OTTUMWA —
Bridge View Center’s exposition hall was a little quieter Friday for the 4-H rabbit and poultry show, save for a few squawks from some cooped-up roosters.
The 4-H Expo continued Friday with “Fun, Friends and Learning Day,” with kids participating in the sheep and goat and the rabbit and poultry shows, different arts and crafts activities and more.
Michael Akers, 14, of Ottumwa, snagged the blue ribbon in showing his steel mini-lop rabbit, Chester, in his second year participating in 4-H.
“It’s a funny story how he got his name,” Akers said. “At first, we thought his coat was chestnut, so I named him Chester. About five months later, we realized he was a steel. But I kept the name.”
Akers also showed three other rabbits, since his 4-year-old brother was too young to participate.
His mother, Lisa, said she always had rabbits as a child and was also a 4-H kid.
Judges, such as Vance Vestwebber, follow a certain standard, judging things such as how a rabbit looks, its fur and the length of its ears, among others.
“I always really wanted to show rabbits,” Michael said. “And it turns out, I’m good at photography, too, so I had two photos considered for state this year.”
These judging shows are good for kids, Lisa said, since it shows them how to raise an animal, take care of them and make sure they’re tame.
Mackenzie Adkins, 4, of Ottumwa, was called upon by volunteer Steve Tanner to help him demonstrate part of the afternoon’s woodworking project: bubble gum machines.
Adkins said she was excited and a little bit scared when Tanner used the air nailer to seal together the two pieces of wood she was grasping.
This year was Adkins’ first 4-H Expo.
While she’s too young to participate in 4-H yet, the workshops and crafts are a good way to introduce young children to what 4-H has to offer.
Tanner, a “4-H dad,” said he’s held the woodworking workshops the Friday of the 4-H Expo every year for the past eight years.
“A lot of the older kids were little ones doing this seven or eight years ago,” Tanner said, pointing out several of the teenage volunteers helping the kids saw and sand their bubble gum machines.
More than 50 kids turned out this year for Tanner’s morning and afternoon workshops.
“These workshops give kids the opportunity to get hands-on with tools, and it teaches them a good work ethic,” Tanner said. “They learn to put hard work into it.”
And the 4-H program teaches kids life skills, he said.
“It gives them opportunities to work with and meet other people,” Tanner said.
Local News
Related Photos
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Kids gathered around work tables at the 4-H Expo’s woodworking workshop Friday afternoon to learn how to make their own personal bubble gum machines. Chelsea Davis/The Courier
July 21, 2012
Hard work equals ribbons, recognition at 4-H Expo
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