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| Showing Small Animals at the Clark County Fair | |||
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| By Christina Earon Moapa Valley Progress Submitted April 16, 2008 The sound of chickens clucking, rabbits nibbling, and ducks quacking could be heard as the fair gates opened and families piled in to see the animals in the Small Animal exhibit of the Fair. Steve Bartis, Coordinator of Small Animals, as well as his wife, Sandi Bartis, and volunteer staff, which consisted of Taylor Asaro, Robert Ballmer, the Earon family, Kristin Uri, |
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and Mike Uri, worked hard before the fair opened. They set up the cages, checked animals in, and kept all of the animals fed and watered. The tradition of the Small Animal Building began in the mid 1980s when the Uri family took the reigns. Bartis began working in the Small Animal Building in 1997 when he entered some of his animals in the fair. Then in 1998, he was asked to judge the animals and volunteered to take care of them as well. He tries every year to improve the building as much as he can. “It takes great pride and many people to help assist me,” Bartis said. “I have had the same people for the last seven years and they are like family to me. Asaro, age 14, grew up in this building and the Earon family started assisting me when they entered an animal. Without the staff and volunteers, the Small Animal Building would not exist.” As the crowds made their rounds through the Small Animal Building, they saw Mrs. Prisbey’s and Mrs. Nelson’s 3rd grade class’ corn. There were many different animals on display including rabbits, chickens, roosters, ducks, pigs, goats, doves, and reptiles. There was also a mouse, guinea pig, quail, partridge, goose, and a turkey. Over 160 animals were entered this year; a little less than last year. Next to the animals was Terry Brooks Rabbits. Brooks, from Las Vegas, raises rabbits for a living, and sells them. This was her third year at the Clark County Fair selling rabbits.This year she sold over 100 of them in four days. Past Brooks was the 4-H area where they had their pigs and held karaoke during the day as well as a butter carving contest on the weekend. Agriculture of Nevada had an educational display showing different feeds used in raising different animals. The committee decided to add a couple of new events to the Small Animal Building this year which included a children’s garden where the kids could dig up carrots, onions, and potatoes just like a real farmer, a coloring poster for the children, and Chicken Bingo for the adults just to name a few. Bartis and his staff asked questions to the children about chickens and gave out red and blue ribbons for answering them correctly. |
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