4-H'ers showcase their projects at the annual Reno County 4-H Fair – The Hutchinson News

The annual Reno County 4-H Fair starts Wednesday at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. This year’s theme is “Reach for the Stars.”  
4-H’ers and open class exhibitors have been working for a year, preparing their animals,  exhibits and presentations. 
The public is invited to view their exhibits inside the Meadowlark Building. The animals will be on exhibit in the animal barns. The Ranch Rodeo will take place outside the horse arena Friday night at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
Two events occur before Wednesday, the first day of the six-day event. On Saturday, July 16, 2022, the 4-H Sirius Dog Club held their 2022 Reno County 4-H Fair and Open Dog Show at the Sunflower North building at the fairgrounds. 
More than 30 4-H and open class exhibitors and their dogs registered for the annual dog show. The exhibitors were judged in three categories: showmanship/obedience, rally and agility.
The Thomas family participated in their first dog show. Darren and Jacqueline Thomas and their daughters Addisyn, 10, and Paige, 8, brought their two dogs, an Aussie named Camper and an Australian cattle dog named Teddy. 
Paige said that she likes 4-H because it’s “unique.” One of Addisyn’s favorite aspects of the dog project is that she gets to teach her dog new tricks and then share the animal’s progress with her friends. 
“I think it has been great for the girls in confidence-building and teaching independence because we can’t go in the ring to help them,” Jacqueline Thomas said. “It’s been character-building for them.” 
Darren Thomas said the dog project teaches patience and responsibility.
The show began in the morning with showmanship/obedience and rally classes in three rings.
Exhibitors listened to the judges’ instructions and had their dogs walk fast or slow, heel and figure eight and stand for examination. During rally classes, the exhibitor took their dog at their own pace through a pattern of designated stations designed by the judge.
During the afternoon, the agility course was set up by all of the exhibitors and family members. During the timed event, the exhibitors directed the dogs through the obstacle course without a leash. Obstacles included jumps, a teeter-totter, an open and closed tunnel and a hoop tunnel.
Julie MacArthur’s two daughters Natalia, 20, and Addie, 15, have spent many years in the dog project in the Haven 4-H Club. MacArthur said it is a great learning experience for the 4-H’ers.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of dog a person has or how much money is spent, the important thing is the time and effort they put in and the 4-H’er and the dog become a team,” she said.
April Hoskinson’s daughter Lily Hoskinson, 7, from the Haven 4-H Club, showed her dachshund Penny at the show.
“It teaches a lot of responsibility,” Hoskinson said. “From bathing to brushing the dog’s teeth, it can be quite comical sometimes.”
On Tuesday, July 19, 2022, the Fashion Revue Judging and Public Fashion Revue were held in the Stringer Fine Arts Building on the Hutchinson Community College campus. 4-H’ers participated in purchased garment revue and constructed garment revue and modeled their entries on stage.
Wednesday, July 20
1 p.m. – Ag Challenge of Champions contest at the Meadowlark Building
Thursday, July 21
8 a.m. – Conference judging for all static exhibits
Friday, July 22
8 a.m. – Contest of the day: Marshmallow Towers in the Meadowlark Building
8 a.m. – Rabbit show
9 a.m. – Pet display at the Meadowlark Building.
10 a.m. – Poultry judging 
11 a.m. – Horse show 
12 p.m. – Goat show 
7 p.m. – Ranch Rodeo Outside Horse Arena KSF Fairgrounds
            Champion Food Auction
Saturday, July 23
8 a.m. – Swine show 
1 p.m. – Sheep show 
1 p.m. – Demonstrations/Public Speaking for all age groups
5 p.m. – Water Wars at Gottschalk Park
5 p.m. – Food trucks
7 p.m. – Live entertainment at Peoples Bank and Trust Arena and dance
Sunday, July 24
9 a.m. – Beef show begins
12 p.m. – Exhibit building opens. Contest of the day: Cup stacking from 12 p.m – 6 p.m.
6 p.m. – Pedal pull 
5-8 p.m. – Blue Ribbon Free Family Fun Night, Inflatable Fun – Prairie Pavilion.
8 – 9:30 p.m. – Dance at the Meadowlark Building
Monday, July 25
8 a.m. – Livestock judging contest
11 a.m. – Awards Luncheon at the Meadowlark Building
4 p.m. – Livestock Round Robin – Beef Barn
7 p.m. – 4-H/FFA Livestock Sale

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