Go Back

 

Area Youth Already Busy Prepping For Next Year's Fair

    While the Lake County Fair convenes for just 10 days in April, the dedication required for young people showing livestock is a year-round commitment.  On Saturday, October 3, Lake County livestock officials welcomed 72 entrants to next year’s fair steer show to a morning weigh-in, marking the beginning of next year’s official competition.
    Young people led animals out of a steady string of livestock haulers into a series of chutes located in a back corner of the fairgrounds, with livestock officials overseeing animals as they were placed on a large scale to have their weights recorded.
    Newly appointed Lake County Fair Manager Mary Ellen Jones was overseeing the   weigh in.  Jones, a longtime volunteer with the livestock committee before taking over the fair’s overall daily operations, said the weigh-in provides the baseline data on each animal, all of which are 27 months old or younger, for competitions like the weight gain contest when fair time comes.
    Jones said the weigh-in is just one moment during a project year that sees young people dedicate thousands of hours to their project.
    “There is a lot, a lot of time that goes into these projects,” she said, noting that those competing at the highest level can be expected to spend up to two hours a day working on their projects. “This is one of the more extensive, and expensive, projects.”
    Jones said a youth can expect to have as much as $4,000 invested in their steer by the time the fair rolls around, money recouped during what is historically a robust steer auction.
    Jones said the dedication required to successfully bring a steer to the fair for show and sale allows young people to grow important skills for use later in life. 
    “For these kids, this is an important life experience.”
    Fair livestock preparations continue this Thursday, October 8, when participants will be selected for the annual layer pen competition.  A lottery drawing will choose 12 entrants into the competition, with those selected receiving six day-chicks.  Up to three can be returned at fair time for entry into the layer pen competition.
    The 2027 Lake County Fair is scheduled for April 9-18 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Eustis.