Here Comes County Fair Week

With six years of 4-H experience under her belt, Dakota Vrbas, 14, has set her goals and looks forward to a successful Kimball-Banner County Fair.

Beginning Aug. 8, 119 exhibitors from 66 area families will be ready to compete at the fair. Dakota shared that she is “hoping to win several grand championships.”

According to Dakota, 4-H has taught her a multitude of things, including “leadership, confidence, and how to work with others.”

Her 4-H talents range from sewing to photography and sheep, pigs and chickens.

Mom Farris Vrbas is Dakota's leader, but her grandma Linda Williams has helped her with her sewing projects. This year, Dakota made a wool dress and jacket. When Dakota has trouble reading the directions on the patterns, her grandma is there to help. But over time, Dakota has learned to sew by herself.

Admitting that she has “cut back on 4-H stuff” because she is working some now and just “doesn't have enough” time, Dakota still has a large variety of projects. Those projects include photography to the creation of a barn quilt to raising and showing market animals.

Dakota will be showing three lambs plus her breeding ewes, two pigs – “which are looking pretty good” – chickens, and possibility her cat.

While she lives in town, she said she goes to the farm “every morning to work my animals, feed them, and do my chores.”

The freshman at Kimball High School knows what every 4-H'er and FFA student knows – when others need help, the experienced 4-Her's are there. Dakota has younger sisters, and she encourages and helps them learn to show their animals.

On Monday, Aug. 8, Dakota will model and have her wool dress and jacket judged. Tuesday, she will take her photography projects to the fair. Thursday is weigh-in day for sheep and swine. Finally, Friday is show day for market animals.

The fair concludes with the livestock auction on Monday, Aug. 15.