Flagler County, FL – Dressed in their finest, proudly representing their organization, youth from across Flagler County headed to the Flagler County Fairgrounds on Friday evening for the culmination of a year’s worth of work.
Showcasing their projects – livestock they have raised and cared for over the course of the season, students offered a look at the rabbits, pullets, goat, heifer, steer, and swine, up for auction during Friday night’s sale, setting up early in the week during a downpour.
“All week long, they’ve had shows every night,” said Flagler County Fair & Youth Show President Penny Buckles. “The dedication of the kids and the parents, they came out in that storm to bring their animals, it was awesome. I love these kids and their parents.”
Olivia Denino, President of the Flagler Palm Coast High School 4-H Club was among those at Cattleman’s Hall on Friday evening to meet with attendees and help oversee the event’s success.
“It’s amazing. I’ve spoken to some of the little kids and it’s just fun talking with them and helping them with their animals. They love telling us about their animals. They all have names for them. It’s so much fun and I love little kids, seeing them light up about something that they’re passionate about,” she said.
Denino has used the opportunity to lead as a chance for teambuilding during her time in leadership.
“I was always interested in seeing what the other kids wanted to do,” she said, incorporating photography and gardening into the projects while learning leadership skills as part of the organization.
The projects have earned special places in the hearts of their students, and while the steer and swine usually draw big numbers during the auction each year, it was one rabbit, shown by 13-year old Rylie King that ended with murmurs of appreciation for dedicated mother Brittany King and family, who paid $1,300 for her daughter’s rabbit after a heated bidding war in the arena.
“She fell in love honestly,” said King. “This is her first year doing 4-H and she just grew a bond to him, and couldn’t let him go.”
As part of the Bunnell Homesteaders Cloverbud 4-H Club, the seventh grade student has a vision for her future that includes animal care.
“She wants to be a large animal vet when she grows up, so this is her stepping stone in her career,” shared King. “That’s what she sees it as. This has opened her up and we’re just really proud of her.”
The Flagler County Fair & Youth Show traditionally coincides with a large carnival at the fairgrounds, and while less boisterous this year, Buckles, who oversees the event as fair manager was glad to have a return to the in-person show and sale for the students, who benefit from the sale of their projects and display their club entries for recognition.
“The money actually goes to each and every kid that owns the animal,” said Buckles. “Most of these kids use it for their scholarships, it goes into a savings account. Some kids use it for next year’s projects as well, because this is a project. This is a business venture for these kids,” she said.