One of the state’s largest fairs, the Northwestern Michigan Fair, concluded in Traverse City Saturday. As part of the fair, 4-H youth from Leelanau and four other northern Michigan counties showed livestock in a series of competitions to determine the best animals and handlers in attendance.
Leelanau County’s 4-H program is organized by the county’s Michigan State University Extension office. Although the program is relatively small, with just nine youth participating in this year’s livestock shows, this close-knit group earned a lot of awards, including the “Outstanding Clover” Award, which 4-H volunteer Jackie Anderson described as the biggest prize.
“We have a tiny club with just nine members. To walk away with this many awards is truly incredible,” Anderson said.
The Clover Award went to Isabella Plamondon, age 17. To earn this prize, Plamondon submitted an essay before the fair. As one of the finalists, she was chosen for a follow-up interview, which she passed with flying colors. According to the Leelanau County 4-H Facebook page, Clover Award recipients are recognized as exemplary 4-Hers in the region and receive a $100 gift card as a prize.
Leelanau County youth took home many livestock show awards as well. Jackie’s son Jack Anderson won the titles of grand champion in the 4-H goat showmanship and open pack and obstacle goat classes; Judy Steffens won the reserve grand champion in showmanship goat and pack and obstacle goat; and Plamondon won reserve grand champion in market production chickens.
This was the first time showing animals in the 4-H livestock shows for Leelanau County 4-H program participants in the Claar family, but they got off to a strong start. Violet Claar earned the grand champion showmanship title with her rabbit, and her younger brother Jimmy won second- and thirdplace awards in several poultry competitions.
More awards went to the other 4-H kids, including first place bantam cock to J.C. Oosse; first place in breed pair poultry for Violet and Jimmy’s sister Samantha Claar; second and third place rabbit breed and showmanship awards to Judy’s sister Faith Steffens; and fifth place in production pullets for Isabella’s brother Jaxson Plamondon.
Showing animals at the fair marks the culmination of more than half a year of hard work for 4-H youth. They walked their “animal projects” around the ring under the watchful eye of judges, assessing their performances. To help support their fellow club members, Jackie Anderson said that the other 4-H club members gathered around the ring to cheer each other on.
“We set up our schedules so we know who’s showing when, so we can all get there and cheer on everybody during their shows. Once in a while, we have some crossovers, and you can’t make it because you’re at a different show. But most of the time, we’re there, cheering for everybody. Kids like to sneak away and ride some rides, and they have games for 4-H kids,” Anderson said.
Club members were busy with livestock shows from Aug. 4 to Friday. However, 4-H kids still had time for games, rides, and other activities. Outside of showing her light brahma rooster and winning awards, Isabella Plamondon said that the highlight of her week was judging the “clover bud” poultry show.
Plamondon and some of the veteran 4-H kids led noncompetitive livestock shows and other activities for these “clover bud” 4-Hers, who are between five and seven years old. In doing so, they passed down some of their experience and knowledge to the next generation of program participants.
Judy Steffens said that her favorite part of the fair was offering free samples of Lucky Farm’s goat hot dogs and answering questions about goats. Steffens showed a boer doe goat in the livestock competitions.
“Advertising goat meat was fun too. Goats aren’t the best auctions at fairs, because a lot of people don’t realize goat meat is good and popular. Goat meat is actually the number one most consumed meat in the world – not really in the U.S., but in a lot of different countries,” Steffens explained. “Giving samples of goat meat to people helped their auction a lot this year.”
J.C. Oosse listed several of his favorite things about the fair: the 4-H dance on Friday night after the shows were over, the Saturday games – especially tug of war – and fair food like Gibby’s fries.
