4-H program teaches children about fun and responsibility

Colored ribbons, animals and food filled the exhibits, stalls and mouths at the Worth County Fair Friday in Northwood.

“It is definitely a county gathering, so-to-speak,” Northwood resident Pat Rothove said Friday. “People look forward to it and it brings everybody together.”

The Worth County Fair began Tuesday in Northwood and will continue until Sunday.

Highlights of the fair so far have been the crowning of the fair queen on Wednesday, a lumberjack show that was new to the Worth County Fair on Thursday and the Circle C Rodeo at the grandstand on Friday.

The fair will highlight a tractor pull today at the fairgrounds and a demo derby on Sunday.

As usual, the fair is centered around a number of different FFA and 4-H events spanning multiple categories.

Laura Hopperstad, 16, of Northwood, and her family brought sheep to the Worth County Fair this year. Hopperstad — who grew up on a farm and has been showing animals since fourth grade — will show her sheep Sunday in the 4-H/FFA sheep show.

Hopperstad said she participates in 4-H to take care of animals and be with friends.

“A lot of people from Northwood do it,” Hopperstad said about the livestock shows. “It is just a fun experience.”

Northwood-Kensett student Lindsey Moore — the granddaughter of Rothove — belongs to a 4-H club called Heartland Achievers. The group encourages youth development and creativity through a variety of engaging projects.

Moore participated in the horse show, brought a wire hanger project that she constructed and a succulent garden that she planted to the fair to be judged. Moore said her favorite part about the fair was making projects to enter.

Rothove said she thinks 4-H teaches children responsibility.

Heartland Achievers focuses on service to the community by creating decorations for the fairgrounds before the event.

“4-H is excellent on many levels,” Rothove said. “Kids with any interest can be in 4-H, it doesn’t have to be livestock.”

Moore said she has learned a lot about horses in 4-H, specifically about the correct way to use the equipment associated with the animals. Moore could not decide if the amusement rides or the horse show was her favorite part about fair week in Northwood.

“(Moore) had a horse project for the first time this year and she did excellent — she had a lot of fun taking care of her horse and all the work that goes with that,” Rothove said.

Moore was pleased with her results in both the horse show and the 4-H projects, although she was disappointed that her horse had to go home early because he was not drinking enough water.

The Worth County Fair displayed the projects and ribbons of children who submitted their work to the fair. The 4-H exhibit will be open at noon today for those interested in viewing the projects.

Children looking at the rabbits at the fair said that their favorite parts about the Worth County Fair are showing the animals, the food and the rodeo.

The kids said they will be back next year — for sure.

“I am really looking forward to the demo derby on Sunday,” Hopperstad said.

The demo derby will take place at 5 p.m. at the Worth County fairgrounds grandstand.

Admission to the fair is $5 for one day or $10 for an all week pass.

Today

8 a.m.: 4-H/FFA beef show in the Livestock Arena

Noon: Free lunch sponsored by NSB Bank in the Shelter House

1:30 p.m.: 4-H/FFA dairy show in the Livestock Arena

6:30 p.m.: Tractor pull in the Grandstand

Sunday

9 a.m.: Church service in the Shelter House

11:30 a.m.: Baby contest in the Shelter House

Noon: Beef BBQ sponsored by Worth County Cattlemen in the Shelter House

Noon: 4-H building opens

Noon: 4-H/FFA sheep show in the Livestock Arena

4:30 p.m.: 4-H/FFA goat show in the Livestock Arena

5 p.m.: Demo derby in the Grandstand

9 p.m.: 4-H teen dance in the Shelter House