Sleeping in the Barn

When all of the other fair attendees leave the fairgrounds there are some 4-Her's with livestock who stay to make sure they are properly taken care of and to keep other horses safe. Some stay in trailers, both others will sleep in the livestock barns. Ellie and Sarah Korthals have been showing horses for four years, Ellie has been staying overnight for three years while Sarah has been doing it all four.

"When you spend the night, you get to be with your horse to make sure nothing happens to them at night," says Ellie.
An example of something that could happen to the horses happened last year, a horse hit the gate and almost fell over horses could also get scarred of the halter and get scarred.
"If horses were to act up and no one was here, it would be pretty chaotic," says Ellie "most of the horses behave."
When nighttime comes around and the fairgrounds close for the night, the barn doors are locked and it gets really quite
"The only thing you can hear are the horses and the cars going by," says Ellie.

 It's also more convenient for Sarah and Ellie to stay over night because competitors wake up early to get their horses ready for competition and they would have to wake up even earlier to get to the fairgrounds. Ellie and Sarah's mom also stays at the fairgrounds in a trailer.

Their favorite part about staying at the fairground is it is considered a big sleepover and getting to be with your friends and horse. It's tough for them to decide on a least favorite part, but Sarah said it is getting to go to bed early when everyone is excited about competing the next day.

But staying overnight isn't always a fun experience. Adam Dynes,who shows both cattle and goats, stayed the night in the livestock barns for the first time last week at another fair when a really bad storm hit at four in the morning and the tornado sirens went off. Adam and the other competitors that were staying had to run for cover, but the storm passed and no one was hurt. He will even stay in the barns for three days at this years state fair. He's looking forward to it, but says it will probably get old by the time day three has come around. 

But overall everyone seems to enjoy the experience staying overnight at the fairgrounds.

"I enjoy it because your with your friends," says Ellie "Your already home for the rest of the year."

Be sure to catch the rest of the livestock shows, which will conclude tomorrow.