Hard Work, Friendship, Livestock Keep Albus Coming Back To Fair

For 16-year-old Jodi Albus, preparing for the Roosevelt County Fair begins long before the first animals enter the show ring. Between early mornings, daily feedings and countless hours caring for her livestock, the Bainville High School student has learned that success at the fair is built on dedication and patience.

Albus, a member of the Centennial Clovers 4-H Club and Bainville FFA, is entering her 12th year in 4-H and fourth year in FFA. She spent her first eight or nine years exhibiting through 4-H before adding FFA to her livestock projects.

This year, Albus is showing a pig, steer, sheep, goat and chickens.

Her interest in raising livestock has grown over the years, often beginning with a single opportunity or a new challenge.

“I started breeding my own sheep, and I enjoy it a lot because you grow up with them,” Albus said. “I get attached to my animals for sure.”

She said she first became interested in sheep after spending time around other exhibitors who raised them. “The peers that I was around liked sheep, and I kind of wanted to try it,” she said. “Then I got into breeding sheep, and that has been a lot of fun.”

Her first steer came after winning an essay contest that awarded her a grant. “My first year I got a grant for winning an essay contest, which won me a free steer,” she said.

Goats soon followed after Albus convinced her parents to let her bring a pair home.

“One day I found these goats online, and I talked my parents into them,” she said. “I just love animals.”

While each species requires different care, Albus said her goats and sheep demand most of her time because of their grooming routines.

“Goats are similar to sheep but definitely way different than pigs,” she said. “You have to bathe them and put blankets on them. They’re more maintenance, which means I get closer to them because of how much time I spend with them.”

A typical day starts at 7 a.m. with feeding the chickens before moving on to the pigs. She walks the pigs before feeding them while temperatures are still cool. Throughout the week, she washes her sheep several times to keep their white coats clean.

“They get dirty pretty easily,” Albus said. “Their leg wool, or shag as they call it, has to be washed multiple times because it gets so dirty.”

In addition to her livestock projects, Albus is exhibiting market chickens, competing in poultry showmanship and entering brown, white and colored eggs.

The summer heat has presented one of the biggest challenges leading up to the fair.

“Getting everyone ready and making sure they’re walking has been the hardest part,” she said. “Because of how hot it’s been, you have to find the right time to walk them.”

Although she enjoys all of her animals, Albus said her pigs have the biggest personalities.

“They love to go out and run around,” she said. “Sometimes they don’t listen. They’re a little sassy.”

Her goats remain close favorites because of the bond she has built with them.

“They were very skittish at first,” Albus said. “Now they run up to me wanting me to pet them.”

More than ribbons or awards, Albus said the friendships formed at the fair are what she values most.

“The people at the fair are great,” she said. “You have so many friends, and when you’re getting your animals ready for the show, people are there helping you. It’s just a big community to experience.”

When she’s not caring for livestock, Albus enjoys fair nachos, doesn’t mind the early mornings and admits cleaning pens is her least favorite chore. She summed up her fair experience in three words: “challenging but rewarding.”

She hopes others understand the commitment involved in exhibiting livestock.

“It’s a lot of work,” Albus said. “But in the end, you build relationships you never thought you would with your animals and your friends. To me, it’s about making friends and building relationships with your animals and other people.”