Barns labeled “rabbit,” “poultry,” and other titles had cages and pens lined up for each person’s animals.

A number of clubs, participants, and animal names — some as funny or clever as Rambo and Mrs. Snoutfire — were above every enclosure.

“Every species has showmanship,” said Courtney Krentz, Fair Board president. “So that’s based on the animal and the person. So it’s, basically, you showing off your animal, how much you know about it, how much you’ve worked with it. That’s really important.”

Krentz has been involved with 4-H since she was 14. Since then, she has never stopped loving the fair life, she said. She and the Fair Board members assist with the animal shows, but they also bring in the midway, grandstand events, and other community events.

News Photo by Michael Gonzalez Participants show off their cattle for a competition as others watch in the bleachers at the Alpena County Fairgrounds on Sunday.

The Alpena County Fair features 135 4-H participants of the shows and competitions. The youth organization 4-H allows children to learn about and participate in agricultural programs.

Michelle Eagling, the 4-H extension coordinator from Michigan State University, said children put a lot of work into their projects or animals.

“They work really hard working, training, feeding, learning about nutrition,” Eagling said. “We have market classes that you participate in. In market classes are where the youth have worked with their projects and the projects that will actually sell Friday. We had about 80 kids that participated in the market sale last year and I have about 115 this year.”

Many of the kids’ projects are sold on Friday during a market sale, during which people will purchase animals for butchering.

Tristan Weinkauf will participate in the sale. He has two lambs, Rocket and Fred, and has taken care of them for six to seven months.

News File Photo Market goats are enclosed for the Alpena County Fair shows and market sale at the Alpena County Fairgrounds in this August 2023 News archive photo.

He said he hopes to get $150 from the sale.

“It’ll help cover the purchase fee of the two,” Weinkauf said. “I’m hoping to put the rest of the money towards a car. It needs new tires and some insurance.”

Weinkauf is one of over 100 participants who will see the animals they have raised sold for food processing, a common occurrence for fairs across the country.

Krentz said it’s a difficult lesson, but one that’s important for kids.

“The kids work really hard to get buyers for their animals,” Krentz said. “They go out to the community and say, ‘Hey, this is what I’ve done all year. Will you come and buy my project?’ It is difficult, but, truthfully, it’s a good life lesson for the kids to know that it’s very prideful for them to know they’re able to raise the animal all the way up to the point of someone wanting to eat it.”

News Photo by Michael Gonzalez Participants show off their cattle for a competition at the Alpena County Fairgrounds on Sunday.

Other market fair events will go on until Wednesday, including hog shows, sheep shows, and more.

To find the schedule for the 2023 Alpena county fair, go to their website, AlpenaFair.org, or the Alpena County Fair Facebook page.

Mike Gonzalez can be reached at 989-358-5687 or mgonzalez@TheAlpenaNews.com.

News Photo by Michael Gonzalez Alpena County Fair judges inspect market turkeys for a quality competition at the Alpena County Fairgrounds on Sunday.