Wayne County Fair features kids and their animals

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA - The Wayne County Fair is about a lot of things: ferris wheels, crash cars, freak side shows, harness racing, games, hoop shooting, drag races, tractor pulls, motorcycle parades, stunt drivers, sodas and wurst. It’s also about animal farm competitions among a bevy of farm kids who belong to the Wayne County 4-H clubs.

“These kids work very hard all year long on the care of their animals, and come here hoping to win a prize for their efforts,” said Dave Messersmith of the Penn State Extension Office in Wayne County.

They get a lot more than prize ribbons and trophies, he said.

“They learn a lot of life skills,” said Catherine Dix, mother of the county Dairy Queen, Ashley Dix. “It teaches them responsibility in keeping financial records about their animals. They learn social skills in working with other kids and helping out others in the care of their animals. They learn to work hard. They form lasting friendships with the other kids.”

Ashley, who is a junior at Forest City High School, wants to go to college and study ag- science. “I don’t know exactly what aspect of agriculture,” she said.

There was also Carol Jona, age 9, who showed her Jersey cow. There was Jackie Chyle, 12, who brought 13 cows to the fair. There was Ryan Bailey, 14, who won first prize for his pig, Gem, who is six months old.

“Pennsylvania has over 40,000 farm families,” said Dave Williams of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. “Wayne County has 960 farm families. Farms are more than just dairy farms. There are goat farms, pig farms, rabbit farms and hay farms, vegetable farms and hard wood foresters, fish hatcheries, blueberry farms and mushroom farms. Agriculture is the leading industry in Pennsylvania, bringing in the most revenue. So these kids are part of Pennsylvania’s future economy. What happens here is very important.”