PLAINS – The 4-H clubs of Sanders County converged at the fairgrounds Saturday morning for fair readiness, in which participants and their patient parents cleaned up the five 4-H buildings to prepare for Fair this week.

Among the chores partaken, which included sweeping up leaves and making the animal stalls habitable for their animal projects, the main task at hand in the animal buildings was that of filling stalls with hay and sawdust. Participants hauled loads of sawdust in wheel barrows and then spread the sawdust in the stalls for swine, goats, and beef. 

“It’s not a requirement for the kids to do this, but pretty much everyone chips in,” MSU extension agent for Sanders County John Halpop said. “But Fair readiness counts as community service for participants, which is a requirement.”

It was not only the efforts of the young participants that made the grounds ready for Fair, but it was also the support and direction of 4-H volunteers and parents. 

Families brought their own brooms, shovels, rakes, buckets and more to contribute to the event. 

“Community service is a big part of 4-H, and so is Fair,” Halpop said