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your homegrown newspaper July 31, 2024
Vol. 20, No. 46
Head, Heart, Hands, Health ‘Shine Through Since 1902’ By Summer Goddard Valley Journal
Lake monster pg. 6
Cherry Festival pg. 8
Living with Fire pg. 12
RONAN — The fairgrounds were a literal hot bed of activity last week as temperatures soared up to 100 degrees while local 4-H members proudly showed their animals and projects during the annual Lake County Fair. “Shining Through Since 1902,” was the theme for this year’s Lake County Fair - recognizing the longstanding (122 years) 4-H has been a progarm in the United States. Reagan Reash, a member of the Pistols and Ponytails 4-H Club, hugged her hen “Speckles” and reassured her during a hot afternoon in the shaded poultry area. This, Reash said, is her first year showing chickens and “Speckles,” she explained, is a Speckled Sussex British breed. “I’ve had her since she was a little baby,” Reash said, promptly giving her a peck on the top of her head. “I love her.” Regarding the fair, Reash said, “I like seeing
SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL
Reagan Reash hugs her hen “Speckles.”
all the different animals and the different types of chickens. And I like talking to people.” Her brother, she added, is going to show their goats Cruiser and Baxter. Of the many animals they have at home, including
horses, chickens, goats, dogs and cats, Reash likes horses and chickens best. In the goat barn, Kyra Marmon held a tiny baby goat (one of triplets) that she was goat-sitting for a friend. The tiny goat, that appeared to be even w w w.va l le yj our na l.net
smaller than most of the cats in the cat show, got plenty of attention from passersby. Marmon stood next to her goat, Mary’s, pen. Mary, a Nigerian Dwarf goat, laid in fresh straw with a bulging belly. “She
looks fat,” Marmon said “but she’s just digesting her food. They bloat because they ferment their food.” The digestion process, she explained, takes a couple hours and then see page 2