Animals keep area youth busy during the fair
COSHOCTON COUNTY FAIR – Maria Goodman enjoys being in the arena and being with her family’s horses.
“They’re pretty,” she said.
During the fair the animal barns are full of kids of all ages and their families getting animals ready to shine in the arena.
Goodman brought her “big horse” to the fair, but Sunday morning she spent some time helping her sister Brianna Goodman work on her pony Jack’s tail.
The girls’ family owns J&M Stables and this was their second year competing at the fair.
“It’s a good experience for the kids and us,” said their mother Amanda Goodman.
The horse barns also are a home away from home for the Tumblin family during the fair.
Ashlyn Tumblin likes riding her pony, but says being in the arena makes her a little nervous.
She and her twin Taryn are still too young to show their horses as part of a 4-H Club, but their sister Dilyn Tumblin is part of the Trailblazers.
Dilyn was pretty excited with the four first places she won on Saturday.
“This is fun to do,” she said. “You just have to believe in yourself and pretend it’s just you out there in the arena and do your best. That’s what I did and I did good.”
In addition to her horses, Dilyn brought two lambs and a dairy cow to the fair.
“I like showing horses the most though,” she said.
The Lahna family also is busy during the fair with their cattle.
“It’s very nerve-racking to show them,” said Kassidy Lahna. “You wonder what the judges are thinking, but over the years my family has done really good.”
She still has fun though and was ready to show her Simmental Heifer.
“I get to make the animal my own, but also do it with my family,” Kassidy said.
Another area youth who has multiple animals keeping her busy at the fair is Shelby Mizer.
“Showing a market fryer is new for me this year,” she said. “My brother won reserve champion last year so he inspired me to do it.”
Her lamb, however, is the animal she most enjoys working with.
“They have the most personality,” Mizer said.
The fair even draws youth from other counties.
Olivia Ault from Muskingum County brought her Alpaca to compete in the open class of the llama show.
“My family got me into it,” she said. “I’m excited to show. You have to do a lot of practicing with setting them up, walking them and doing obstacles.”
For Mizer, all the hard work makes being in the arena exciting.
“If you do the hard work you know there is a possibility of winning,” she said.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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