A rat mold, make-up depicting the Black Plague, and Christmas items.
These are among the diverse projects Danielle Todd expects to show at the Oakland County Fair, set for July 8-13 at the Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Road, Davisburg.
Danielle expects to be up until at least 2 a.m. the night before the fair, finishing projects as part of her quest to win a special award.
The 16-year-old 4-H Club member has signed up to do 35 projects, the maximum number allowed by a participant, in an attempt to win the Wayne Nierman High Achiever Award.
So far, she estimates she has completed one-third of the projects, which include several art pieces, a holiday table setting, veterinary science display and a taxidermy project which she is most excited about.
The fair is known for competition in farm-raised animals, however, Danielle is not entering any animals.
“I do lots of arts and lots of animal exhibits, but don’t raise animals anymore because we travel a lot,? she said. ‘For most of the projects, I listed what I think is interesting.?
Danielle is joined in competition at the fair by her sister, Erika, 13, who is pursuing a photography award, the Leona Hutchings Memorial Trophy, awarded to the youth who makes a special effort in a photography project.
Of the 21 projects Erika plans to enter, 10 are in photography categories.
The girls began some of their projects as early as last August. This is Danielle’s third year pursuing the high achiever award and she notes she will not get bonus points if she does not complete all the projects she registered for.
“I’m a perfectionist about it and that’s why it takes so long,? she said. ‘The art projects take the least amount of time, while the vet and human science categories are harder.?
Erika said she likes the fair because participants can get critiqued on things they are trying to learn more about from judges at the fair.
For more information on the Oakland County Fair, call 248-634-8830 or visit www.oakfair.org.