DARLINGTON - Tyler Jenamann, 16, took extra time Thursday to make his sheep look its best for the fair.
It was the first time the Cuba City High School student entered an animal at the Lafayette County Fair and he wanted to do his best to earn a ribbon.
"His name is Nicholas," he said, as he groomed the black and gray sheep that stood patiently next to him.
Jenamann was one of nine Cuba City FFA students who brought their sheep to the fair, teacher Jill Van Schyndle said.
The students bought their sheep in April and raised them behind the school.
"They have to take care of them and feed them," Van Schyndle said.
The sheep weighed about 50 pounds each when the students bought them three months ago. By the time the fair started Wednesday, the sheep weighed between 100 pounds and 130 pounds.
Raising the sheep, taking care of them, making sure they ate enough to grow but not enough to get fat, is a good experience. They learned how to shear and groom them to get them ready for the fair.
They also had to train the sheep to be held while being shown at the fair.
Each student will get to keep any money they receive from the sheep auction Saturday. They use the money to pay for feed and for the price of the sheep, Van Schyndle said.
Jenamann knows that he'll have to say good-bye to his sheep when he sells it at the auction Saturday, but he said it's all part of the process.
Naming the animal might make it little more difficult to see him sold, Van Schyndle smiled.
The 4-H and FFA kids who brought their animals also cleaned them, groomed them and made them comfortable on the second day of the fair.
Pigs were also scrubbed and dried, while cows were shampooed to make their coats shiny.
"They don't stay clean for long," Black Hawk High school student Kayla Melland, 16, laughed as she wiped down her pigs, Harry Plopper and Oinker.
Kids of all ages brought animals to the fair with the hope of earning a blue ribbon. But they also enjoyed the time they spend with kids in other 4-H clubs.
"You get to know other kids," Justin Holmes, 15, Argyle said. "It's a lot of fun."
Holmes brought his dairy cow, "Daisy," for the second year. He planned to spend most of the week at the fairgrounds.
"I get here at about 6:30 in the morning and sometimes I'm here until 11 at night," he said.
The Lafayette County Fair continues through Sunday in Darlington.
On Friday, Country music singer Tracy Byrd performs at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday activities include, the livestock and cheese auction at 1 p.m.; the Lafayette County Tractor Pullers open pull will be at 1 p.m.; and the Badger State Tractor Pull is at 6:30 p.m.
At 12:15 p.m. Sunday, Rural Olympics begin. Other events Sunday include, an antique tractor pull at 1 p.m. The Fairest of the Farm is crowned at 5:45 p.m.
Free grandstand is offered Saturday and Sunday and gate fees for adults are $8, children ages 9 to 12 are $2, and tickets for children ages 8 and under are free. Season tickets for adults are $20 and junior season tickets for ages 13 to 16 are $15.
Friday's grandstand cost is $20.
It was the first time the Cuba City High School student entered an animal at the Lafayette County Fair and he wanted to do his best to earn a ribbon.
"His name is Nicholas," he said, as he groomed the black and gray sheep that stood patiently next to him.
Jenamann was one of nine Cuba City FFA students who brought their sheep to the fair, teacher Jill Van Schyndle said.
The students bought their sheep in April and raised them behind the school.
"They have to take care of them and feed them," Van Schyndle said.
The sheep weighed about 50 pounds each when the students bought them three months ago. By the time the fair started Wednesday, the sheep weighed between 100 pounds and 130 pounds.
Raising the sheep, taking care of them, making sure they ate enough to grow but not enough to get fat, is a good experience. They learned how to shear and groom them to get them ready for the fair.
They also had to train the sheep to be held while being shown at the fair.
Each student will get to keep any money they receive from the sheep auction Saturday. They use the money to pay for feed and for the price of the sheep, Van Schyndle said.
Jenamann knows that he'll have to say good-bye to his sheep when he sells it at the auction Saturday, but he said it's all part of the process.
Naming the animal might make it little more difficult to see him sold, Van Schyndle smiled.
The 4-H and FFA kids who brought their animals also cleaned them, groomed them and made them comfortable on the second day of the fair.
Pigs were also scrubbed and dried, while cows were shampooed to make their coats shiny.
"They don't stay clean for long," Black Hawk High school student Kayla Melland, 16, laughed as she wiped down her pigs, Harry Plopper and Oinker.
Kids of all ages brought animals to the fair with the hope of earning a blue ribbon. But they also enjoyed the time they spend with kids in other 4-H clubs.
"You get to know other kids," Justin Holmes, 15, Argyle said. "It's a lot of fun."
Holmes brought his dairy cow, "Daisy," for the second year. He planned to spend most of the week at the fairgrounds.
"I get here at about 6:30 in the morning and sometimes I'm here until 11 at night," he said.
The Lafayette County Fair continues through Sunday in Darlington.
On Friday, Country music singer Tracy Byrd performs at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday activities include, the livestock and cheese auction at 1 p.m.; the Lafayette County Tractor Pullers open pull will be at 1 p.m.; and the Badger State Tractor Pull is at 6:30 p.m.
At 12:15 p.m. Sunday, Rural Olympics begin. Other events Sunday include, an antique tractor pull at 1 p.m. The Fairest of the Farm is crowned at 5:45 p.m.
Free grandstand is offered Saturday and Sunday and gate fees for adults are $8, children ages 9 to 12 are $2, and tickets for children ages 8 and under are free. Season tickets for adults are $20 and junior season tickets for ages 13 to 16 are $15.
Friday's grandstand cost is $20.