I always enjoy shooting the county fair because it's a challenge to get something great and unique from previous years. I only had a couple days to photograph it this year so it was a lot tougher to do that. 

Portrait not from the fair.

Last Sunday a fun feature project I've been working on ran two photo pages in the paper. I wanted to learn what goes into taking care of the animals that kids show at the fair so I went out to interview and spend an evening with eight different kids. I had no idea how much competition there is and that it's a year-round commitment for most kids. My goal is to eventually make it part of a larger story but for now it was just a preview feature for the county fair. 

Here's the link to the gallery and story that I wrote. 

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/perspectives/fair-aspirations/article_6d85f7a4-f0d2-11e2-9642-001a4bcf6878.html

Morgan George, 19, walks a sheep through the 1/3 mile mowed loop at her Grandmother’s farm in Hallsville on Tuesday, July 2, 2013. George has been showing sheep in the Hallsville 4H club since she was 8-years-old. She takes her animals to smaller fairs in the area to get more experience showing for herself and the animals in preparation for the Boone County Fair and the Missouri State Fair. The sheep go through daily routines of being walked a mile and getting used to being handled and wearing a halter.

Morgan George, 19, washes her hogs off after exercising them during her evening routine in Hallsville on Tuesday, July 2, 2013.

Morgan George, 19, washes off her hogs and lets them drink from the hose after exercising them during her evening routine in Hallsville on Tuesday, July 2, 2013.

Trevis Wadlow, 10, holds a chicken in the coop at his home in Hallsville on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Trevis and his sister Shayden Wadlow, 12, have been raising chickens for three years to show in the fair. Trevis shows a black and white Barred Rock Rooster named Roody and Shayden shows a brightly colored Americana Rooster named Roy. “It takes raising a lot of chickens to maybe have one that’s good enough for showing,” said Trevis who is quick to snatch one up to show off its perfect features. 

Ashley Hrdina, 12, left, and Jillian Barnett, 12, run with their pigs at Hrdina’s farm in Columbia on Friday, July 12, 2013.  The two friends have been raising their three hogs, Penelope, Periwinkle and Phyllis, since March when they were just 50 pounds each. “I’ve always wanted a horse but that’s not going to happen, so we got pigs,” said Jillian. Ashley’s father, Gene Hrdina, used to raise pigs and the girls knew he could help them along the way. They’ve learned how to feed and water them regularly, rub sunscreen on their backs when they get sunburned and spend time relaxing with them. “One of the best parts is when they run around the pen like crazy,” said Ashley who proceeded to run off with the three pigs in tail. When it comes to what they have learned the most about pigs Jillian said the hardest part is the pigs can act like a human without coffee and get really grumpy. “Sometimes she’ll look at you and have a look and break your heart but other times she’s just bacon,” said Jillian with a laugh. The girls know they’re going to sell the pigs at the end of the fair but they have mixed feelings at the moment about letting them go.”It’s kind of going to break my heart to sell her but she’s going to provide food for people and benefit the community,” said Jillian.

Ashley Hrdina, 12, sits next to her pigs Phyllis and Penelope on Friday, July 12, 2013. 

Jamie Barta, 11, feeds her heifer, Juliet, at her home in Rocheport on Monday, July 15, 2013. Barta started working with Juliet last November to get her ready for the fair this year. Jamie said when it was time to start training Juliet the hardest part was getting her to walk smoothly alongside her. "They like to fight the halter a lot, that's why you have to work with them a lot."