AUBURN - With livestock, crafts and dancing, everything was a hands-on experience for local children during the Cayuga County 4-H's Carnival of Fun on Sunday.

David Pinckney, who was helping his daughter, Melissa Pinckney, shear some sheep during the event, said the fair gave children who were not familiar with the 4-H program a chance to learn about different aspects of farming.

“I want to teach the people about sheep, and I think the public has been really good, open and receptive to it,” Pinckney said. “I think the children are having a great time, they seem to really enjoy the events.”

Next to where the Pinckneys were shearing sheep, several children between the ages of 3 and 9 took chunks of wool and glued it to pieces of construction paper that had an outline of a sheep stenciled onto it. After the wool was firmly attached to the drawing, the children would use colored pencils to add a face to their creation.

“It was soft,” said 3-year-old Dustin Swartwood, as he described the texture of the wool he used. “It was fun. I like sheep.”

Overall, Swartwood said he had fun at the carnival, where he participated in a pedal-tractor obstacle course and received some face painting art on his cheek in the form of a football.

Several other children watched in amazement as 4-H member Vivian Chappell, 11, milked a goat named Sir T., while her brother William Chappell, 4, held a bowl full of food for the animal to eat out of.

“It's kind of hard to milk if your muscles aren't used to it,” Vivian said. “You have to get all the milk out otherwise it can hurt the goat if you don't.”

In addition to showing goats, Vivian also said she likes doing presentations at various 4-H events. Her latest presentation on water pollution required her to do research, to make a display and to give a 10 to 15 minute speech.

“I had to talk about all the different kinds of water pollution,” Vivian said, as she tried to prevent Sir T from kicking over the milk bucket a second time. “I think that 4-H is so much fun and I've learned so much from it.”

Vivian's father, Tom Chappell, said that in addition to having fun at the carnival, the children were learning something.

“This is good exposure for people who might not otherwise be able to see where their food comes from.” Tom said “People are removed from the whole process and this makes them more connected to it.”

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net