CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. (WENY) -- The 181st annual Chemung County Fair is right around the corner. 4-H members have been preparing for fair week, all year. Children of all ages will be showing animals of all different kinds, from rabbits to goats to horses.  

“I always say that 4-H is the best village and when I say that from, like, a personal level...as a staff member and as a parent,” Sasha Diederich, 4-H Youth Development Resource Educator, said. “4-H families have a way of sticking together and making things happen.” 

 With the Chemung County Fair only being 16 days away, Diederich has been helping her eight-year-old son Wade prepare his animals to show. This year, Wade will be showing three goats, two sheep, two turkeys, and his chickens.  

“I feed them and water them and make sure they're healthy,” he said.  

4-H volunteer Cathy Hendrickson is helping her 11-year-old daughter, Grace, prepare for her third year showing animals at the fair, alongside Wade. Grace is preparing to show three rabbits, goats, and a horse. 

Hendrickson said she put her daughter in 4-H during the Covid-19 pandemic. Three years in, Hendrickson does not regret keeping up with the program because it teaches children valuable lessons. 

“It's the perfect learning opportunity,” she said. “They get to learn an amazing amount of information about different breeds, species...and how it applies to their life. It also teaches them really good ethics and morals and...just good life skills.” 

The preparation does not stop until the first day of the county fair arrives. Wade has been taking his goat Vincenzo on long walks to prepare him for the arena. 

“I square their feet and train them,” he said.