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At Humboldt County Fair

By Staff | Jul 27, 2012

Josie Lonning, 15, of Bode, a member of Humboldt High School FFA, shows one of her championship goats in the 4-H/FFA meat goat show at the Humboldt County Fair Thursday afternoon.

By EMILIE NELSON

“mailto:emilie@messengernews.net”>emilie@messengernews.net

HUMBOLDT – When youths prepare to show livestock at the Humboldt County Fair, it’s easy to become attached.

“You get personal with them,” said Josie Lonning, a member of the Humboldt High School FFA chapter, who shows meat goats. “They’re like your pet.”

Lonning, of Bode, has been showing goats for four years, and has 20 of them at home. She brought 11 to the fair, taking home the top awards in the majority of her competition classes, along with the champion breeding goat and Senior Showmanship Award.

Zak Kampen, 11, of Humboldt, a member of the Thor Vikings, scrubs his black short horned steer, "Buster" to prepare him for show at the Humboldt County Fair Thursday afternoon.

She said Thursday that goats are an animal that can really grow on a person.

“I started with one, just had a pet goat,” Lonning said. “I got talked into showing and it just took off from there.”

Cody Thompson, 14, a member of the Ottosen Opposums 4-H Club, said his goats are more than just pets or show animals.

“They’re like family. They become part of your everyday life,” he said. “You do get attached to them, and if you love them, they love you right back.”

Zak Kampen, 11, of Humboldt, spent some of his afternoon Thursday preparing for today’s beef show by washing his black shorthorn steer, Buster.

Humboldt County Fair Queen Erica Lane, 17, of Humboldt, walks a goat around the show ring during the senior showmanship contest at the Humboldt County Fair. Lane doesn't show goats, but entered the showmanship just for fun.

Kampen has been caring for Buster since January and works with him every day.

“I’ve got to walk him, wash him and feed him,” he said. “Just make sure he is doing all right.”

Kampen said that even though the large steer sometimes likes to do his own thing, it’s still easy to get attached.

“It’s like a pet,” said Kampen.

Jaxon Kampen, 14, a member of the Thor Vikings 4-H Club, prepared his sheep for the show ring Thursday afternoon by giving it a little extra grooming.

When he was finished trimming its fleece, he put a jacket-like cover over its back.

“It’s a blanket,” he said. “It keeps them from getting dirty again.”

Kampen enjoys working with his sheep, but not always.

“Sometimes they try to ram you,” he said.

Mary Collins, 10, a member of the Livermore Bulldogs 4-H Club, was showing a pair of old English hens for the first time. She had named them Gloria and Harriet.

“They like to be held,” she said. “They have sharp claws and sometimes they like to try to run away.”

The Humboldt County Fair continues today with the 4-H/FFA beef and sheep shows, rabbit show, carnival and Circle C Rodeo at the grandstand.