Kids at the fair, when not showing animals, do things like the tractor pulling contest. (Dave Maxwell photo)
What do Lincoln County children do at the Clark County Fair? Of course, they show their 4-H livestock animals, but it’s not all business, certainly not by a long ways. It isn’t there home fair, but they like it nonetheless. Being kids like anywhere else, they want to take in the sights, sounds, rides, entertainments and carnival games at the fair.
A couple of the Lincoln County youth who were showing an animal, when asked about what they like most by coming to the Clark County Fair, admitted openly, “the rides!”
To be sure, it’s fun to go somewhere and get to stay over for a few days, hang around with your friends, maybe meet new ones, and keep the parents as much in the background as possible.
For some of the high school age 4-H participants, the fair has a larger meaning. Janel Meldrum, a sophomore at Pahranagat Valley High, said one of the main reasons she likes attending and showing a steer at the Clark County Fair is, “because there is a lot more competition and a lot more buyers here to buy our animals.” She was competing in both the market and showmanship senior division. She admitted she also likes the entertainments, the rides, the foods, being with her friends, etc., “and, (as a competitor) you get in for free.”
Fifth-grader Stuart Foremaster of Alamo, a first-time competitor, said it was exciting at the fair because of the rides and hanging out with friends. Stuart’s father, Derek, said his son raised the steer from a calf born to a young heifer calf he bought about five years ago and raised himself. Stuart was happy he was able to accomplish the task, while at the same time being a little sad at selling the steer.
4-H livestock has always been good for teaching kids the responsibility required when an animal is totally dependent on you.
Asked the question why do kids from Lincoln County compete at the Clark County Fair, Kelly Wadley, of Sandy Valley, a leader in the Small Animal barn and Fair Committee member, said, “We allow Lincoln County and Nye County to come into the fair to compete because it just creates more competitors. It got out Clark County kids and sometimes the more competitors, the more fun and the more they learn from each other. It not just so much about showing and winning and achieving ribbons, it’s about the leadership and the friendships that we build. We feel that by opening it to our neighbors it’s really advancing all the life skills that we are trying to teach our youth.”
