By Sydney Leyerle

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

Pee Wee Showmanships are returning to the Wood County Fair after a successful turnout last year.

The beef and sheep departments had their first ever pee wee shows last year and are returning for a second year. The goat and swine departments have had pee wee shows in the past and will be continuing those shows again this year.

The beef and sheep departments had their first ever pee wee shows last year and are returning for a second year. The goat and swine departments have had pee wee shows in the past and will be continuing those shows again this year.

supplied photo

Amanda Barndt, who hosts the sheep pee wee show, said they had a turnout last year of over 35 kids and she expects a similar number this year.

“There’s a lot of younger siblings of 4-H members that want to show,” she said. “So, there’s a lot of kids in Wood County that want to participate in the pee wee show.”

The pee wee sheep show, Barndt said, will be the same as last year with children ages 2-8 being able to participate. Each kid will be paired up with an older 4-H member who will teach them anything they need to know about the animals and showing.

The 4-H members can use the pee wee shows for volunteer hours, but Barndt said many of them do it because they love helping and serving others.

“They’re giving their time to share what they know about the livestock industry and I think that gives them a lot of pride that they’re doing what they love,” she said. “They’re showing a little kid how to do it, and they’re serving their community.”

Many of the 4-H members that helped last year will be returning this year.

Summer Heldman, who helped with the sheep pee wee show last year, said she is looking forward to helping the younger kids again and getting to see their smiling faces while they show.

“It was a very fun experience for me and I think being able to see the kids do it definitely gives more interest for me and makes it a big deal for me too,” she said.

Along with teaching the kids about the animals, Heldman said she also thinks the pee wee shows teach the kids about responsibility and hard work.

Responsibility isn’t the only thing the pee wee shows can teach the kids.

Angel Korotnayi, whose son Levi Korotnayi showed in the pee wee show last year and worked with Heldman, said it also teaches kids to take pride in their hard work and to be accountable.

“I think it’s great because it gives them a responsibility at such a young age to care for something other than themselves,” she said.

Last year was the first time her son had done anything like this, and Angel Korotnayi said even though they were a little uncertain at first, they greatly enjoyed the experience.

Levi Korotnayi will be participating again this year and his younger brother will also be participating for the first time.

Throughout the experience, Angel Korotnayi said she was impressed with everyone involved, especially the 4-H members and the judges.

She said she appreciated that the judges asked the pee wee kids questions and weren’t just speaking to the older kids. Everyone, she said, was very patient and had a lot of useful information.

“I really don’t think it would have been that great if they weren’t so patient with him and so informative and that’s why it was the best,” she said. “I mean it really was, it made me really proud.”

The pee wee sheep show will be Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. The swine pee wee show is on July 31 at 6 p.m., the goat show is Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. and the beef show is Aug. 4 at 5:30 p.m.