Local students show off new skills at the Vinton County Junior Fair
By: Talia Milewich
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VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WOUB) — Judges make the rounds through the competitors examining each chicken closely and determining how the students’ months of hard work has paid off, in just a few minutes.
Hope Goodson held her two chickens down on the table as she waited her turn. She has been part of 4H for seven years and took on her third year of showing chickens at this year’s Vinton County Junior Fair, which opened Monday.
A large part of what makes this fair possible is the work put in by local students.
Kids who are part of organizations like FFA and 4H learn skills that help them grow while also working on projects year long to showcase that growth. “I used to be really really shy and I’ve definitely toned this down,” Goodson said.
She was one of over 300 students who took part in the fair. Some showed pigs, goats, rabbits and other animals and some helped out in other areas.
Some kids played a role in planning and leading the fair as part of the junior fair board and the queens court. Kaylee Thompson, the second attendant on the court, has been showing cattle for eight years and decided to participate in the queens court for the first time this year.
Her role entails passing out awards and taking pictures with the winners of each event. “We’re also there to be role models for all of the younger kids in 4H,” Thompson said.
No matter their role in the fair, everyone is there to show what they’ve learned and support their classmates, friends and family.
“Even though you’re competing against each other, you’re still all friends,” Goodson said. “You all go to school together and you’re there to help each other.”
Students begin working on their projects for the next fair as soon as the current fair ends. “So these kids work year round. All of our kids, they’re prepping for the next year whenever,” said Heath Ward, a fair board member.
Goodson’s friends encouraged and helped her get her start in showing livestock. “I was too scared to do it myself, like I had no clue how to take care of animals,” she said.
She grew up with egg chickens but hadn’t worked with many other animals until recent years. Goodson said everyone is always willing to help each other learn.
“If someone has a hurt bird, if someone’s chickens are out of water throughout the day, you just go through and say, ‘I’ll help,’” Goodson said.
The fair board steps back each year to let the kids show off all the hard work they’ve put in. “This is about the kids,” Ward said. “This is about them learning life skills, how to talk to people, how to do stuff.”