‘They just really work hard’: Lancaster County Super Fair features 4-H art, animals and more

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lancaster County Super Fair kicked off on Thursday with animal shows, contests, food, games, carnival rides and even a shark encounter.

Organizers said the first few days of the fair are youth-oriented, showcasing the work of the 4-H programs.

4-H stands for Head, Heart, Hands and Health and is America’s largest youth development organization.

Kendra Ronnau, president of the Lancaster County Ag Society, said the fair is a great way to see the exhibits that kids have been working on all year.

“Children learn so much,” she said. “It’s multi-generational; you’ve got grandparents here helping. I just love the atmosphere.”

Exhibits include photography, entomology, clothing and textiles, horticulture, food and more. Kids can then enter into contests and win awards for the best exhibits.

Kristin Geisert, an associate with 4-H, helped run the static tables, which are the exhibits that don’t move.

She said the fair is “the pinnacle of experience” for kids participating in the program.

“It’s just quite amazing the talents that you’ll see around this room as they demonstrate it through their projects,” she said.

Many kids are also part of the agriculture program, which teaches kids about what ingredients are in our food and where it all comes from.

Paula Peterson, a farmer from Waverly, said there’s a good mix of urban and rural kids who participate.

“This is a chance that the rural kids can kind of share what they know about their farm with the kids that don’t have that opportunity,” she said.

Some kids also help take care of livestock like cattle, goats, chickens and horses, then put them on display.

Kate Pulec, another 4-H associate, said one way they do that is with the five-day horse show where kids get to show off how well they’ve trained their equines.

“The horses in particular is really a great project for youth to build their confidence, have that sense of responsibility, community, connection,” she said. “They just really work hard with their project.”

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From now until Sunday, the fair will host a variety of animal shows, including the games show Friday night, where horses will maneuver around obstacles. There’s also roping on Saturday and a costume contest on Sunday.

Also at the fair this year is a scavenger hunt, BMX stunts, animal encounters with sharks and stingrays, races in the grandstands, a beer garden and, of course, the carnival.

The Super Fair goes for 10 days, until Aug 12.