The Genesee County Fair is back, and for Goodrich resident Tina Bentley, the time leading up to this week has been a hare-raising experience.
Bentley has led the Happy Hoppers, a local branch of the 4-H club for the last five years. Ahl year, club members learn proper care, feeding and grooming of rabbits, which are then judged at the fair, scheduled to run Aug. 13-19.
‘Tuesday at 10 a.m. they start rabbit judging… there’s going to be 200 different rabbits there this year and they go by breed. They take the top quality rabbits and they win best of show,? said Bentley.
Bentley’s two daughters Tonya, 16, and Tara, 14, have participated in the fair for the past six years.
‘The kids really enjoy it,? said Bentley.
Bentley said her daughters have been involved with several types of extracurricular activities, but their involvement with the 4-H programs (one of the biggest components of the fair) has been the most important.
‘If anybody ever asks what I would choose above any of those (activities), I would choose 4-H,? said Bentley.
Since becoming active with 4-H, a youth group which focuses on developing agricultural abilities, Bentley said she has seen many positive changes in her children.
‘They’re independent, there’s nothing that they can’t learn through 4-H? they learn everything. There’s possibilities no matter (who) they are…My kids have learned so much and I have learned so much…4-H is, I think, just the most amazing thing I’ve had my kids in.?
The fair plays an important role for 4-H participants, said Bentley, allowing kids the chance to not only demonstrate what they’ve learned but to learn how they can improve.
Now in its 158th year, the fair is much more than livestock. It’s about business for young adults like Bentley.
Chris Miller, executive director of the Genesee County Fair for the past 11 years says learning the business aspect of raising livestock is just part of process.
‘Youth are taught goal-setting and how to take responsibility for the animals,? said Miller.
‘Youth learn the very basics of business. For example, you have to put money into raising these animals to earn money in the end.?
Miller says in Genesee County, like many other counties, active farms to raise livestock are on the decline.
‘Lately, you’ve seen a shift from livestock and agriculture to more home gardens, and fine arts.?
‘The animals are still a big part of the fair, but today we’re much more diversified.?