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Make it hop

Hamilton County Fair offers showcase for furred, feathered and faithful companions

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Emma Bailey, 18, a member of the Boone Boosters 4-H Club, prepares Sylvester for his appearance in the Costume Class at the Hamilton County Fair Rabbit Show. Sylvester was dressed as a presidential candidate who promises to Make America Hop Again.

WEBSTER CITY — The field for the presidential nomination got a bit wider, furrier and cuter Wednesday as Sylvester, a Holland Hop rabbit belonging to Emma Bailey, 18, with the Boone Boosters 4-H Club, tossed his hat in the ring.

Sylvester made the announcement during the Costume Class at the Rabbit Show.

Sylvester didn’t speak, but instead announced his agenda with a hat that had “MAHA” written on it.

“It means Make America Hop Again,” Bailey said.

While the rest of his agenda remains a mystery, an anonymous source revealed that it involves carrots and outwitting a stuttering pig that chases rabbits with an old double barrel shotgun.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Malaise Runyan, 17, a member of the Cass Red Cardinals 4-H Club, poses with her Reserve Champion Bantam Partridge Wyandotte chicken Wednesday afternoon at the Hamilton County Fair.

It’s Bailey’s last year in 4-H.

“I’m sad,” she said. “This is my favorite week. It’s good though, I get to pass what I’ve learned onto the younger ones.”

Malaise Runyan, 17, a member of the Cass Red Cardinals 4-H Club, won the Reserve Champion banner with her Bantam Partridge Wyandotte chicken.

Like the famous horse in the desert, her chicken has no name.

Getting no name ready for the fair requires some work.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Braden Doering, 13, of Webster City, enjoys a rest in his friend’s hammock Wednesday at the Hamilton County Fair.

“I bathe it, make sure its beak and toes are clipped, put baby oil on the comb and wipe down the feathers,” she said. “That gives them a nice sheen.”

Her sister, Marley Runyan, 11, also had birds at the fair.

Combined, they had 16 birds to get ready.

“We gave them a bath before the fair,” Malaise Runyan said. “Last night we trimmed them and today we shined them up.”

It’s basically a day spa for the birds, she said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Rosemary Chamness, 10, of Blairsburg, a member of the WHH 4-H Club, puts a small saddle on her rabbit Pearl in the Costume Class at the Hamilton County Fair Rabbit Show Wednesday.

They get some help from their mom, Kathy Runyan.

The children each get fresh water for their baths and so do the birds, well, most of them.

“We renew it,” Kathy Runyan said. “Some some do get dirty water.”

Sara Sparks, of Alden, was at the fair with her children, Jillian Sparks, 8 and Nate Sparks, 10. She’s a Cloverbud, he’s a member of the Lyon Kings 4-H Club.

The children were busy bathing kids.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Chief, a kid being shown by Nate Sparks, of Alden, a member of the Lyon Kings 4-H Club, eyes the brush and soap suspiciously Wednesday at the Hamilton County Fair. Yes, the soap does have a purple tint to it.

Super Goat for Jillian and Chief for Nate.

“This is our first year beyond bottle calves and goats,” Sara Sparks said.

She said she tries to let her children do as much of the work — and learning –on their own.

“We try to let them do as much as they can,” she said.

Some of that is making sure it does get done.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Super Goat, a kid being shown by her human, Jillian Sparks, 8, of Alden, at the Hamilton County Fair, makes sure the water gets to just the right spot Wednesday.

“I help them get up out of bed, get them out the door, make sure they work the goats, chickens and calves,” she said.

Sarah Godfredsen, of Webster City, found a place to watch the Horse Show Wednesday: the deck of a lawn mower on machinery row. She opted for the foot deck instead of the seat.

“I’m comfortable enough sitting here,” she said. “I get up a lot to help my brother in the show.”

Avery Teague, 11, of Webster City, a member of the Cass Red Cardinals 4-H Club, was ready for the horse show with her faithful steed, Frosty.

Her last minute preparation included studying the pattern she would ride on a piece of paper handed out just before her turn and staying calm.

“You just gotta chill and it’ll be okay,” she said.

Nerves are not something she wants Frosty to pick up on.

“It can sense when you’re stressed, it gets kind of crazy,” she said.

Braden Doering, 13, of Webster City, stayed relaxed and comfortable in the poultry barn in a hammock suspended from two support beams.

His review?

“Two thumbs up,” he said.

While he was just relaxing a bit, he didn’t think that if he wanted to take a nap, the clucking, crowing and other noises from the nearby birds would prevent it.

“I can sleep through that,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Avery Teague, 11, of Webster City, a member of the Cass Red Cardinals 4-H Club, studies the pattern she will be riding in the arena Wednesday at the Hamilton County Fair as her horse, Frosty, waits patiently to show their stuff.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
One of the goats being shown at the Hamilton County Fair checks out the view through the window in the Goat and Sheep Barn Wednesday afternoon.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Sarah Godfredsen, of Webster City, found a spot on a lawn mower to watch the horse show Wednesday at the Hamilton County Fair.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
A group of people inside the goat and sheep barn at the Hamilton County Fair become silhouettes against the bright light outside Wednesday.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Jillian Sparks, 8, of Alden, enjoys a little sunshine with her goat, Super Goat, at the Hamilton County Fair, after giving her a bath Wednesday.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The judges in the various flower classes at the Hamilton County Fair look over some of the entries Wednesday as a group of entrants watch them work.

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