Taylor will combine love of animals, people at county fair
4-H program offers many opportunities for children and teens, but the county fair is the time for 4-H'ers to shine.
Tacy Taylor of Marion will be busy next week with her trio of activities, but it will be one in particular she is most excited for: showing her sheep.
"I spend every night working with them," Taylor said. "I enjoy it so much."
The soon-to-be Marion High School junior also will have some of her poetry and photography displayed at the fair, but her heart is still with her sheep.
"I can't always work out in the heat," she said.
So on the unbearable days Taylor spends her summer time inside writing down "random thoughts," or taking photos of whoever she can.
"I love writing and I love the arts," she said. "I've taken pictures of a lot of people."
She still insists showing her animals is number one, even if it means hard work everyday.
"It's very meticulous," she said. "Feeding, cleaning, everything has to be perfect."
Taylor is hoping everything will be perfect Aug. 9. It's the opening of the fair and time for her to show her sheep. A sheep she had decided not to name. In fact, she hasn't named any of her six sheep. Her younger sister Jessi will have a sheep in the show as well, and named him Stuart.
"I don't want to get to attached when it's time for the sale," Tacy said.
Since she's been doing this for the past eight years, Taylor has seen many sheep come and go. But each time the fair comes around, she knows it's time to get down to business, and have some fun in the meantime.
"I love spending the whole week with people you don't get to see very often," Tacy said. "It's also great making new friends."
She said the experiences she has between the classes 4-H offers and the relationships of the people she encounters are what the program is all about. The fair will be a place where all the 4-H'ers can show off their hard work.
"I encourage people to come and see what it's all about," Taylor said.
