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Kalamazoo County Fair holds animal auction for animals trained by youths in 4-H

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Most of the Kalamazoo County Fair was canceled this year as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. But unlike last year, there was one event open to the public.

Kids and youth in 4-H, a national non-profit organization, got to show their animals, from horses to rabbits, at the fairgrounds this week and last at a livestock auction that ended Thursday, Aug 12.

The livestock weren’t present for the auction because of COVID restrictions, the youth showed them in advance. First rabbits and poultry, then bigger animals like pigs and lambs.

Nineteen-year-old WMU student and 4-H-er Jonathan Hunter says it’s better than last year.

“This year we’re getting back to it but it’s still not quite there," Hunter said. "Hopefully next year for my last year it’s back to normal.”

Hunter had a couple of dairy steers in the auction. Nine-year-old Anna Jubenville was selling some chickens.

“I can’t really pick them up," Jubenville said. "They’re way too big. So, when I try to weigh them my father has to chase them around the coop because he has the bigger hands, so.”

Michigan State University student Abby Van Dyk (dike) says she’s been showing livestock in 4-H for 15 years.

“This year’s actually my last year, so I’m very sad on how it ended. But it’s definitely bittersweet that we still get to have a fair this year compared to last year, not having it really at all.”

Van Dyk was selling her grand champion beef steer.

Sehvilla Mann joined WMUK’s news team in January 2014 as a reporter on the local government and education beats. Before that she covered a variety of topics, including environmental issues, for Bloomington, Indiana NPR and PBS affiliates WFIU and WTIU. She’s also written and produced stories for the Pacifica Network and WYSO Public Radio in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Sehvilla holds a B.A. in French from Earlham College and an M.A. in journalism from Indiana University.