Jul. 26—MAPLE — In a tradition that dates back to her childhood, Kristin Clemmer is getting ready for the Head of the Lakes Fair.
The Maple woman used to bring projects to the fair as a Clover Country 4-H Club member. Now, her daughters, Ailie, 15, and Natalie, 16, are club members. They even have the same 4-H leader as their mom, Pat Luostari.
“I love it. She’s a very good leader and she’s awesome with the kids,” Kristin Clemmer said.
Ailie, a sophomore at Northwestern High School, is entering 42 projects in this year’s fair, which runs July 30 to Aug. 3 in Superior. They run the gamut from drawings, sculptures and photography to goats and sheep. Natalie, a junior, is bringing an array of stained-glass pieces as well as goats and sheep.
In preparation for the fair, the sisters have been walking their goats and sheep daily. The teens can pinpoint what traits judges will be looking for, and they work on showcasing the positive qualities of their animals.
“They can get friendly pretty easy,” said Ailie, president of the Clover Country 4-H Club. “A lot of them we’ve had since babies so then we can bottle-feed them and then they get really friendly.”
Penelope and Cutie are among the five goats heading to the fair from the Clemmer farm. Penelope is a yearling who is fairly calm and very food-motivated, Ailie said. Natalie described Cutie, who was born on the family farm last spring, as friendly.
“These ones actually started off just following us doing chores around the house,” Kristin said. “They always smell my pockets because I always carry treats around, so kind of just follow that way and then eventually you put the lead rope on and then they start following.”
Being involved in 4-H has also opened doors to travel and community service opportunities for the sisters, including a three-day trip in Madison last summer and a 10-day bus tour to the East Coast this year. The two have also volunteered as bell ringers for the Salvation Army and as Superior Days youth delegates. They said what they like most about 4-H are the experiences and meeting new people.
The annual fair offers 4-H members a chance to showcase their talents.
“There’s so many categories of things you can bring to the fair, it’s like anyone could bring whatever they’re interested in,” Ailie said.
The elder Clemmers also are participating. Kristin plans to bring some of her photography work to show in the open class. Ailie and Natalie’s father, Reuben, is entering some of their family’s grapes. Visit the
Head of the Lakes Fair website
and
Facebook page
for more information on events and judging times.
Indiera Connors, 15, and her quarter horse, Dally, powered through the barrels course at the Head of the Lakes Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 20, during the Barks, Barrels and Buckles horse show. They earned a time of 16.615, putting them in the running for second place in their category during the event, a fundraiser for the Humane Society of Douglas County.
Summer is travel season for the Maple teen, her family and their horses — 6-year-old Dally, a 12-year-old mare named Blue and an 11-year-old gelding named JD. They spend most weekends competing in events. It’s a way to earn prizes and it’s fun, Indiera said. Having a good run is also a big confidence booster.
“She’s been riding since she could sit up. Her whole life she’s rode horses and shown horses,” said her mother, Lareasha Connors.
A member of the Horses ‘R’ Us 4-H Club, Indiera is preparing to return to the Head of the Lakes Fairgrounds with the horses, as well as two pigs, next week. Being in 4-H is fun and the people are nice, she said, but there’s another thing the teen is looking forward to.
“I really like the fair because of Kosta’s Gyros,” said the Northwestern High School sophomore.
Indiera said caring for her horses includes riding each one at least six hours a week, often down roads. In addition to greeting them with grain in the morning and afternoon, there are daily eye drops for Dally, who has an ulcer in her eye.
Horses can be frustrating, but sweet, Indiera said. JD, a quarter horse-thoroughbred cross, can smile on command for a treat. Blue and Dally give kisses and Dally will lift up her front leg to give Connors an equine version of a fist bump.
Indiera plans to compete in the English and Western pleasure riding competitions and speed events at the fair.
Her mother is a leader of the Douglas County 4-H Horse Association and a former 4-H member herself.
“4-H brings kids out of their shell,” Lareasha said. “They make connections. It teaches them responsibility and discipline and to really work for something and get that reward of doing well. What 4-H can give to a kid and the opportunities they can have, it’s just priceless.”
Lareasha encouraged people to come to the fair to see the horses, other animals and projects.
“We have a little bit of everything,” she said.
There are 105 young people and 17 adult volunteers involved in Douglas County’s six 4-H clubs, according to Katie Stenroos, Douglas County 4-H program and youth development educator with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension. Two of the clubs, Bennett Pioneers and Curious Clovers, were formed in the past year.
Call 715-395-1365, email
or visit
douglas.extension.wisc.edu/4-h-2
for more information or to register.
