Willing Workers 4-H club members arrange photos Tuesday for entry in the Rock County Fair under the Club Community Service Display.
By Jolene Farley
It's fair week, and the rush is on for 4-H club members to prepare projects and animals at the Rock County Fair.
This week is "crunch time" as 4-H'ers term it. Willing Workers club members in Beaver Creek have worked on various projects all week.
"All of a sudden you remember it's fair time," said club member Lindsy Sells, Beaver Creek.
Club leader Jill Willers said the amount of sleep you get during fair week depends on how projects progress.
"We take it one thing at a time," she said. "Pre-fair entry day or judging day you are trying to finish up five projects at once."
Monday was entry day for fair projects. Tuesday most club members prepared perishables such as baked goods or produce or worked with their livestock. Wednesday was entry day for livestock and perishables.
Tuesday's schedule for the Willing Workers included designing a Club Community Service Display for judging on Wednesday. Club members decided on pictures of community service projects completed during the year and decorated a display board.
Also on Tuesday, club members decided on what 4-H banner to enter in the fair. This was an easy year, as clubs were asked to enter banners from past years to commemorate 100 years of 4-H in Minnesota.
If time allowed, the Willing Workers planned to make a scarecrow for display at the fairgrounds.
Now that the fair is in full swing, kids with livestock show and care for their animals.
Every 4-H family is asked to work in the food stand and some work at the Pop Stop. Proceeds from the Pop Stop fund the 4-H Youth Exchange to other states.
The herdsmanship honors in poultry, rabbits, sheep, horse, beef, dairy or swine are awarded on Saturday for the club that demonstrates the most consistent care of their animals.
The anonymous judges look for animals that are watered, with nothing tipped over in the animal pens, no manure in the aisles by the pens and contestants who are friendly.
Although fair week is busy, most involved say they like their time at the fair.
"It makes for a long, but enjoyable week," Sells said.