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Prepping sheep for the Washington County Fair | By Abigail Drewitz

July 2, 2021 – Kewaskum, WI – With three short weeks it is definitely crunch time as high school student in Future Farmers on America (FFA) and 4H prepare their animals for the annual Washington County Fair.

sheep, Washington county fair, Abigail

Just a day or two off routine could affect how your animal looks this close to the fair.

You might have to stay home a night instead of going out with friends to make sure your animal is properly fed and worked.  But that was a commitment you made on the first day you took your animal home.

sheep, fair, Abigail

I can definitely sacrifice a few weeks of my social life for the fair, I’ve been waiting all year for it.

Now it’s early mornings and late nights making sure my lambs are fed twice a day, their leg wool washed every other day, and that I practice daily… sometimes twice.

Both my lambs and I need practice, there is so much more that goes on than what you see at the fair.

sheep, Abigail, fair

It’s daily walking for muscle and washing my lambs leg wool to make sure it is conditioned for the show day.

FFA, county fair

Being in Kewaskum FFA means there isn’t a single member that doesn’t have several helpings hands behind them. Even if it isn’t a specie we show, we are right there helping make sure all our members are able to get to the fair, set up, and that they and their animals are ready for show day.

We have already been working together for a few weeks now getting our decorations and supplies ready. Once at the fair it’s early mornings around 7 a.m. and till almost 11 p.m. at night, I’m there everyday, all day making sure my lambs are comfortable and have all the care they need.

This will be my last year show at the fair, and I’m not ready to leave the show ring.

I’m bringing my lambs Elliott, Emmitt and Ivy.

Abigail, emmett, sheep

My two boys on the left are Emmitt & Elliot and my girl on the right is Ivy (she will be coming back home after fair). They were born in January.

This year will be interesting due to fair being cancelled last year. It is hard to tell if it will be a crazy turnout or sparse participation for the Meat Animal Auction.

I’d love to see prices high and lots of buyers attending for all the kids that lost the opportunity last year. We need the community to support all our hard work.

We recognize and appreciate everyone! Not to mention the rest of the community to come see our hard work, I love to educate about what goes on behind the scenes with raising my sheep; it’s my passion.

About the author: Abigail Drewitz, 20, is a Kewaskum High School graduate. This past spring she finished an Automotive Degree at Moraine Park Technical College. My path lead me to 5 Corners Dodge which I could see continuing on as I love my job, it’s a great place to work for. Everyone at 5 Corners is awesome and I fit right in which can be hard to find a place like this being a female in auto.

This is Abigail’s sixth year showing at the Washington County Fair. She was a Grand Champion winner in 2018.

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