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Farm Animals Still A Fair Favorite

Farm Animals Still A Fair Favorite - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 1:59PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 @ 01:59pm EST
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY --A lot has changed here at the fair over the past century and a half but one thing has withstood the test of time. There's still a huge emphasis on agriculture --including livestock. Jeff Chirico is here with a look at the men and women behind the award-winning farm animals.

For many farmers and 4Hers this is one of the weeks they work for all year. They hope to take home blue ribbons for their animals but organizers hope to teach us a valuable lesson.

It's bath time and Lucky doesn't feel so lucky. Shane Cotner says “he hates water. That's his problem. Shut up lucky." So I pitch in.. "I'm not rubbing back there." ...to help 12-year-old Shane Cotner get his lamb ready for the show. Judges will look at Lucky's form and meat on his ribs. "He's very talkative. So if there was a question and answer segment, he'd do well. Yea. If you know how to speak sheep."

He's one of the more than 1200 animals at the fair this year. Jeff Giger Superintendent of livestock says "every year for the past three or four years we have increased the numbers and our barns are to capacity now." From dairy cows --- "nothing's coming... There you go." To Rachel Hartman's grand champion, Sonny. But there's no trip to Disney for this top hog. Rachel says “he'll go to the slaughterhouse and get killed. Not much of a celebration. No."

Fair organizers say they hope these animals teach kids where food comes from. "What sound does a sheep make? Baaaa."

For the first time at the fair, you can see a Texas Longhorn. I climbed on top of the 26 hundred pound steer raised on a Luzerne County farm. And let me tell you, they're tasty. Jim Gallagher of Gallagher Cattle Company says “the meat is very lean. Good for people with cholesterol problems. Very low in fat content."

Walking through the barns I realize just how tough caring for farm animals can be but for these 4Hers, it's a labor of love. Jake Persall says “what do you get out of it? Enjoyment. Being with animals. They can teach you a lot. Like? Responsibility."
 


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