Farm Horizons Farm Horizons 10/16 | Page 6

Farm Horizons • Oct. 10, 2016 • Page 6 for the Minnesota State Fair Rural Youth and more information on the competiScholarship, which awards up to 20 scholtion, is available every year online the first arships of $1,000 to help further the educaMonday in May. tion of rural youth. Preparation The state fair also includes the FFA liveEntering the fair requires lengthy prepstock show, which typically runs four days aration. After participants are registered of the fair. Students regularly enrolled in an – Randi Bayerl, 4-H member and entered, they must begin working on agricultural education program, or who are their showmanship. active members of an FFA chapter are eli“You have to work all summer if you gible to compete. want to be on the level that the other competitors are at. For those looking to compete in the state fair without You have to work every day, all summer,” Moe said. “It’s having to qualify in county fairs, entering the open class a long process. You have to wash your animal to make livestock categories may be an option. it look nice. And that’s just at home – going to the show Every year, entry forms for open class livestock are should be nothing like the work you do at home.” available in early June. Those who wish to submit an enBayerl also goes through a lengthy process to prepare try online may visit the Minnesota State Fair website to for the state fair. Her routine includes waking up at 6 a.m. register and find the closing entry date for each category. every morning to bring her animals in from outside and For those who wish to enter the horse competitions, feed them. there are 17 different classes in the Lee & Rose Warner “At 9, I go back down, rinse them, and blow them out, Coliseum, and e ight in the AgStar Arena. and that helps their hair grow. If you keep them under The process for entering horse classes is similar to the fans, it’ll help the hair grow even more, so you can fill in open class livestock. The entry forms are also available divots in their body. You want their legs really big, so if in early June. they have long hair, it’ll help more.” There are also opportunities for those who would like Width and height of animals is one characteristic judgto compete in agricultural, horticultural, and bee culture es take into consideration. Stout and wide animals are competitions. The “Ag-Hort-Bee” classes include a varitypically judged the highest. Judges also pay attention to ety of options for competitions. how “feminine” or “pretty” the animals walk. The Ag-Hort-Bee premium book, which contains rules “Some cattle cover their tracks,” Bayerl said. “So, when ‘All your hard work eventually pays off. Never give up.’ DOT Inspections Benton Lake Cologne Church St. Edwards Ave. Ave. John Ave. Paul Miller St. 36 212 W. Louis St. Village Pkwy Specializing in Heavy Truck Repair 36 284 E. Louis St. Pleasant Adams Cir. Adams Ave. ★ Conrad Ave. 212 Lake St. S. He nery Ave. Market St. Playhouse Market St. Jacob Ave. Meuwissen Lake Adams Ave. Park St. Dr. Villa S. Jacob Ave. Easy access on ne Hwy 212, Colog 53 Cologne Community Center We assure the safety of your vehicle for you and others on the road with DOT inspections. We check the brake system, parking brake, tires, lighting devices, reflectors, emergency equipment, horn, windshield wipers, steering mechanism, coupling devices, wheels, rims and emergency equipment to keep your vehicle in line with all state and federal specifications. (952) 466-3710 www.midcountycoop.com