The 4-H exhibitions bustled with young contestants and their families at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Wednesday morning. Kids and teens refilled water troughs, brushed and bathed their goats, pigs, poultry and rabbits in the dusty, 90-degree heat. Recent winners spent time with their animals and proudly displayed their ribbons as friends and family congratulated them.

Mckenna Harshfield, 14, of Athol, sat beside her Boer goat, Chomper, to keep him company as they prepared for their upcoming competitions today and Friday. At 224 pounds, Harshfield says Chomper is the biggest goat in the barn this year.

“He’s very friendly, he doesn’t really love kids, though,” Harshfield said. “When they come close, he headbutts them.”

This is Harshfield’s fourth year competing in 4-H and her third year showing Chomper at the North Idaho State Fair. Chomper placed third in showmanship last year, and Harshfield hopes she will fare well with him in the upcoming pack and showmanship competitions this week.

“It’s months of preparation,” Harshfield said. “You go to meetings, you practice almost every day. It’s a lot of work.”

Adjacent to the goat barn, the poultry barn is filled with the ruffling of feathers and chickens scratching for tidbits in their wood shavings. Young contestants Ashtyn Hahaj, Blane Penberthy and Cora Penberthy proudly cradled their feathered friends.

Ashtyn Hahaj, 8, of Athol, is the proud owner of Grand Champion winner Mayflower, a Bantam Barred Rock hen. Hahaj has been working with chickens nearly her entire life, but this is her first year at the fair with Mayflower. She says she is Mayflower’s favorite human, and the two are close companions.

“She’s just so calm, I can pretty much do anything with her,” Hahaj said.

Cora and Blane Penberthy, ages 6 and 10, hail from Rathdrum with their hens. Cora is proud of her favorite hen, Rose, a Silver-Laced Wyandotte that won an honorable mention in showmanship. This is Cora’s first time showing at the fair. Blane is competing at the fair for the second year with his Easter Egger, Sonic, a finalist in junior showmanship.

“She’s super big and fluffy,” Blane said. “She’s just super fun to be with.”

Next door to the poultry barn is the rabbit barn, where Camden Bradshaw, 16, tends to his three rabbits. Shadow, Raven and Ox are Silver Fox rabbits, a large, rare American Heritage breed. Bradshaw enjoys working with them for their unique fur, which stands upright when stroked in reverse, with silver hairs scattered throughout a mostly black pelt.

Bradshaw has been showing animals at the North Idaho State Fair for eight years. He started with pigs and goats, but rabbits are his favorite.

“I’ve been getting comfortable with the rabbits, because rabbits are kinda scared if they don’t know you,” Bradshaw said. “You have to let them know that you’re their friend and not an enemy.”

This year, Bradshaw won blue and red ribbons in the market show, which evaluates the value of rabbits based on meat quality. A blue ribbon indicates a high-quality rabbit. The rabbits will sell Saturday, and Bradshaw expects to receive around $300 for them.

Bradshaw enjoys attending the fair every year, watching the animal competitions and appreciating the time and effort his fellow 4-H members have dedicated to their animals. He especially enjoys watching the pigs.

“They run off sometimes and it’s really fun watching them chase after them,” Bradshaw said.

All the 4-H competitors are proud of the animals they have spent many hours working with this year. For those who have yet to compete, the next few days of the fair are full of hope and excitement.

The North Idaho State Fair continues through this weekend.

    Blane Penberthy, age 10, with his hen Sonic on Wednesday at the North Idaho State Fair.
  

    Mckenna Harshfield, age 14, with her goat Chomper on Wednesday at the North Idaho State Fair.
  

    Ashtyn Hahaj, age 8, with her hen Mayflower on Wednesday at the North Idaho State Fair.
  

    Cora Penberthy, age 6, with her hen Rose on Wednesday at the North Idaho State Fair.