BEREA – After months of tender loving care and dedication, North Royalton Homesteaders 4-H Club students will show off their hard work during the livestock sale at the 121st annual Cuyahoga County Fair next week.

The fair is Aug. 7-13 at the Berea Fairgrounds with the livestock auction planned to take place at 7 p.m. Aug. 12.

Homesteaders showing animals this year are Natalie Fitzgerald, 10, who is raising a lamb and chickens; Henry Pierce, 10, raising chickens, a lamb and turkeys; Kristen Patrick, 17, with a lamb, chickens and a market steer; Julia Gasbarre, 18, raising lambs and chickens; Hannah Knerem, 18, who bred her own New Zealand rabbits; and Benjamin Pierce, 18, who raised a market steer, lamb and turkeys.

Though the market sale is a one-day event, a great deal of time, planning and care goes in to getting these animals to market, as animal science projects, the point being to teach students time management, care, responsibility, dedication and the accomplishment of raising quality livestock.

Students develop knowledge and skills in the area of production agriculture and live out the 4-H motto which is to “make the best better.” The 4-H sets high standards of care for the animals that are exhibited and requires each market project participant complete quality assurance training, which ensures buyers receive the highest quality product.

The Cuyahoga County Farm Bureau rewards every 4-H market auction participant monetarily, and the Cuyahoga County Fair Board provides ribbons.

Local resident and business participation in the auction rewards this hard work, too. Several have contributed in the past and supported the club – Mayor Bob Stefanik, North Royalton Animal Hospital, Pucher’s, Augie’s Pizza, Peth’s Landscaping, to name a few.

Dr. Adam Hechko, owner and medical director of the North Royalton Animal Hospital, is not only a proud supporter but also a 4-H dad as both his sons, Alex and Ben, are involved in the club. It’s an organization he can stand behind he said because it teaches kids at an early age to be good stewards of animals.

“I believe that it teaches kids valuable skills in being responsible owners and stewards of animal care. It helps them to learn critical communication skills and the value of hard work,” he said. “We share the same beliefs I work toward every day in my office: compassion, health, loyalty and community service.”

The mayor agreed.

“It is important to support groups like the 4-H and what they stand for,” he said. “We all take farming and livestock for granted when we’re sitting at the dinner table.”

The kids are excited and look forward to the market too.

“I am having fun raising them and watching them grow this summer, this is when they are babies!,” Natalie wrote on the club’s auction project page. “I hope you can bid on my projects at the auction!”

“Whether you are an individual who loves to purchase high-quality food or a restaurant owner looking to serve locally-grown food and support 4-H, I am looking forward to seeing you at the auction,” Julia wrote.

Because there was an outbreak of swine flu, which is transmittable between pigs, poultry and humans, at the Clinton County Fair last month, the state veterinarian has shared certain precautions with fair boards across the state. Sippy cups, pacifiers, bottles, food and drink are not permitted in barns. It’s suggested strollers be kept out too.

Everyone is asked to avoid touching their face while in the barn and to stop and wash their hands when exiting.

For more information about the club’s projects, visit http://our4hmarketprojects.weebly.com/.