Bucket calf show occupies 4-H youths at county fair

Eight-year-old Lindsay Fangman was a little nervous Thursday afternoon as she prepared her 5-month-old calf, Star, for the bucket calf show at the Douglas County Free Fair.

Fangman said she had been working with the calf since the middle of April to prepare him for the show.

“I like to comb him,” said Fangman, who is a member of the Clinton Eagles 4-H club and attends Wakarusa Valley School.

This was Fangman’s second year to participate in the bucket calf show, and she said she has been doing plenty of combing, washing and feeding during the past few days. And she’s not the only one.

Members of the Clinton Eagles held a chicken wash on Sunday to prepare for the fair. About 30 chickens were washed and had their toenails clipped and their beaks filed.

“It was quite the sight to see,” said a chuckling Charlie Garzillo, leader of the Clinton Eagles.

Kahlyn Heine, 14, was one of the 4-H members at the chicken wash. The South Junior High student has been in 4-H for nine years.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Heine said. “I’ve really learned a lot about public speaking. Getting up and giving a speech is easy now; 4-H really helps you a lot in the future.”

And her mom, Lanaea, said she saw the gained responsibility as a plus.

Mason Kelso, 8, of Eudora, rinses off his calf Pegasus at the Douglas County Free Fair. Kelso entered Pegasus in the 4-H bucket calf competition, which was Thursday.

“You plan a project, work toward your goals and then present your project,” Lanaea Heine said. “Those elements are used all the time in life. It really helps prepare them.”

Seven-year-old Kelsey Wulfkuhle was still celebrating her win in the crops division while preparing for the bucket calf show. Her corn had been named the grand champion of the division on Wednesday.

“I like winning ribbons,” said the Berryton Elementary School student.

And she wasn’t nervous with all the cows milling around at the Community Building where the show was taking place.

“We live on a farm so cows are nothing new to her,” said her mother, Brenna.

Other events on Thursday included rabbit, dairy and sheep shows, a dairy goat milking contest, Shepherd’s Lead, an air rifle shoot, the carnival, an antique tractor pull and a concert by Western Sunrise.

7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Accept president’s pie baking entries, Fair Board office, Building 21S9 a.m.: Beef show, community buildingNoon-10 p.m.: Petting zoo and pony rides, building 101 p.m.: Poultry showmanship, poultry barn4 p.m.: Auction cards due in Fair Board office5 p.m.: Llama show, judging arena6 p.m.-9 p.m.: Douglas County shooting sports, air rifle shoot, blacktop area6 p.m.: Bale throwing contest, blacktop area6 p.m.-11 p.m.: Family night, Reed Carnival7 p.m.: Demolition Derby, rodeo arena