At the 153rd Oceana County Fair, stakes were high as 4-H-ers of all ages displayed their large market animals in late August. These youth have worked year-round to raise an animal worthy of showing. Choosing an animal to raise can be tough, especially with such a variety to pick from. For example, steers require a large time commitment, but sometimes that can be the most rewarding animal to show.
Starting a steer project takes a little more time; most steers have to be bought almost a year in advance. However, Cole Slotman, a freshman who shows steers at the fair, explains the benefits of choosing steers as a market animal: “I like getting to know my steer’s personality and being able to work with them for longer periods of time.
Another very loved category of large market would be the swine. Swines require less maintenance but can be just as enjoyable! Swine are usually bought between the months of March and April, and in the short time period between then and August, these animals will gain about 200 pounds. Their IQ is what often makes them stand out at Fair, as they have almost the same level of intelligence as a dog.
Last but not least, of the large market animals are the lambs. These delicate creatures are very smart animals and are one of the most difficult to show. Despite the challenge, Junior Kenai Kokx, who shows a lamb, said, “My favorite part of the fair is Show because I get to display my skill set and it is very precise.”
There are three big days at the fair for those students involved in 4H. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the youth show their animals in categories: showmanship and market. Market is determined by how the animals look overall; The muscle distribution, walking, and other structures will determine what weight class and what place the youth sell in. Showmanship focuses solely on how the youth interact with their animal; Positioning of the animal, eye contact, and maintaining stature will determine how the awards are handed out. The other big day, the most awaited day, is Thursday - the Auction. People fill the grandstands, and local businesses open their wallets hoping to buy those good-looking animals, making all of the hard work worth it.
Over 25 Hart High School students were involved in 4-H projects this year, and many look forward to the years to come. If you are interested in taking on your own project, reach out to the Hart MSU extension office to get started on your 4-H journey!
