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There’s plenty of time to enjoy the Humboldt County Fair

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Tyson Crahan, 11, from Livermore and a member of the Livermore Bulldogs 4-H Club, brushes his rabbit named Zarah in preparation for the upcoming rabbit show at the Humboldt County Fair.

HUMBOLDT — While some events were cancelled, others were still a go this week at the Humboldt County Fair.

4-H and FFA youth were given the opportunity to show their livestock and static exhibits, despite the recent cancellation, earlier this month, of all of the grandstand entertainment.

The Humboldt County Fairgrounds was a busy place on Thursday morning with the goat, sheep and poultry shows plus the check and weigh-ins of swine.

“All of the animals are now in place,” said Kiersten Beilke, Humboldt County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s county youth coordinator.

Beilke said the static exhibits were judged on Tuesday. Wednesday was the horse show with Thursday goat, sheep and poultry shows being held.

The remainder of the week will include the beef and rabbit shows today, with the conclusion of the livestock shows on Saturday showcasing the swine and pets, giving anyone that still wants to come out to support the Humboldt County youth a chance to do so.

Beilke said if people are interested in watching the livestock shows, but aren’t comfortable coming to the fairgrounds, they can watch them live on the Humboldt County Fair’s YouTube page as well as the county’s Facebook page.

According to Beilke, the number of exhibitors was down this year. Most likely the culprit being the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other than lower numbers, Beilke said the fair was off to a good start.

“Everything is going good so far,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Scott Bormann, 13, from St. Joseph, walks his calf T-Bone, a second year bucket calf, in preparation for the beef show on Friday.

Shawna Newman, of Livermore, the leader of the Livermore Bulldogs 4-H Club, has had a busy week not only as a 4-H leader, but following her four children: Anthony Stalpes, Makayla Stalpes, Dylan Stalpes and Tyson Crahan with their horses, cows, rabbits and static projects.

Newman said they decided to go ahead and work to be ready for the fair — although they knew there was a chance all of that work may have been for nothing.

“We already had all of our livestock, so we continued to work with the horses and cows to get them ready because we didn’t want them to be unprepared,” she said. “When they decided they were going to have the fair, the kids were all pretty excited.”

All things considered, Newman was pleased with the people attending the fair.

“It seems to be a pretty big turnout,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Ava Newton walks one of her three pigs she raised from a litter born on her family’s farm. Newton had just arrived at the Humboldt County Fair with her pigs on Thursday for the swine show planned for Saturday.

The Humboldt County Fair is an annual event for Newman and her family.

“The kids have been showing for five years now,” she said. “We come every single year and we look forward to it. I take the entire week off of work just because they have so many different things they have to be at every day.”

Inside the beef barn, Scott Bormann, 13, of St. Joseph, was walking his calf, T-Bone, after getting him all cleaned up in the wash bay.

T-Bone is Bormann’s second year bucket calf. Bormann said he enjoys his time with his calf.

“It’s a nice calf and showing him is a fun thing to do,” he said. “I’ve been working with him a lot.”

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Nataley Frerk, 12, of Pocahontas, gets ready to show goats named Dummy and Mocha, which belong to Graclyn Eastman, 11, of Rolfe.

Bormann, like other 4-H and FFA youth, said he was excited to have the opportunity be able to show.

“I am glad they are having the fair. I am glad to be out and about, seeing the fair and all of the cattle,” he said.

Ava Newton, 13, of Gilmore City, had just arrived with her family and their pigs — three of them were hers she will be showing Saturday at the fair.

Newton said she has raised the pigs since birth — something she prefers versus buying pigs when they are older.

“It’s more hands on, you do more with them, you get to raise them through every step,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Shelby Bowden, 7, of Humboldt, shows Brody Froth, also 7, of Humboldt, her bucket calf, Grace during the Humboldt County Fair on Thursday.

Newton said she entrusted her dad, Jay Newton, and brother, Owen Newton, to help her choose the pigs from the Newton family litters to bring to the fair.

“They did alright,” she said.

In her fifth year of showing pigs at the Humboldt County Fair, Newton said it is something she looks forward to every year.

“This is something fun to do and it’s fun to be able to raise your own livestock,” she said.

Graclyn Eastman, 11, of Rolfe, recruited her friend, Nataley Frerk, 12, of Pocahontas, to help her show her goats at the Humboldt County Fair this year.

Frerk was helping to show Eastman goats Dummy and Mocha. Frerk isn’t new to the show ring, but is new to showing goats.

“I wanted to give it a try,” she said. “They’ve always caught my eye and they’re cute.”

In addition to the 4-H and FFA livestock shows, the 4-H food stand which is being ran by the Caribbean Coffeehouse will serve food from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. There are also concessions selling everyone’s favorite fair foods: funnel cakes, corn dogs, fried Snickers and more. Face painting is also available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Katelyn Coleman, 6, of Humboldt, and Isla McIntire, 6, of Humboldt, reach up to pet a horse while they were visiting the Humboldt County Fair on Thursday.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Kiersten Beilke is the Humboldt County Iowa State University and Extension and Outreach County youth coordinator.

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