FARMINGTON – As the San Juan County Fair comes to a close, new and returning competitors said they were happy to be back in the saddle after a year off because of COVID-19.
Billy Huish, a member of the volunteer San Juan County Fair Board, said board members weren’t sure they were going to be able to hold a full fair until July 1, which was five weeks from the start of the fair. They knew there would be an animal show, but as soon as they got word they could have a full fair, Huish said the rush was on.
“It was a fun scramble, but we did it,” Huish said.
This year’s event didn’t have every aspect that past fairs have had, because board members didn’t know until late whether the full event could be held. Even the fair book was missing.
“Until we get everybody back in the groove of a full-blown fair, then we can get a fair book out,” Huish said.
The fair had a separate carnival section with rides and games. A stretch of walkway through the center of the fair was lined with food trucks. This year, a new feature captivated the attention of fair-goers as well as the 4-H volunteers – the Look ‘n Lean Barn.
The attraction featured animals of all kinds including goats, donkeys, a goose, puppies, a pony, cows, horses and a baby pig named Groot.
While Groot stays in the safety of the Look ‘n Learn Barn, over at the pig barn, Tammy King, mother of 10-year-old Bailey King, said this was the second year her daughter was competing. The first year, Bailey showed one pig and placed second. This year, Bailey showed three pigs, each in a different class of breed and weight and received two second-place ribbons, one fifth-place ribbon and a third-place ribbon for a separate category.
“We get to spend time with them and it’s fun taking care of them,” Bailey said.
After raising the pigs, playing with them and having them be part of the family, Bailey and all the other 4-H kids have to face the music that their animal will probably end up at a butcher – something Bailey said still makes her a little sad.
Bailey’s grandfather, Brian Dils, said the reason the older generation involves the younger generation in the process is to teach them responsibility.
“We do it to teach responsibility to the young people, to know they have another life in their hands, and they’ve got to feed it and water it and take care of it,” he said. “And to also show them where our breakfast sausage comes from.”
Dils said that doing so also allows the younger generation to learn a special appreciation for where their food comes.
“It teaches them that they’ve got to have respect for it, and make sure that you feed them correctly and ethically, but it just teaches them a life lesson to know that when you go to the grocery store, that that bacon and sausage, that’s where that food comes from,” Dils said.
Dils said it is a little sad for the children and the families because they get attached to the animals. He added that each animal has its own personality.
“Some people will think it’s cruel, but we love them more than anybody,” he said. “We just know that for the nutrition of our body, we gotta have them.”
While the pigs are raised to be sold and butchered, Dils said the pigs live a happy life before they serve their “purpose.”
mmitchell@durangoherald.com
