Menu
Fair first-timer recounts experience
Nine-almost-ten-year-old Mia Jackson is a member of Millennium 4-H and this was her first year to show at the Vernon County Youth Fair.
Mia competed in the dog show, rabbit show and had several craft projects on display in the Home Ec. Building.
“The first time I didn’t do so well,” Mia said of the dog show.
“Obedience, she got second in that,” Mia’s mother, Mary Jackson said.
Mia said the dog show was similar to their practice sessions.
She explained her nervousness went away once she realized the show was not really any different than the practice sessions.
“I knew he would be good,” Mia said of her standard poodle named Jax.
She said he behaved well despite being around all of the other dogs.
“This was his first time too,” she said.
Unfortunately, Jax was too tall to compete in the agility event — the obstacles could not accommodate his height.
“Now that you know what to expect, you will probably do better next year and so will Jax,” Jackson said.
The rabbit show did not go exactly as planned.
“We thought they were pure French flop ears but apparently they might be mutts,” Mia said.
Her mom explained that Mia had received the rabbits as a Christmas gift. Because they were not pure bred, they only received white ribbons at the fair. Mia was able to compete in rabbit showmanship, however. Next year though they plan to enter something different, a turkey.
In addition to her animals, Mia had several projects on display in the Home Ec. Building including a pillow, a bag for dog supplies, a collage, peanut butter cookies and a cake.
Her collage in the shape of a butterfly was chosen for the district fair in Springfield.
Mia said she thought her food projects could have qualified for the district fair if she had known they needed to have the recipe with them.
“I have no clue what I am doing next year,” Mia said about her craft projects but expressed interest in doing some again, mentioning baking and perhaps photography.
Mia is a legacy, her mother Mary had been in 4-H during her childhood. Mia skipped being a Clover Kid and waited until she could be a full member of 4-H.
“It was pretty good,” Mia said of her first year even though several of the dog show practices were canceled due to rain.
The 4-H year traditionally starts in the Fall after school has started and the state fair is over. Everything done over the year builds up to the Vernon County Youth Fair each summer and for a lucky few, the district or state fairs.
And what has 4-H done for Mia this year?
“I think it has helped her as far as socializing,” Jackson said. “I think it has helped with her confidence and it has shown her that it is gratifying to do something and be able to show something for it.”
“It helps them with life,” she said.
Mia’s first 4-H presentation this year was a demonstration during one of the club meetings that didn’t exactly go as planned.
“She was terrified,” Jackson said.
However, by the time of the fair, she was ready.
“I don’t think the [dog] show was that bad because it wasn’t all focused on me,” Mia said.
Mia said she will probably stay in 4-H throughout her childhood although her mom had to make her finish her first year.
“She had her reservations,” Jackson said. “It’s a scary thing to go into just because it’s new, and every time something’s new it makes them face their fears.”
Mia said she was glad her mom had pushed her through her first year.
“I think what it is too — fair is the big thing,” Jackson said. “That’s what you work towards in the end. You see your accomplishments to the end and it’s gratifying. That’s the big thing.”
Jackson said having to attend the club meetings, practices and meet the project deadlines taught Mia responsibility.
“The meetings were ok,” Mia said, but working with and showing her dog Jax was the best part of the year.
One accomplishment was to learn how to properly handle Jax.
What has the past year taught her?
“I’m not as shy,” Mia said.
Mia said the fair was not as difficult as she once thought it would be.
“It’s just like practice,” she said.