FAIRFIELD – The Jefferson County Fairgrounds are alive with the sound of cattle mooing, pigs oinking and sheep bleating.

The area’s youth have brought their animals and exhibits to show at the Greater Jefferson County Fair, and on Wednesday morning they were busy making some of the final preparations before their 4-H and FFA shows.

GABBY DIERS

Twelve-year-old Gabby Diers escorted her calf named “Jake” to the shower station for a good hose down. She has to rinse him off every day, and wash him with soap every other day, she said.

In addition to showing her calf, Diers is showing goats, chickens and horses. She’s responsible for feeding and watering them, taking them on walks, and brushing their fur. The goats have to be let out so they can eat grass. She has to groom them all before their county fair shows, too.

Diers said her favorite part of the fair is spending time with her animals. One of the highlights for her of the fair thus far was getting to hold the banner at the front of the parade on Monday.

“My friend’s mom signed her up to hold the banner, and she could pick one friend to hold it beside her, and she picked me,” said Diers, who is the daughter of Kandi and Ted Diers.

When it’s time to take a break for a meal or a snack, Diers said her favorite food fair to enjoy is a hot dog.

LILIAN BUIE

Lilian Buie, who just graduated from Pekin High School in May, spent Wednesday morning tending to her three sheep, three goats and a pen of chickens. As she cleaned the sheep’s pens, she spoke about why she dressed them in “slinkies,” a colorful polyester garment. Normally, a sheep’s thick wool protects them from flies, but since that wool has to come off to be shown at the fair, it leaves them vulnerable to flies. The slinky serves as a protective coat.

Buie also puts leg wraps on her sheep, which prevents them from chewing on and pulling out their hair. She said it’s important to wash them often in the heat of summer, but there’s another reason to wash them, and that’s to stimulate hair growth.

Buie said showing her animals is her favorite part of the fair, and she likes to be with them even when she’s not showing.

“I choose to hang out with my animals because that’s my main purpose for being here,” she said. “Other than being with the animals, I like spending time with other 4-H families and teaching the younger 4-H’ers. I’m the youngest in my family, so I like to pass on what my family has learned to the next generation of 4-H’ers.”

Buie said her favorite fair food is corn dogs.

Lilian Buie poses with one of her sheep that she will show at the 2024 Greater Jefferson County Fair. (Andy Hallman/The Union)

ALEX HUDSON

Alex Hudson just finished his freshman year at Fairfield High School, and he’s showing both animals and static exhibits at the fair. He showed cats in the pet show on Monday, and he submitted 11 projects as static exhibits including photographs, a barn quilt painting, and science and engineering projects.

One of Hudson’s favorite parts of the fair is attending the grandstand events, and this year he’s even going to participate in one. He and his younger brother Owen, age 9, are planning to race each other in the Dirt Drags at 7 p.m. Thursday. Hudson built a go-cart, which he’s letting his brother drive, while Hudson will race a lawnmower that his grandfather built 30 years ago. He said the lawnmower tops out at 30 mph, while the go-cart can go 20 mph, so he thinks it will be a close race.

“Most people bring four-wheelers and trucks, so I’m going to be the first to bring a lawnmower and a go-cart,” Hudson said about the vehicles in the Dirt Drags.

Some of Hudson’s static exhibits include a barn quilt he painted in the form of an American bald eagle, and a Lego car made from nearly 2,000 Legos. He said it took about three hours to build.

Hudson said his favorite fair food is the burgers served from the FFA Booth.