WELLINGTON — One of the sweetest features at the Lorain County Fair is the Kids Fun Show.
If a child can walk and talk, he or she is probably big enough to win a ribbon, plaque and hat.
Youngsters up to — and including 8-year-olds — are eligible to enter. They just have to show up with a parent or caretaker between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Thursday at the Junior Fair Show Ring at Barn No. 9.
There is no registration fee, and no grades or premium money will be given.
Ken Pete, who supervises the Kids Fun Show, said it was created several decades ago to give the youngest children a part in the fair.
“They bring anything from flowers to snakes to a draft horse, a cookie, cow, rabbit, sheep or even their little brother or sister,” Pete said.
Young fairgoers can bring their favorite things to the Lorain County Fair on Thursday and answer questions from interested adults, including Tracey Dodsley, right.
The item or animal should be one the child is familiar with and can tell a judge about.
“Some of them won’t say a word and their mom’s talking for them,” Pete said.
Juanita Wright, fair secretary, said her daughter Tammy took bunnies one year and a horse another year.
Wright and Pete said it is good experience for youngsters to learn how to speak publicly, and the judges are very kind.
“They have people who are so good with the kids,” Wright said.
Every year, there is a special surprise or two, but Pete said nothing beat the time when a child brought a 5-foot-long slithering friend.
“The kid brought a freaking snake and dumped it out of his backpack — the crowd dispersed, and I held it,” Pete said with a laugh.
Nonplussed, the judge proceeded with questions such as “What does this snake eat?” Pete said.
The Kids Fun Show can be considered a precursor to 4-H, and the LaGrange Sodbusters 4-H group helps by making the plaques for the children, Pete said.
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
