanship sweepstakes,” said Whitmore, who earned a first place as an intermediate showman and also showed a grand champion cow.
In another barn, over the humming of fans, Brenna Perry, an Alma 17-year-old, kept company with Sunshine, her prize-winning dairy cow. It was Perry’s first year in the dairy competition.
The efforts of those four kids, and many more throughout the week, do not go unnoticed by the adults observing them.
“There are so many skills that the youth exhibiting at the fair are learning,” said Stacey Woggon, 4-H program coordinator at Michigan State University Extension. “Responsibility and self-discipline are two big ones. Those who raise animals have another living thing depending on them for their welfare, so they must make good use of their time and have a strong work ethic. During the judging process, youth develop their social and interview skills by explaining their projects to others.”
She also saw a lot of empathy and sportsmanship being developed. “Many of the older youth take on leadership roles in their clubs or mentor the younger kids and help coach them along,” said Woggon, a veteran of many county fairs, though this was her first in Gratiot County. “They learn to manage their emotions and take feedback to improve in the future.”
Another takeaway for Woggon was how tightknit the exhibitors and families are here. “The size allows everyone to get to know each other,” she said. “Even though the youth compete against each other, they are still supportive and helpful to one another.”
Woggon noted several examples of this, including “youth going around filling water buckets for their entire barn, parents running to grab tack for other kids, and exhibitors helping to set up for different classes.”
This particular community aspect of the fair is unsurprising to Erin Humm, a longtime attendee now in her second year of leading the efforts. “We could not function without the community support we receive,” she said.
Humm was particularly gratified by the patronage from the auction sales. “We had a terrific sale for our kids,” she said. “It’s incredible how much our community supports these kids.”
There’s little rest for the weary as Humm and the board of directors will soon meet to go over suggestions on how to improve the 2023 fair. “I have already started a list, which I kept all week long for next year,” said Humm. “I’ve also asked superintendents and other people to email me their suggestions.”
There’s no controlling the weather, but had the board cloned the opening Saturday and Sunday, the weather would have been perfect. Instead, they rolled with Monday and Wednesday rains, fortunate not to have “severe weather,” Humm said. The high heat that increased throughout the week didn’t seem to detour any crowds. Most campers had some air conditioning, and others could duck into places with circulating air or find some shade.
From her 4-H perspective, Woggon seemed also pleasantly surprised about the variety the fair offers. “So many of our 4-H kids have multiple animals,” she said. “I met youth showing five or six different species, in addition to the still exhibits they bring to the fair.”
The fair schedule is compatible with anyone looking to take advantage of the variety. “Events don’t overlap like at some other fairs,” said Woggon.
After a busy week, with paperwork looming for Humm and countless competitors perhaps just looking for someplace cool to swim, the week can be seen as both hard work and fun. Maybe not a bad way to go through life.
“In 4-H, we see the fair as a culmination of members’ efforts over the past year,” Woggon said. “It is a great way for our youth to showcase what they have been working on and learning in their clubs. We are very grateful to the fair board, supporters, and visitors for allowing the youth the opportunity to exhibit their projects in this way. Fair becomes the highlight of the summer for many of our kids and is something they look forward to year after year.”
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