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Child’s Play: Washington County Fair offers competition, crafts for kids

By Michelle Dillon 3 min read

MARIETTA -- The Washington County Fair's next-to-last day was sunny, which was a welcome respite from the rain clouds of the day before, and it offered attendees the chance to see a variety of animals and to participate in many activities.

Fairgoers had the chance to watch the market feeder show, where youths brought their calves out to be judged. There was also a dairy show, harness racing and more.

There was a stakes competition for riders and their horses Monday afternoon. Jaelah Jenkins, 11, competed in the event with her horse Patches. It involved riding the horse and then making sharp turns with him when she got close to two stakes in the ground.

Horses are Jenkins favorite part of the fair, she said, and she likes riding them.

The stakes event involved riding horses fast. This scares some people, according to Jenkins, but not her.

"I like going fast," she said.

Jenkins came to the fair with her family, including her mother Alicia Jenkins.

Alicia Jenkins said she has four children and they all ride horses. She wants them to "because it gets them out of the house and teaches them good work ethic."

Her children compete with horses in the fair every year because she thinks it's fun to see them improve each year, she said.

Jaleah Jenkins won second place in the event and she said she felt "fine" about finishing second. She said she likes competing in events at the fair because "We get lots of ribbons and stuff."

Children attending the fair also had the chance to make a craft. Cayla Morris brought her two daughters, Ashley Morris,11, and Courtney Morris, 8, to the fair on Monday. They were in the junior fair building Monday afternoon painting pumpkins to bring home.

They both used a variety of different paint colors to decorate their pumpkins.

While Ashley Morris likes the crafts, her favorite part of the fair is "probably showing my turkeys," she said. She loves the "unique features, like the snood" of turkeys the most, she said.

Courtney Morris enjoys the animals at the fair too.

"I like the animals and having fun," she said.

Her favorite animals at the fair are probably the turkeys, according to Courtney Morris.

The fair also offered a lot of different food options, including snow cones, ice cream, fried dough and more. Josh Holbert and Ashleigh Holbert brought their two daughters to the fair and they enjoyed a snow cone Sunday.

Raelyn Holbert, 7, said what she likes most about the fair are the "rides."

Brynleigh Holbert, 5, also likes the rides, according to her, and the swings are her favorite.

For Josh Holbert, the fair is about his children. "Just the kids enjoying themselves" is his favorite part of the fair, he said.

The last day of the Washington County Fair is today. The fair schedule and other information can be found at https://www.washcountyfair.com/.

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