Through the 4-H program, kids learn “extremely valuable” life lessons and develop lifelong friendships, Stiles-Mikesell said, noting less than 1% of the country’s population works in agriculture.

“When you think about these kids, they are the future one percent, and we are going to make sure that they have all the tools that they need to be really good at what they choose as a career,” she said. “Belonging is extremely important for kids, and whenever they feel that connection that they’re doing something the same as somebody else, they bond and then they move through life together.”

For Lexi Seilhamer, 12, of Gallitzin, the bond she’s made with sisters Aaliyah and Alana Kapustka, 11 and 10 respectively, is what makes this year’s fair so special. It’s the first time each of them has ever shown horses in the fair, Seilhamer said, noting the Kapustkas are like family members to her, though they’re not related.

Lexi Seilhamer, 12, of Gallitzin walks 25-year-old American Paint “Fancy” outside the stables at the American Legion County Fair in Ebensburg on Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“Showing the horses and everything is just amazing and it’s so fun,” Seilhamer said.

In her two years with 4-H, Seilhamer said she’s learned to “always be kind” and “always be nice” to her horse.

“Never take anything out on your horse,” she said of the lessons she’s learned.

Brothers Logan and Blake Skebeck said they learned how to work hard by taking care of their goat, two steers and four lambs all year long.

“I look forward to showing here,” said Logan Skebeck, 15. “I enjoy getting to work with the animals.”

Kensley Shall, 9, of Loretto has a battle of wills with her market goat prior to Tuesday’s Open Class Goat show at the American Legion County Fair in Ebensburg. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Blake Skebeck, 12, said he enjoys washing his lamb and blowing him out at the fair, in preparation for the 4-H lamb show that took place Tuesday morning.

Loretto resident Michael Watt, 17, said his uncle influenced him to become involved in 4-H and he has enjoyed participating in the fair through the years. He has 10 steers, six pigs and one heifer in this year’s fair, he said.

“The main thing is it teaches you how to take care of these animals,” Watt said of 4-H. “It shows you where your food comes from and the amount of effort, time and passion that it takes to do all of this.”

In preparation for the fair, Watt said he spent a lot of time with his animals to make sure they were behaving well.

“You can’t really predict how well they’re going to look, but you can try to,” Watt said. “You almost form a bond between you and your animals because you watch them grow from wee little.”

The youth livestock sale as the fair wraps up on Saturday is always an emotional, yet rewarding, time for Watt and other participants, he said.

Even for the parents, “it’s definitely emotional” to part ways with an animal at the livestock sale, said Erin Becker of Dysart.

According to Becker, her children — Joseph, 11, and Wesley, 9 — look forward to the sale as well because “it’s like the last day that they get to show off the project that they work really hard on.”

Wesley said he enjoys washing and feeding his goats and cows on their farm. On the other hand, Joseph said he enjoys competing against others at the fair every year.

“Most of all, I just try to have fun. Having fun is like the important part,” Joseph said.

Doug Reighard, a fair board member, said there’s plenty of fun to be had at the fair, with quad drag racing planned for tonight, Wednesday, in the grandstand. There is also a beef show planned for 9 a.m. and a dairy beef show at 1 p.m., both at the fair’s arena. A goat/sheep costume contest is taking place at 5 p.m. in the show tent, followed by a supreme showman contest at 6 p.m. in the fair’s arena.

Thursday’s activities include horse performance classes at 11 a.m.; a silver shoe rodeo club and a rabbit agility contest, both at 5 p.m.; a poultry show at 6 p.m.; a kids’ power wheels demo derby at 6:30 p.m.; and a compact demo derby at 7 p.m.

Friday features a rabbit costume contest, a kiddie tractor pull and a large car demo derby, Reighard said, noting the fair wraps up with a monster truck show Saturday night.

Tickets for a basket raffle in the Merlo building will be sold daily, with the drawing held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Reighard said.

New daily activities for this year’s fair include a live butterfly exhibit and Jurassic Kingdom, according to the schedule of events.

“They have dinosaurs and stuff that come out and interact with the kids a little bit, so it’s a lot of fun. The kids seem to like that,” Reighard said, adding the money raised from the fair each year goes into making improvements for the next year’s fair.

As soon as the fair ends, volunteers are “already on it” for planning the next year’s event.

“We’ve started working on some stuff for next year already, so it’s a never-ending process,” Reighard said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.