PLANKINTON, SD (Mitchell Now) — When Mitchell Now pulled into the dirt parking lot at the Aurora County Fairgrounds in Plankinton on Friday, 4-H Achievement Days was just beginning to get into full swing, with excitement already palpable.
The display building was filled with projects running the gamut from food sciences to photography. Paige Olivier, 15, has a keen eye for animals when working with a shutter and lens. She also was planning on showing her skills as a sewer and seamstress, plus a baker.
Olivier’s food entries were bagged to preserve freshness, holding back their aroma from curious noses, but somehow still seemed tantalizing for those walking past with an empty stomach.
Alexis Moore, 17, was still nearly 24 hours away from taking part in the livestock show, being held on Saturday. She was showing a variety of goats, all of which take months of preparation before ever making it inside the show ring.
Bristol Nydam only started showing animals in 4-H at about 11, which is later than many Mitchell Now has interviewed so far this week. She says the influence of her step grandfather got her involved. Now 15 years old, she was rearing to go to get her cattle before the judges.
Swine, goats, calves, beef, and sheep were all part of Saturday’s livestock show. Smaller animals were shown in the afternoon, and the festivities ended with a community pork barbecue and pie auction.
Check out photos below of what we found in Aurora County:
Aurora County 4-H Achievement Days coverage is possible thanks to Kehn’s Carpet Cleaning, Agtegra of Woonsocket, Farmers and Merchants State Bank-Plankinton and White Lake, Farm Credit Services of America, 281 Meats, Kimball Livestock, Martin Trudeau Insurance, Nutrien Ag Solutions, JD Concrete, Zach Scott Construction, and Midstate Communications.