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http://www.advisor-chronicle.comwww.advisor-chronicle.com AD-VISOR & CHRONICLE - CALHOUN COUNTY FAIRAD-VISOR & CHRONICLE Saturday, August 10, 2024Saturday, June 8, 2024 15 15
Calhoun County Fair
175th
Aug.
11 - 17BY JOHN HENDLER
A popular attraction at the Calhoun
County Fair each year is the FFA
Animal Tent (formerly known as the
Miracle of Life Tent), located just
inside the main west entrance gate.
Marshall FFA Advisor Lora Finch
has been the superintendent of the
tent for more than 10 years.
Because the tent highlights agricul-
ture education and animal education,
Finch says it ties right into FFA.
“We have the other Ag teachers
and FFA advisors assist with the
kids, so it’s not just Marshall FFA -
it’s truly a cooperative effort,” said
Finch.
This year, the tent will have chick-
ens, dairy cattle, beef cattle, goats,
rabbits, pigs and sheep.
Some will be fortunate to see
chickens and other poultry hatching
in the tent.
“Our goal is to have ducklings,
chickens and pheasants hatching,
but sometimes they don’t cooper-
ate,” said Finch. “They seem to be
fine with hatching in the tent, but
there are no other live births with the
larger animals.”
Finch noted Southern Michigan
Bank & Trust, Hoffman Ag Services
the Calhoun County Farm Bureau are
sponsors of the FFA Animal Tent.
“They are all very passionate about
agriculture education and FFA,” said
Finch. “And the kids are enthusiastic
about volunteering in the tent. It’s
such a neat thing for the FFA kids to
teach the fairgoers.” The tent is open
from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of
the fair.
Most of the animals in the tent are
owned by FFA members and the
other half of the volunteers are FFA
members who don’t have their ani-
mals in the tent.
“The kids that own animals are
passionate about it, and they want
to teach kids about their animals,”
said Finch. “The other half of the
FFA members that volunteer are not
involved in the fair or don’t live on aFFA Animal Tent is back at the Calhoun County Fair
A behind the scenes photo of a family
doing chicken chores: Madison,
Peyton, Nick and Heather NewcombPictured from left are Mary Murphy,
Kevin Sommers and Andrew
Sommers, three generations
volunteering in the FFA Animal Tent.Alex Finch is pictured feeding the piglets in the FFA Animal Tent.The FFA Animal Tent at this year’s Calhoun County Fair will feature chickens,
dairy cattle, beef cattle, goats, rabbits, pigs and sheep.farm, but they want to participate and
learn and then teach that to the other
kids, so it’s truly a great opportunity,
a great educational thing for every-
body.”
Finch said the FFA Animal Tent isgreat for families with kids “because
parents are always looking for some-
thing to take their kids to go do,” but
noted that it also attracts people of all
ages.
“When you go to the fair, every-body walks through the tent at some
point and check things out,” said
Finch. “People really enjoy it.”