Atlas Twp. – Local families will soon be packing up for the Genesee County Fair.
The fair will be held this year Aug. 16 to 22 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds Everett A. Cummings Center, located at G-6130 Mt. Morris Road in Mt. Morris.
With the sound of bleating animals, the announcer welcoming guests, and the smell of cotton candy and pizza in the air, the county fair will hold different members for each fair-goer.
With five family members participating in fair exhibits, packing up horses into trailers, and horse supplies and exhibits into vehicles is a nearly endless process for the Lusty family of Atlas Township, sometimes requiring several trips.
‘The horses are pretty involved,? said Lynn Lusty.
Lynn and Jim’s daughters, Angela, Bonnie, Carrie, and Marianne all enter their horses into various 4-H categories, such as speed, barrel-racing, or the demanding keyhole competition, in which a chalk-line keyhole shape is drawn onto the ground for riders to race horses into and out of without stepping over the line, which horses have difficulty seeing.
Gearing up for the fair is complicated, and involves washing and conditioning the horses, trimming fine whiskers, polishing hooves’with the polish color depending on the horses? sock color’polishing the horses? faces, and cleaning equipment, including halters, saddles, and boots.
Because horses alternate between western and English classes, riders braid and unbraid the horses? manes and tails, using hairspray and gel.
In keeping with the class, riders change from western to English clothing styles, all in the same day, said Lynn, with the girls sometimes sharing a hat.
The Lusty family belongs to the Flying M 4-H horse club of Goodrich, headed up by leader Carrie Haywood.
The 53-member club is the largest in Genesee County,? said Angela, 18, who’s been around horses since she was in the sixth grade.
Horse owners are expected to keep a journal during the year, writing an essay on what’s learned, Angela said.
The family will also be taking in a number of indoor exhibits, including artwork, sewing, needlework, a hand-sewn stuffed animal, poems, stories, ceramic items, baking, jewelry, vegetables, home-grown flower arrangements, and houseplants’including a cactus for Marianne, who’s 12.
Some of the items are made during the 4-H year; others are prepared especially for the fair.
Marianne is vying for the title of this year’s 4-H princess, along with her sister Bonnie, who will compete to be crowned this year’s 4-H queen.
After the shows are over, the girls will head for the carnival rides with friends.
Katelyn Cook, 14, of Atlas Township, is also a member of the Flying M club, along with the Lakeville Livestock club.
Katelyn will be showing pigs, sheep, chickens, horses, a calf, and indoor exhibits like her drawings.
‘I love everything about the fair,? said Katelyn, who attended with her older sisters when she was only 4.
This year, Katelyn is especially looking forward to a shot at the Super Showmanship contest, open only to exhibitors receiving first place in their categories. Her sister Natalie earned the top award two years ago, she said, and Katelyn hopes to carry on the family tradition.
After the shows, she plans to head over for pizza, cotton candy, lemonade, elephant ears, and rides, said Katelyn.
To get the complete fair lineup, call (810) 687-0953 or go to http://www,gcf.org.