LENNOX, S.D. (KELO) — It’s showtime for 4-H competitors in KELOLAND.
In Lincoln County, 4-H Achievement Days are underway at the newly-constructed fairgrounds.
From chickens, to pigs, to sheep, the Lincoln County Fairgrounds are full of livestock.
Volk: Who do we have here?
4-H Competitor Allie Westra: This blue one, her name is Chunk, and that one’s name is Princess.
Westra’s two ewes are staying in one of several new facilities on the Lincoln County Fairgrounds.
“I’m really enjoying these pens. I’ve never had something this nice before,” Westra said.
The fairgrounds used to be located in Canton, but they were moved to Lennox in recent years.
“The buildings in Canton were getting in bad shape, so a lot of it, the poles and stuff were starting to rot off, they needed a lot of upgrades. There wasn’t good parking there. We needed more space to expand,” 4-H Building Committee President Mike Bosma said.
Because of the pandemic and transition to the new fairgrounds, Achievement Days have been non-traditional over the past several years.
In fact, during the past two Achievement Days, there were no barns, so competitors had to haul their livestock to the showring and haul them back home on the same day.
“The trailer shows, it was nice that we still got to show, but actually being here is going to be way more fun,” Westra said.
This year, Achievement Days have returned to normal after years of fundraising and construction.
“It’s very exciting. It feels great to have some nice facilities, be able to come in here and have things set up,” Bosma said.
And it’s giving a new and improved home to the activity that Westra loves.
“It’s just given me so many new friends, taught me so much about life, and leadership, and agriculture,” Westra said.
4-H projects are housed in an existing building on the new fairgrounds.
