COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ohio State Fair is in full swing with livestock exhibitors showing off their animals and months of hard work. The food and agriculture industry contributes $124 billion to the state’s economy annually.
Inside the dairy barn, 4-Hers like Lillian Finke have been showing this in action all week.
For the young exhibitors at the Ohio State Fair, agriculture is more than just a hobby or a project. It’s a way of life that consumes their time, energy and passion.
“All these young people work so hard to prepare their animals throughout the month way before the fair,” Ohio Department of Agriculture director Brian Baldridge said. “They start a long time before, preparing these animals, getting ready to show. And then, they’re in it to win it.”
According to Finke, that consists of a lot of early mornings.
“That connection, it’s truly unbreakable to have an animal that knows you,” Finke said. “You know it.”
The 18-year-old has been showing dairy cattle since she was four.
“My parents owned a dairy farm just outside of London,” Finke said. “We milked about 150 cows and then sold the farm in 2009, but we continued to have show and 4H heifers.”
Finke hasn’t missed a single Ohio State Fair. She joined 4-H as soon as she turned nine.
“It’s definitely quite the experience to be here,” Finke said. “I mean it’s the place to make memories. And definitely showing your animals is what you’ve been waiting for.”
Finke brought two cows to the fair this year: Intel and Jubie 49.
“Food and Ag are our number one industry and this is where we get to showcase the best of the best,” Baldridge said.
According to Finke, there is no better place to learn than at the Ohio State Fair.
“It’s definitely really important to see where your food comes from and teach your kids. Just so they know and they see firsthand what all goes into making their food,” Finke said.
Youth exhibitors like Finke are continuing the legacy farmers and producers have created through years of hard work.
“We love to feed Ohioans, and we love to feed the world,” Baldridge said.
Finke is going to be a freshman at Fort Hays State University in Kansas where she will study agricultural business. You can find her inside the dairy barn for most of the duration of the fair.
