VAUGHN -- It was all about the animals at the Benton County Fair's opening day.
"I like goats," 7-year-old Kenlee Harris said Tuesday. "They are really friendly. You can train them."
At A Glance
Today’s Fair Schedule
Gates open at 9 a.m.
Rabbit Building
• 9 a.m.: Rabbit judging
Exhibit Hall
• 10 a.m.: Judging in Flower Department
Livestock Building
• 9 a.m.: Junior and Senior Dairy Cattle Showmanship in large arena
• 9:30 a.m.: Junior and Open Dairy Cattle Show in large arena
• 4 p.m.: Cloverbud Market Hog and Cloverbud Showmanship in small arena
to follow: Junior Market Hog Show, Junior Commercial Gilt Show, Junior Showmanship and Junior and Open Purebred Show, all in small arena
• 6 p.m.: Breeding Beef Show in large arena
Midway
• 5 p.m.: Pride Amusement carnival opens
Source: Benton County Fair
Kenlee has shown goats at the fair for four years. Her 5-year-old brother, Hudson, has shown goats for three years. "We love them," Kenlee said of her goat, Angel, and her brother's goats, Saint and Louis.
Their 6-year-old cousin, Sulli Schaffer, also shows goats at the fair. "We have a good time," said Marion Harris of Decatur, the trio's grandfather. "They are quite a crew."
The three spend time feeding and caring for their goats and getting them ready to show at the fair. "I just like getting the ribbons and showing them," Hudson said.
Marion Harris said he showed animals at the fair and so did his children. It's now fun to watch his grandchildren, he said.
"It's a family tradition," he said. "It's just a great way to have quality family time."
Brad Harris, Kenlee's and Hudson's father, said taking care of the animals is a great way to help children be responsible. "They feed them and do as much as they can," Harris said. "It keeps them off video and watching TV."
Jordan Cook, 10, of Siloam Springs has shown animals at the fair for the past five years. "It's fun just working with them and running them around," Jordan said.
Brynn Romine was busy Tuesday afternoon brushing her three goats. Her brother, Bryce, has four goats. "I just like everything about them," said Brynn, 8. "I like walking them and just doting on them. It's fun."
"They're funny animals," said Bryce, 14. "They always are trying to get into trouble."
Michele Romine, Brynn's and Bryce's mother, said the goats have their own personalities. The goats and other show animals were not the only animals featured at the fair Tuesday.
Charlie Boger has his racing pigs at the fair. Boger travels all over the country with them. He's already been to Florida, New Mexico, Texas and Alabama.
Boger, who lives in Fayetteville, said it is his first time to entertain at the Benton County Fair.
Boger said 18 pigs, including "Dolly Porkin" and "Billy Ray Swine," were in a heated pool inside a trailer preparing for their races.
"They have to get loosened up for tonight," Boger said. "I don't want one of them to pull a hamstring."
NW News on 08/13/2014