Scores of youths gathered at the Oconto County Fairgrounds from Aug. 21-24 at Zippel Park to exhibit their animals.
Exhibitors like Kathryn Raddatz, of Oconto Falls, showcased their livestock. Raddatz brought a Jersey heifer from her aunt and uncle’s farm named Glitterbug.
“Glitterbug placed first in her class,” Raddatz said, “and in showmanship I placed fourth.”
Raising and training fair animals is a family effort, and exhibitors are taught how to show by those who have entered the show ring before them.
“I have nine older cousins, and when I was younger, we all used to show together,” Raddatz said, “they have been a huge help to me throughout the eight years that I have shown dairy.”
Fair time, for livestock exhibitors, means not just food and fun but family time.
“What I like best about the fair is the food,” Raddatz said, “but also hanging out with my family.”
Henry Schaal, of Gillett, also enjoys the time at the fair with family. Schaal and his siblings exhibited their farm’s goats and pigs.
“I have three sisters that also show animals at the fair,” Schaal said. “Our pigs did not do so well. We breed our own so they usually do not place the greatest.”
Yet when it comes to showmanship, the Schaal siblings are a force to be reckoned with.
“But with our goats, I won showmanship,” Schaal said, “and my sisters did pretty good, too. My dad showed pigs when he was kid, so he taught us some tips on how to show.”
Schaal has other interests besides livestock, and he is pretty pleased with his blue ribbon count this year.
“My photography did good. All six of my photos received blue ribbons,” Schaal said. “For the five years that I have shown at the fair, only recently did I start showing photography. I think that showing pigs is more fun, though.”
Showing livestock with family is fun, but family can often be your stiffest competition. Just ask Jack Wolf of Morgan.
“I got beat by my cousin and brother,” Wolf said, “My cousin took first place, but Holland, my 2-year-old Holstein cow, still made the sale. I’ve been showing for five years and this is my first year making the sale, so I’m happy with that.”
Wolf does not mind the rivalry, because, he said, “it’s just fun to finally get into the show ring and do what we trained all year for.”
Wolf, his brother, and cousin can attribute their success to a long line of expertise to glean from.
“My dad showed cattle, and my uncles, and my grandpa did, too,” Wolf said. “My older cousin probably helped me and my brother out the most.”
Most exhibitors begin their fair career at an early age. That is certainly so for Ila Perlich, of Underhill.
“This is her first year showing at the fair, and Ila is super excited,” said Cody Perlich, Ila’s father. “And she has definitely kept our family busy this week.”
Ila Perlich enjoyed showing off her rabbit and market lambs. She spent many hours this summer practicing with her parents, both of whom have experience in the show ring.
“I’m so proud,” Cody Perlich said, “Ila did a fantastic job for her first show, her lambs got fifth and seventh, and her rabbit took fourth.”
The 9-year-old may have missed out on some blue ribbons with the livestock, but not so with her other projects.
“All of her fair projects placed blue,” Cody Perlich said. “The garden beets, green beans, flower arrangement, bread, pie, Lego-thing, and her homemade quilt, which received best-of-show.”
