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Missouri’s Platte County Fair brings back livestock shows

Jack Habjen

Among the many Upper Midwest county fairs that have been happening, a Northwest Missouri county fair has brought back an agriculture tradition.

Missouri’s Platte County Fair, situated barely outside the perimeter of the Kansas City International Airport, has reintroduced livestock shows after a ten-year absence.

“We’re finding people like myself with kids in the 8 to 10-year-old range wanting to get back into livestock and teach our kids the purpose and the value of animal husbandry,” said Doyle Leefer, a member of the Platte County Livestock Boosters and a coordinator of the livestock shows going on through Sunday at the Platte County Fairgrounds.

A crowd of mostly friends and relatives watched sheep and goats being shown by young 4Hers. They gave enthusiastic applause when it was announced that Jack Habjen’s ewe lamb was named Grand Champion of her division Friday. Livestock judge Jade Jenkins, in Habjen’s view, looked for a lamb Jenkins would want in her own flock.

“These ewes are going to go back and get bred and have babies,” said the 15-year-old Habjen, during an interview with Brownfield Ag News, between showing sheep and goats. “If they can’t support their own weight, they’re not going to be able to support a baby inside of them.”

AUDIO: Doyle Leefer
AUDIO: Jack Habjen

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