ALEXANDRIA, Ind. —
Megan Miller held her heifer by the animal’s face harness and guided the 459-pound cow in the center of the cedar-covered show floor Tuesday.
On her left and right, two other young 4-H’ers tried to control their cows with fire poker-shaped show sticks, guiding the animals’ legs into position. One foot, and then the next.
Using the curled edge of the show stick, the young 4-H members scratched the underbelly of the stressed cows.
“It relaxes them,” 4-H mother Jana Heritier explained, watching the showmanship competition from the stands. Her son, Eric Heritier, 15, would be showing his 2-year-old Simmental steer later Tuesday evening.
Outside the show arena, the Madison County 4-H Fair was quiet Tuesday afternoon as temperatures reached 95 degrees, forcing many of the fair’s typical visitors to wait out the heat in their air-conditioned homes.
Food vendors shut down for the few hours of the lull, placing “be back at six” signs in their booth windows.
Those who couldn’t escape the heat to find air conditioning, the 4-H kids, did their best to show off their livestock in the sweltering show arenas where mounted metal fans were turned on “high.”
Audience members vied for spots in the path of the fans.
Sweating at the fair was just part of the fun for the young 4-H’ers, including Eric Heritier, who was eager to show off his black cow.
Previously, he’d shown sheep, named Apollo and Rose.
Although he focused on his livestock showmanship, Heritier also participated in the fair’s non-animal 4-H projects.
This year, Heritier built a robotic spider operated with a wireless remote control.
It won the championship.
Contact Brandi Watters: 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com
4-H Fair
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Brennan Morehead competes in the Junior Beef Showmanship category during the Beef Show at the Madison County 4-H Fair on Tuesday. Morehead was named the Champion for Junior Beef Showmanship. Don Knight
Discussion
4-H’ers show off livestock
Intense heat keeps fair crowds small
- 4-H Fair
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On yet another muggy day, 4-H Fair closes
Bracelet Day at the Madison County 4-H Fair almost resembled an old western ghost town Saturday afternoon.
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Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 6
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair on Thursday
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Showmanship and responsibility
The Mares family of Lapel will bring a total of 21 horses to the Madison County 4-H Fair this week, but most of those horses will be shown by horseless children. “It teaches them responsibility and good manners,” grandfather Carl Mares said of the fair.
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4-H Fair schedule: July 22
The Madison County 4-H Fair has activities through Saturday at the 4-H Fairgrounds at Beulah Park in Alexandria.
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Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 5
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair on Thursday.
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Many 4-H’ers donate earnings back to organization
As a 10-year 4-H member, Lydia Alexander, of Elwood, wanted to do something special during Thursday’s 4-H auction. Instead of pocketing the money she earned from auctioning her lamb, Alexander donated it back to the Madison County 4-H Association.
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Champion exhibits more than just showmanship
Towering over his steer during Wednesday’s Supreme Showmanship competition, Brandon Brunt seemed to have little trouble directing it where to go.
“It helps to be 6-foot-4,” Brunt said. -
Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 3
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair in Alexandria on Tuesday.
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4-H’ers show off livestock
Despite temperatures reaching 95 degrees, area 4-H kids did their best to show off their livestock in the sweltering show arenas where mounted metal fans were turned on “high.”
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Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 2
Photos from the second day at the 4-H Fair and feature on Jared Burke during the Swine showings.
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