Bonds that Endure
Siblings Josie, 13, and Luke Boyle, 11, participated in 4H at the Dubuque County Fair in July of 2018. Josie had been a part of 4H for a couple years, but it was Luke's first year. They took care of their goats and pigs for several months and practiced showing their animals at their home in Peosta, Iowa, in preparation for the Dubuque County Fair. Josie tried to help Luke throughout the process, giving him pointers and tips for walking and cleaning the pigs. Although Josie had shown animals before, this was the first year Josie had ever shown goats. The kids grew particularly close to their goats: Bella, Bandit, and Beatrice. During fair week they showed their pigs and goats to the judges and were awarded different ribbons depending on how well the animals were judged. Despite some tears from Luke early on in the week because of a low score for his goat, the siblings spent most of the week having fun with their 4H friends. At the end of the week all the 4H participants had to sell their animals. It was the day the kids had dreaded. For Josie and Luke, whose animals were meat goats and pigs, that meant after the animals were auctioned they’d be slaughtered for meat. Josie auctioned Bandit off first, then came Luke with Beatrice, and finally Josie auctioned off Bella, the siblings’ favorite goat. After all the goats were sold, Luke and Josie comforted each other and prepared to sell their pigs.
(For the Telegraph Herald)
