By: Krystal Smalley
KSmalley@wbcowqel.com
The Crawford County Fair is coming to a close and the county’s 4-H members can say it has been a job well done. Curry combs will be packed up, halters hung up, and fair boxes will be put away for another year.
But when it comes to those 4-H members whose names can be found above animals’ pens across the various barns, how do they deal with the hectic week?
Morgan Scheffler is no stranger to juggling responsibilities at the Crawford County Fair. She was Junior Fair queen last year and, though she passed on her crown this year, Scheffler took on additional responsibilities as Junior Fair Board President. And that’s on top of showing market steers, beef feeders and alpacas.
“I make sure I stick with all my duties,” Scheffler explained. “I get lack of sleep but it’s well worth it.”
Scheffler admitted it’s not an easy feat running from barn to barn during the week of fair but she relies on help from her family and friends. She explained that they will help take care of her animals if she is needed elsewhere.
Just to throw another monkey wrench into the mix, Scheffler has to know how the different nuances to show her animals. “Each one is kind of shown a little different,” said Scheffler. Alpaca shows are all done with halters while beef feeders and steers are more temperamental. She said she works with the beef feeders and steers a little bit more.
This was Scheffler’s first year showing alpacas but crossing over may have just given her the edge and knowledge she needed to take home the Showman of Showmen award this year.
Aaron Hand is also no stranger to running between barns during the week of fair. Hand, a Whetstone Go-Getters 4-H Club member, shows dairy cattle and alpacas.
“It’s a long walk sometimes,” Hand said, referring to the distance between the Dairy Barn and the Camp Millard Ag and Expo Building. “It all kind of balances out.”
Hand agreed that there was a big difference between showing dairy cattle and alpacas but he didn’t let that shake him.
“I usually do it all on my own,” said Hand as stood in the Dairy Barn Wednesday afternoon. He had just been in the Camp Millard building taking care of his animals before making the trek to take care of his dairy cattle. He did admit though that alpacas were a lot easier to take care of.