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It was time to shine at Calhoun County Expo

By Staff | Jul 15, 2011

Megan Hardy, 11, of Lohrville, blow-dries her calf after it became the reserve champion in the breeding heifer division at the Calhoun County Expo in Rockwell City Saturday. Approximately 170 4-H’ers and 10 FFA members participated in the expo.

ROCKWELL CITY – The annual Calhoun County Expo came to Rockwell City, giving young farmers a chance to show their skills.

“The expo is a chance for the kids to show all their hard work for the year,” Jill Mims, Calhoun County youth coordinator, said. “This is the chance for them to show others what they’ve done.”

The show, which began on Wednesday and continues through today, features animals such as cattle, sheep, swine, goats and horses, as well as rabbits, pets, and exotic animals. According to Mims, this year there are 170 participants from 4-H and 10 from FFA.

On Saturday, the beef show was held in the morning, and the horse show was in the afternoon. Rabbits, chickens and even turkeys were on display as well.

Seventeen-year-old Andee Hammen, Jolley, has been participating in the Calhoun County Expo since she was in fifth grade. This year, she showed cattle and sheep, and ended up taking home a blue ribbon for her cattle this year.

“I start preparing in May,” she said. “Being here is so much fun. I love fairs and showing animals.”

Krista Lenz, 13, Pomeroy, started participating in 2007.

She took first place for her heifer feeder pen.

“I love all the stuff you learn from (the expo) and all the fun people you meet during 4-H,” she said.

Mims said although the Calhoun County Expo is a lot of hard work, she feels good seeing how it turns out.

“I’m a little tired, but it’s a good feeling tired,” she said. “There’s so much good shown that it’s OK.”

She added that seeing the participants’ hard work makes her happy as well.

“I love to see how excited the kids get and how proud they are,” she said. “Just the pride they show is what matters to me.”

The Calhoun County Expo concludes today at the Rockwell City Park.

Contact Peter Kaspari at (515) 573-2141 or pkaspari@messengernews.net