2023 Lake County Fair: 4-H Clubs build friendships

Jul. 25—The Lake County Fair opened its gates on July 25 to an assortment of activities and contests with people lining up to check out the farm animals.

The Lake County Fair has many different 4-H programs divided by age groups .

One of the 4-H presenters, Kylie Ohmes, has been participating in 4-H programs since she was 9 years old. Now at 17, she finds that 4-H has expanded her social circle and is grateful for the connections she has made along the way.

"Sometimes it's harder to hang out with friends a little bit just because you're busy with other things," she said. "But also you meet a lot more friends that don't go to your school or anything. I've met some of my best friends through 4-H."

Meanwhile, Ohmes acknowledged it can be emotionally tough raising animals for 4-H.

"Sometimes I go and I show a few sows during the summer," she added. "And then I take them to the Lake County Fair to sell them. It gets kind of hard because you get a bond with them."

The 4-H program has four livestock projects available for youths — beef, goat, sheep and swine. Ohmes has participated in all four, and now she's showing her lambs which she hopes will rank high and be able to sell.

"I did lambs because I wanted to do something different," Ohmes said. "I've done all four livestock. I just like experimenting with them, it's fun."

"Our lambs, we have to get them sheared and brushed out then we can show them," she said. "Pigs, we have to give them a little bit of a haircut, keep their skin nice and moisturized, walk them around and then they're ready. Steers, we have to give them a little bit of a haircut, keep them clean, cut their long hair and walk them a lot, then they're good. Goats, we clip them and wash them then they're good to go."

Using the skills gained through 4-H, Ohmes has been able to go outside of her comfort zone and take on even more animals at home.

"I have two barns at home," Ohmes said. "I have five horses, and then seasonally I'll have two or three lambs, one or two goats. I breed cows, and then we have some cows we just feed for ourselves. And a steer."

According to The Ohio State University, 4-H clubs are for youth aged 8-19 to help build new skills, make friends and develop international connections through their exchange programs and summer camps.

Another participant in the 4-H program at the Lake County Fair, Reagan Kerr came to the fair with her two pens of turkeys.

"I have a lot of friends in livestock," Kerr said. "So, I just decided to join it this year because I've done horses for most of 4-H."

Turkeys are hand raised, then are judged based on their conformation, which is their bone structure, fleshing, the amount of muscle and distribution on the bird, and their finish which is the fat immediately under the skin as well as uniformity and absence of defects.

A male turkey, called a tom, can reach weights of up to 41 pounds with the hens averaging 17 pounds.

"I'm basically looking for them to be healthy and a good weight," she said. "The whole thing, especially for turkeys, is that you are looking for people to buy them."

Kerr also has a horse Titan, that she has shown in previous years in addition to her turkeys named Prince William, King Charles, Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth who despite being British royalty found time to pose as turkeys.

"For fair, I wake up and feed them and my horse, or sometimes I ride early in the mornings," Kerr said. "Before a show, just to get him going because he's young."

Kerr was inspired early on by the 4-H programs, joining in third grade. Now 16 years old, she has enjoyed the opportunities they have provided her.

"I joined mostly because of friends," Kerr said. "I grew up at the fair a lot, I've always seen people with horses or other animals, and I was like 'I want to try that' and my mom knew people that were in 4-H as well."

Those wanting to check out 4-H livestock computations can see a swine judging and showmanship competition at 5 p.m. July 26 in the Livestock Arena, with more shows following throughout the fair.

Lake County Fair continues through July 30 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Painesville Township. For a full schedule of events, visit lakecountyfair.org