Area youth get life experiences from raising animals
COSHOCTON – The Coshocton County Fair isn’t just a place to ride rides, play games and enjoy yummy food. Many life lessons also are learned by area youth who compete with their animals in different shows.
“I’ve been showing sheep for three years,” said MaryAnn Lozowski, a member of the Keene Kountry Kids 4-H Club. “I like the experience of getting judged and have learned a lot and had fun showing sheep.”
One of the lessons she’s had to learn is that you don’t always get first.
“You just have to keep going and try for first next year,” Lozowski said.
Sisters Macey and Laney Mizer, members of the Go-Getters 4-H Club, also are competing with sheep at the fair and Macey brought an Angus Heifer with her.
“We live on a farm and I love being around animals,” Laney said. “My dad asked one day if I wanted to show sheep and I said yes.”
Laney added that they have to take time to work with their sheep to prepare them for the fair, make sure they are watered and fed, that they don’t get sick and that they stay cool.
“Every lamb is a challenge to work with and get tamed,” she said.
In addition to the Coshocton County Fair they also compete at the state fair and go to jackpots.
“Jackpots are when you go to different counties and show animals at different shows,” Laney said.
Their interest in sheep also has taken them out of state.
“We’ve traveled to Oklahoma and back for lambs,” Macey said. “I like showing sheep and getting to know new people at shows.”
Of course, sheep aren’t the only animals being shown at the fair by area youth. Wesley Shontz was busy on the first day of the fair checking in on his rabbit. This is the Keene Kountry Kids 4-H Club member’s first year showing rabbits.
“I wanted to do it, but we always lived in town,” Shontz said. “This year since we moved I got to show them.”
He raised four rabbits and brought three of them to the fair with him.
“I’ve enjoyed watching them grow up and develop,” Shontz said.
Category: People & Places
