As I come out of one of the most memorable weeks of my life at the Chelsea Community Fair, I want to share what wonderful businesses and individuals we have in the area.

I have been in 4-H and in the Chelsea-Dexter Steer Club and Swine Club for several years, as were my parents and my brothers and sister.

Year after year, as we’re getting our livestock washed, groomed and ready to enter the sale ring for the livestock auction, we always wonder, "Will there be enough buyers to buy all of these animals in the barn?"

As club members, we know how hard we’ve worked for the last 10 months to get our livestock to the fair and we know how important sale day is. We’ve gone out to the barn every day to do chores, when the weather is below zero and the water is frozen or when it’s in the 90s and you can hardly breathe.

Most of us have been in the situation where it must be the hottest day of the year and dad says, "We’ve got hay down, let’s get out there and bale it up."

We know what it’s like to have a sick calf or pig and have to try and nurse it back to health. There is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that go with raising livestock.

Some people come to the fair and just see how much money we made on our animals and think, "Wow, what an easy way to make money." Well, believe me, there is a lot more invested in these animals than you might think. It’s like having our own business. We have to care for our animals every day and try and keep them healthy. We have to feed them, train them, walk them, groom them.

The livestock club members also know how hard it is to have to go to individuals and local businesses, and encourage them to attend and support the livestock auction. We are very lucky to have successful auctions year after year at the Chelsea fair.

Most of the club members use the money we earn on our animals to attend college.

This year, I would like to recognize my parents for always being there whenever or wherever I need them, my brothers and sister for all of the years of placing ahead of me in showmanship and always remembering to point out what I did wrong.

I would like to recognize my Grandma McCalla for always being positive and never missing a fair where we were showing our livestock.

The local businesses and individuals that come to the fair each year and support us at the livestock auction should be lauded. The Chelsea Fair Board should be recognized for working year-round to make each fair the best it can be.

The Chelsea Fair Superintendents work very hard and are patient. My friends from the Chelsea-Dexter Steer Club, Swine Club and Lamb Club also should be recognized for helping to keep the livestock industry going.

Jake and Anne Haas of North Face Farm have been supportive friends and neighbors.

I can’t say enough how fortunate we are to have a community fair like we do in Chelsea.

For those businesses in the area that have never attended the Chelsea Fair livestock auction, I would like to encourage you to come next year. You can come and have dinner before the auction and watch the kids grooming their animals. Bring your families and enjoy the evening.