Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Washington County Fair A Family Affair
Oldest To Youngest Siblings Participate
FAYETTEVILLE — The Washington County Fair was in full swing last week and drew throngs of people who seemed anxious to enjoy the parting days of summer prior to rainfall from a downgraded hurricane Issac, which was moving in.
One additional day was added to the fair due to the tropical system.
For many area families, the fair involves projects from the oldest to the youngest. In some cases, the adults are so wrapped up in chores that youth become family spokespersons. Such was the case last Wednesday with Mason Walker, 13, a Prairie Grove seventh grader.
Walker is a busy kid himself. Besides attending school, he is playing football and showing cattle at the fair. Walker was leading an unnamed, young heifer raised on the family’s Willow Spring Ranch, north of Prairie Grove, and was also preparing to show two others.
This year marks Walker’s seventh year of competing at the fair while his younger sisters, Whitney, 11, and Catelyn, 8, are in their third year. Walker said he was a little surprised his dad, Eric, let Whitney show her prize heifer, TC C Lexi, at the fair, yet he admitted his dad has allowed him to take two of his champions to the fair in past years.
Walker is the son of Eric and Linsay Walker, of Prairie Grove, and said the agricultural part of the fair is what appeals to his interests.
“The carnival is not that important to me. It’s a big piece of metal,” Walker said. “I ride it, you know, but it’s not the most important thing.”
Darci Dixon, is a member of the Lincoln FFA and a junior at Lincoln High School. Dixon placed second in the Light Cross category with her pig, Harry, who weighed in at 137 pounds. Dixon, who lives in town, said Jesse Claybrook has been a big influence and allows her to keep the pig at his place.
Dixon said the most fun she had at the fair was taking care of animals and being around animals while spending time with the Lincoln FFA chapter.
Mason Mize, 8, of Lincoln, was
recovering from a cut on his foot that required stitches. The boy, who is in the third grade at Lincoln, found a fence appealing and crawled up on it to take a break from walking around on crutches.
Mize is the son of John and Natalie Mize of Lincoln, and each member of the family was involved in various fair activities.
“He has a calf as well, but he can’t show it,” Natalie Mize said. “His brother is going to have to walk it, seeing he’s on crutches.”
Mize was referring to her oldest son, John Jr., 12, who is in the seventh grade at Lincoln and was participating with a cow and calf, plus chickens.
The Mizes’ daughter, Makinzie, 6, is in the first grade and shows rabbits and chickens.
“This is my kids’ third year. I’m sure they will be doing it until they are seniors in high school,” Natalie Mize said. “Watching the smiles on my kids’ faces, that’s what tops it all off.”
Fair- goers enjoyed the carnival as well. Families had their photos taken with exotic brightly- colored parrots perched on their shoulders, then moved on to the excitement of various rides.