Photo by Deb Gau From left to right, Brooke Moorse, Alex Hoffman and Kaleb Wintheiser answered questions from the judge during the 4-H rabbit show Friday morning at the Yellow Medicine County Fair.

CANBY — County fair days start bright and early for 4-H members — especially if they’re showing animals. On Friday morning, the Yellow Medicine County fairgrounds were pretty quiet, except in the barns where 4-H members were busy doing everything from feeding goats to getting cattle ready for the show ring.

“I’ve been here since 6:30,” said Brooke Moorse. Besides taking care of her dairy heifer and dairy goats, Moorse was also showing rabbits at the fair that morning.

Fair time is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun, 4-H members said.

Rabbit, goat, beef and dairy cattle shows were all taking place at the fairgrounds on Friday. In one of the 4-H barns, Moorse, Alex Hoffman and Kaleb Wintheiser stood at a table with their rabbits, answering questions from a judge. Hoffman explained that competitors needed to be able to give information about their rabbits, like their breed, fur type and more.

“It’s fun, because they’re really cute,” Wintheiser said of showing rabbits.

Moorse said she liked showing Jersey wooly rabbits — a breed with long, fluffy fur — partly because they were easy to handle.

“And they’re really soft,” she said.

Over at the cattle barn, 4-H members were having a little down time before the beef cattle show began. With the show ring empty, Kaden Wintheiser took the opportunity to lead his goat, Calloway, around the ring.

“I haven’t shown her before,” Wintheiser said. He wanted to get Calloway used to walking in the ring before the goat show. Wintheiser said he, his cousin and his siblings all had goats they brought to the fair this year.

“I’m a little nervous because it’s my first year, but I think I’ll do good,” he said.

Beyond competition, the experience of being at the fair was a big part of the fun, 4-H members said. Kaden Wintheiser said he liked meeting new people and seeing different types of animals.

“I really like being part of something bigger than just the county fair,” Moorse said. She said she’s also gotten to know a lot of people through organizations like 4-H and FFA. The people were a big part of what made being in 4-H special.

Magen Tol said that, although she’s taken part in a lot of beef cattle shows, the county fair and Minnesota State Fair are some of her favorite events.

“There’s so many great people at 4-H,” Tol said.

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