Animals and tradition took center ring at the 164th Bellville Street Fair on Saturday morning. Many area children worked hard all year and summer to get their turkeys, rabbits, cows and other livestock ready for show and sale at the livestock auction.
Dillon Bradley, 13, raised a 48.2 pound turkey that won Grand Champion of all the turkeys. The turkey sold for $150 to Mechanics Bank.
Anne Bradley, Dillon’s mother, said Dillon got his turkey as a little peep back in April. “They are responsible for raising them and preparing them for judging,” she said.
Dillon, a member of 4-H, said he likes being in 4-H and raising turkeys. “It’s really easy to raise turkeys,” the eighth grade Clear Fork student said.
“We let him outside to get exercise,” he said of how he got the turkey so plump.
From start to finish, Dillon said he likes to see how big the turkey can get.
Mica McKenna, 11, won Reserve Grand Champion, which is second place, for her turkey. The Lucas Buyers Club shelled out $200 for her animal.
Mica raised turkeys last year for the fair and has also participated in the Richland county Fair.
“They’re easy and they’re different,” the Lucas Middle School student said of why she likes raising turkeys. “Their heads are warm and they just strut and wobble.”
Mica, also a member of 4-H, said she fed her turkey “power fuel” along with letting it eat “bugs and grass” in order to make it so big.
When she showed the bird, Mica explained, she had to flip it over and explain the breed and the different parts of the bird.
Brooklyn Reasor, 17, showed her two beef steer but they were not up for auction because they didn’t reach the required weight.
The Clear Fork junior said she showed pigs last year and this was her first time showing cattle.
“It takes a lot of time and dedication,” said Brooklyn. “It’s also a lot of work with the animals.”
Brooklyn said her favorite tradition of the fair is watching her friends raise animals and then bring them to the fair for showing, judging and possibly for auction.
“I’ve always been around livestock and its cool all the new things I get to do with them,” she said.
Brooklyn Weinandy, 8, raised three rabbits for show and auction at the fair. She placed second in her weight class and also received a ribbon for showmanship.
