4-Hers prepare animals for show at Fryeburg Fair

FRYEBURG — Some curious things can be heard when one enters the 4-H barn in the Fryeburg Fair.

"I'm training her hair," said Tom Kimball, a 14-year-old student from Arundel, when asked why he was combing a cow's hair upward.

Kimball is one of scores of youngsters at the 4-H barn this week preparing their cows, goats, sheep and other livestock for show.

Along with his brother Jared, 9, Kimball is following in the footsteps of his father who used to show steer at the Fryeburg Fair in the 1980s.

"My dad did it when he was a kid," said Kimball, who was preparing his Hereford heifer for a show Saturday.

Raised on a farm with 180 dairy cows milked for Oakhurst Dairy, Kimball said the heifer he is showing this week is a beef cow. By the time she is 10 years old, the cow will be at the slaughterhouse.

But for now, the cow, who he named "Bailey," is only 1 year old, pregnant and has about four more good show years in her.

Kimball said he has a lot to do to prepare Bailey for the show.

"I'm training her hair. I want to show more muscle," he said as he combs the hair upward on the cow's back.

Kimball said he will also wash and clip the cow to put her in top form.

Prizes are awarded in the amounts of $100, $80 and $60 for the top three placements.

Although Kimball has another beef cow that he uses for 4-H, "This one I just show for fun," he said.

Like many youngsters at the 4-H barn, Kimball spends the entire week at the fair. When asked how he makes up class time, Kimball said with a smile, "I study hard."

ldixon@sunjournal.com