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WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR CONLEY MEDIA 4 JULY 2022 By Gay Greisbach Special to the Daily News After rigorous prepara- tion and judging, exhibitors of everything from horses to hares are invited to cut loose and participate in competitions where the emphasis is on fun. Junior Horse/Pony Superintendent Jay Wolfe said Friday's pleasure horse costume contest and Sunday's races and games give participants a pres- sure-free way to enjoy their animals. "It's just a fun activity — there's nothing serious about it," Wolfe said. When it comes to the costume contest, Wolfe said some club members spend a good deal of time getting ready at home, but the biggest challenge can be getting their equines ready for their runway debut. "It's a horse, so it doesn't necessarily stand still for you," Wolfe said. As a 4-H member who showed for 12 years, current Rabbit Superintendent Kayla Sialkowski enjoys the hopping and Fairest of the Hares contests. The hopping contest involves getting bunnies to clear five to seven hurdles of increasing height. If you want to place bets, Sialkowski has seen every- thing from Holland Lops to Flemish Giants compete. She recommends ignor- ing the breed and focusing on an energetic bunny. "Any breed can be high energy, but some more ener- getic than others. Holland Lops are very common as pets, they are like the pup- pies of the rabbit world — they're friendly and like to explore and hop," she said. The hopping contest takes place on Sunday and the Fairest of the Hares on Friday after showmanship judging. One imaginative getup that Sialkowski recalls is an owner who dressed as a baker who presented her bunny as a chocolate rabbit in a box. Swine Superintendent Jon Etta said the Lil Squealers give competitors between the ages of 3 and 8 a preview of what it's like to exhibit an animal in the Washington County Fair Farm Progress Arena. Etta said many competi- tors borrow an animal from brothers or sisters or neigh- bors who are already exhibiting swine. In the past 15 years, Etta has seen participation increase steadily from four or five youngsters, to 25 or 30 contestants in recent years. Junior Dairy Cattle Superintendent Mary Schwendimann said the Half Pint Showmanship Dairy Contest has been going on since the days of the old fairgrounds, when they were located in Slinger. The Half Pint show is open to children 5 to 9 years old who do not have a dairy fair entry. While Lil Squealers and the Half Pint Dairy contests are fun, both superintend- ents said it can lead to an interest in 4-H and fair participation. Costumes and frolic: Exhibitors display the lighter side of competition

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