Waitsburg Kids Earn Ribbons At Puyallup Fair

WAITSBURG - Five Waitsburg students pre- sented demonstrations and illustrated talks at the biggest fair in the state the past two weekends.

The students, Seamus House, Tom House, Drew Farley, Amy Farley and Jared Farley prepared their presentations and stood up and spoke in front of audiences the weekends of Sept. 15 and 16 and Sept. 22 and 23.

And the kids performed well.

For their presentations, Drew Farley earned a blue ribbon, Amy Farley earned a Special Merit ribbon, and Jared Farley performed so well he was invited back to the Puyallup Fair next year to promote beef. Both Tom and Seamus House received blue ribbons for their demonstrations at the fair last Sunday.

The students were chosen to compete at the Puyallup Fair because of their great presentations last spring in Waitsburg and Spokane at junior livestock events. This was the first time any of the children had been selected to compete at the state level.

The kids said it only took a couple of days to prepare their presentations and make their brightly colored presentation post- ers.

And if they made their posters without much written information, Amy Farley said it was harder to remember what to say. But, with lots of practice, these kids got better and better.

"The first time you go and talk to people you feel nervous," she said.

The topics were based on the animals the children show at the fair each year.

Seamus House decided to speak about swine ear notches and how those notches tell what order a pig was born in.

Seamus House had gone to the Walla Walla Fair with his demonstra- tion and earned blue ribbons there. In Spokane, he also earned a plaque for earning Grand Champion for his demonstration at the 4-H Junior Livestock Show.

Drew Farley chose to research where the differ- ent cuts of meat are from on a cow.

Amy Farley researched all of the parts and pieces of a steer because she just didn't know them all, she said.

Jared Farley looked into the nutritional components of beef after hear- ing about "pink slime" that was allegedly served at American fast-food chains.

"It brought me to the topic of 'what's in beef?'" he said.

Tom House researched pig worms after Sandra Farley, the leader of the 4-H Corral Wranglers, brought some to show the group.

"It was very hellip; kind of gross," Tom House said.

And the best part about visiting the Puyallup Fair and giving their presenta- tions? The best part was the product of so much practice.

"It is not being scared," Tom House said.