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Hattie Zwagerman, left, and her brother Arie prepare for the fair with one of their turkeys.
By Brooke Hammond, MCP Intern
The 85th Western Michigan Fair kicks off Monday, Aug. 5 and will run through Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Mason County Fairgrounds. The midway opens Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Youth animal displays and competitions are a fair tradition. Among those kids participating are Arie Zwagerman, 7, his sister, Hattie Zwagerman, 4, from Sheridan Township; and Henry Hilton, 12, and his sister Adalynn Hilton, 9, from Summit Township.
The four children will be bringing multiple animals to the fair. Arie, Henry and Adalynn are all 4-H members and Hattie will be participating in Little Famers category.
Arie will show four turkeys–one pen of two toms and a pen of two hens. Hattie will show a pig and turkey. Henry will be show a both a male and female pig as will Adalynn.
Henry and Adalynn Hilton pose with some of their fair hogs.
Henry and Adalynn enjoy raising pigs so much that they both said they would like to breed pigs one day.
The children are responsible for taking care of the animals they bring to the fair.
“We take the pigs to walk maybe five times a week,” said Henry.
Adalynn said her favorite part is keeping the pigs clean.
“I like washing them and giving them skin care,” Adalynn said. “We brush them to get the sawdust off then we shampoo them, and we condition them. Then I take them for a walk to dry them off.”
Henry and Adalynn purchased their pigs in March and work with them until they are sold in the West Michigan Livestock Council auction at the fair.
“When we get them, we cuddle and play with them for one or two weeks to get them used to us. Once we think they are used to us then we take them in the yard and start training with the whip,” said Henry. “We don’t hit them with the whip; we tap them.”
Arie cares for his turkeys in a variety of ways. “He is out there every day and every night feeding and watering his turkeys,” his mother, Bev Zwagerman, said.
Parents Bev and Jacob Zwagerman said they believe raising animals helps teach children valuable life skills. “It teaches them the anatomy of an animal. It also teaches them responsibility,” said Bev. “It is also a sense of pride knowing that they raised them from chicks. It gives them a sense of accomplishment.”
Parents Sara and Robert Hilton value the experience raising pigs has given their children. “It builds a good work ethic,” said Sara Hilton. “From a young age they are learning to work hard.”
According to Sara, the children are also required to seek out potential buyers for the West Michigan Livestock Council livestock auction, which will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10 beginning at 11 a.m.
“This teaches them how to reach out to other businesses. I just drive them there and they do all the talking,” said Sara.
For more information about the Western Michigan Fair, visit masoncountyfairgrounds.com.
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