For Brandon and Alissa Goette, the Freeborn County Fair isn’t just about Midway rides and corn dogs; it’s about showing off their skills.

Monday, July 30, 2001

For Brandon and Alissa Goette, the Freeborn County Fair isn’t just about Midway rides and corn dogs; it’s about showing off their skills. Starting today, the siblings – like dozens of other kids – will submit their 4-H projects to the fair, from lambs to wood projects to gardening, bead weaving and baking.

&uot;It’s a good experience for the kids,&uot; said their mother, Karen Goette, who grew up on a farm and was in 4-H as a child. &uot;Not only in doing the work but in the judging also.&uot;

In fact, bringing in projects to be judged is Alissa’s favorite part of the fair. The projects take a lot of work and learning, and the county fair is the big 4-H event of the year, Karen said.

Brandon and Alissa don’t live on a working farm, but they do have a pen for two market lambs on their family’s acreage. This is their second year in the Bancroft 4-H club. The children picked lamb because it is a shorter season and also because their neighbors raise lamb, said their father, Gary Goette, who was also raised on a farm.

But just because the season is short doesn’t mean getting the lambs ready for fair is easy, the children said. To build muscle tone, they must walk and exercise the lambs every day. They have to practice setting the lambs up in just the right way so judges will be able to get a good look.

&uot;They have to be able to look at their back,&uot; Alissa said.

But the children didn’t stop with livestock. Both have several other entries for this year’s fair.

Alissa grew two garden plots. In one, she broadcast seed, but had a hard time telling the plants from the weeds at first. It didn’t turn out like she expected, but Alissa still learned a lot about gardening.

&uot;It’s fun,&uot; she said. &uot;But if you don’t weed it very often, you get lots of weeds.&uot;

She had more success with another plot she started with plants. The bed contains a variety of plants like dahlias, lilies, roses, coneflowers daisies and hostas. She will enter a vase of flowers in the gardening division, and will have to answer judges’ questions on her garden and gardening, she said.

Alissa will also enter a wall hanging she made out of woven beads and a food project in this year’s fair. She hasn’t decided what yet.

&uot;She’s still in the beginner foods so her food doesn’t have to be in until Thursday,&uot; Karen said.

Brandon’s already decided on spinach chicken enchiladas. But he’s got his share of uncertainty this year too. After his woodworking project flopped, Brandon began another project – scooters to help his dad move the snowmobile around the shop. He hopes the paint will be dry by the time they bring them to the fair, he said.