Messenger photo by Mike Munden
Taking Tressel for a walk
Austin Swaney, 8, walks his Boer goat, Tressel, as he prepares for the 8- and 9-year-old showmanship class. He is from West Jefferson and belongs to the Madison Kountry Kids 4-H Club.

Messenger photo by Mike Munden
Patriotic trot
Wearing a patriotic shirt, Sam Hunter,13, trots around the arena during the Western Pleasure class. He belongs to the All American 4-H Club and his horse is named Dexter.

Messenger photo by Mike Munden
Catching some zzzz’s
Allen Cooley, 17, takes a nap as he waits for his rabbit class to begin. He is from Midway and belongs to the Jumpers & Flyers 4-H Club.

Messenger photo by Mike Munden
Hopping lop
Ten-year-old Cheyenne Young (right) watches as judge Nita Butler grabs her rabbit during the Senior Buck competition. Young is from Mount Sterling and belongs to the Jumpers & Flyers 4-H Club. The rabbit is a Holland Lop named Snickers.

Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Flower hour
Ann Weeks, a member of Plain City’s Open Path Garden Club, tags specimens prior to the Garden Clubs Flower Show at the Madison County Fair. The rains leading up to fair week yielded great blooms, she said.

Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
First-timer
Chad Baker, 17, prepares his Angus-Hereford cross for the Junior Fair Beef Show. He said his dad talked him into trying 4-H this year. The first-timer lives on a farm south of London and belongs to the Jumpers & Flyers 4-H Club. He also showed broiler chickens.

Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Duo of donkeys
West Jefferson resident Marcus Harvey, 11, hangs out in the holding ring prior to his turn in the Junior Fair Donkey Show trail lead line class. Participants must lead their donkeys in circles, back them up, command them to trot and walk, and guide them over obstacles. This was Harvey’s first year in 4-H, and he can’t wait to return next year. “I’m definitely sticking with little Red guy and Diva,” he said. Red turns 1 year old on July 27; Diva is 5 years old. Harvey won the halter class and took second in the color class with Red.

Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Clean and fancy
April Harris, 14, sprays down “Fancy,” a breeding ewe, the afternoon before the Guys & Gals Lead competition. Harris competed in several open class and 4-H shows. Her favorite is showmanship. “You get to show what you learned and what you accomplished over the summer,” she said.

Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Feather-footed
Mount Sterling resident Ian Williamson, 16, shows his feather-footed Milleflora rooster in the Junior Fair Poultry Show. This year marked Williamson’s third year showing fancy turkeys and chickens. He is a member of the Mud Run Hustlers 4-H Club.

Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Cool drink on hot day
With temperatures in the low 90s, Madison County Fair exhibitors had to keep their animals hydrated. Bryan Wilson, 17, watches his breeding cow take a drink between contests at the Junior Fair Beef Show. Wilson is this year’s Fair King and a member of the Eager Achievers 4-H Club and Madison-Plains FFA.

Prize-winning pooch
Regan Rubel and her golden retriever, Cheney, won first place in beginner showmanship at the Madison County Fair. Rubel, a member of the Prairie Raider 4-H Club, also placed second with her “You and Your Dog” project and third with her “Presidential Dog” poster.