4-H exhibitors turn out in droves for fair

Seven clubs and more than 100 young people exhibiting their animals, projects and all in-between turned out at the recent fair.

Plains South Side Sparks were the largest group to converge onto the fair grounds out of the seven. Hot Springs Little Bitterroot, Whitepine Happy Workers, Hot Springs Wranglers and the Trout Creek Mavericks also turned out in droves.

A little light on numbers this year was the Thompson Falls Mountaineers and Heron-Noxon Explorers. That didn’t mean that their commitment was any less impressive.

As Benjamin Croft of the Thompson Falls Mountaineers took home the Grand Champion Junior for the Leadership class as well as Reserve Champion Junior for the Wildlife Independent Study which encompassed a photo display telling the story of his wildlife independent study.

Mackenzie Robinson also of the Thompson Falls Mountaineers did well with her three exhibitions, taking home Reserve Champion Junior for the Visual Arts, Arts and Crafts division. Overall she received two blue ribbons and the purple.

Another impressive win was that of Noxon-Heron Explorers group Jaedyn Murray who took out Grand Champion Junior for scrapbooking class.

The whole 4-H community here in Sanders County truly took up a portion of the fair grounds near their stock pavilions.

With kids running here, there and everywhere, parents and club officials were run off their feet trying to make sure they caught all the arena action.

Young Jacob Hutchins from the Southside Sparks Plains club found a bit of sunshine through the clouds during his class with his show lamb.

He competed in the Single Sheep Market class and though it looked like his lamb was more made for the mutton bustin’ he held strong to take out Grand Champion Market Lamb.

Another stand out was that of fellow Southside Sparks show group Anna Hafner who not only showed in a number of beef classes but also took home some great awards.

She won Reserve Champion Market Beef from the All Breeds Market Beef class. The Grand Champion Beef Breeding from the senior yearling heifer class. Also the Grand Champion Junior Beef Showman for Junior Beef Showmanship class.

It looked as though Hafner was on her way to achieving the farm to fork goal she has set herself for her chosen industry and passion.

The dog show was also another highlight for spectators throughout the Sanders County Fair for the young exhibitors.

There were a few different breeds that turned out some great performances in the show pen.

Under the cool of the afternoon shade, from beginners to the more experienced, both the dog trainer and canine put on a great show as they ran through the obstacle course.

Moms, dads and siblings were showing full support from start to finish, some even setting up camp early to ensure a good shady spot under one of the grand trees that lined the pavement.

In any of the down time, the kids could be seen having some fun with a ball pit or throwing the football.

Event goers could see all that the 4-H program offered from the play paddock to the barns showcasing some great signs highlighting their animals.

Michelle McGuigan said she was overjoyed to see so many of the kids get involved in the horse show.

There were some that put their hat in the ring over a number of disciplines some of which they don’t generally ride.

Nonetheless, the turn-out all over was efforts made well with the aid of MSU extension officers Juli Thurston, Jason Badger and Shirley Kinkade, who works as the administrative assistant for the county 4-H program.

Another successful show for the kids, now they will be hitting the books and barn getting their next projects started so they can once again showcase their hard work at the 2018 Sanders County Fair.