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FAIRFIELD – The Greater Jefferson County Fair wrapped up with a bang Sunday night, as fireworks filled the sky following the Crash for Clunkers event in the grandstand.

Jefferson County Fair Board President Mike Filson said it was a great week, even though the hot weather depressed turnout a little bit, but luckily rain didn’t spoil any of the grandstand events.

“I think overall it was a good fair and everyone had a good time,” he said. “Sunday night was a huge turnout for the grandstand, and the nightcap with the great display of fireworks!”

Jefferson County ISU Extension Director Courtney Burkhalter remarked there was a high number of Clover Kid, 4-H and FFA entries in all project areas, and especially more poultry and rabbit entries than usual, so many that the pedal pull Friday night had to be delayed a few hours to accommodate all the poultry entries.

“Thankfully, we were able to borrow extra cages from a neighboring county to hold them all during the fair,” Burkhalter said. “We appreciate everyone’s support in making the fair a success.”

Jefferson County 4-H County Youth Coordinator Abby Dingman said she was very happy with her first fair as CYC, and was glad to meet many families and volunteers.

The county fair is a time to celebrate the achievements of the area’s youth, who have worked on a project, whether it be an animal or exhibit, for many months. The fair gives them a chance to show off that hard work, and have fun by going on a ride at the carnival, savoring a treat from a vendor, or taking in entertainment on the grounds and in the grandstand.

The area’s pork and beef producers served the evening meal on Friday and Saturday, with the Jefferson County Pork Producers going first, followed by Jefferson County Cattlemen the next night. Eleven-year-old Brooklyn Ledger served hamburgers and rib eyes with the cattlemen Saturday, helping her father Adam, a member of the organization and who was working the grill that night.

Brooklyn is in her third year in 4-H, and she and her sister Avery, 9, showed sheep at the fair. Brooklyn is in her third year in 4-H, with the Packwood Trojans, while Avery is not yet old enough to be in the club, so she is in Clover Kids. Brooklyn also showed goats and a few static projects such as a photograph and a decorative coat hanger.

Brooklyn follows a theme in naming her animals. They’re all named after players in the WNBA. She named a lamb “A’ja” after A’ja Wilson, one “AB” after Aliyah Boston, and “Martin” after Kate Martin. One of them which, which she couldn’t bring to the fair, is “Clark” after Caitlin Clark.

Avery said she has to walk her lamb, Zola, a lot, because she loves to exercise and eat.

“She eats grain, hay, oats and corn,” Avery said.

Avery said kids must learn how to position their animals in the show ring and move their legs until they’ve assumed the best posture, which is not always easy.

When asked about the differences between sheep and goats, Brooklyn said goats have a lot more energy than sheep. One important distinction in their diets is that goats need copper, whereas sheep cannot consume copper.

Avery said, “They can get sick and maybe die.”

When they’re not showing animals, Brooklyn and Avery enjoy the carnival rides, especially the ones called Crazy Dance and Zero Gravity. Brooklyn said she likes a lot of the food served at the fair such as walking tacos, burgers, corn dogs and many of the sweet treats, while Avery said her favorite snack was the ice cream that 4-H serves in the Activities Building.

Logan Moore is an 11-year-old who is also in the Packwood Trojans 4-H Club, and he was busy Saturday night cleaning the bedding for his two pigs, with help from his friend Garrett Hackert, 10. He showed his animals in the Breeding Gilt and Market Barrow divisions.

Moore said the thing he likes best about fair week is spending time with the pigs, and that during the year he’s responsible for feeding them and checking on their water three times a day. Once his chores are done during fair week, he also likes camping and spending time with his friends. Moore said his favorite fair food is a cheeseburger from the FFA food booth.

Twelve-year-old Abbie Hammes of rural Libertyville is a member of the Future Leaders 4-H Club, and she showed a rooster in the small breed division of the poultry show. Caring for a rooster requires giving them food and water, and making sure they have adequate bedding.

At the Hammes household, they don’t have to worry about the rooster crowing at the break of dawn, waking them up every morning.

“We usually lock him in at night,” Abbie explained.

Though Abbie just brought one animal to show at this year’s fair, back home she’s responsible for chickens, a dog, a cat and hermit crabs, something the family got during a vacation to Alabama and Florida. Abbie is considering expanding her horizons for the next fair, and that’s why she’s helping her friends who show larger animals, to see if she can handle a pig, sheep or goat.