Aubrey Netzel has done well at the Shawano County Fair over the years, so it is not unusual that she again will be involved in several competitions at this year’s fair, which opened Wednesday at the fairgrounds in Shawano.
A member of the Belle Plaine 4-H Club for 10 years, Netzel said her favorite projects are rabbits and poultry, which are yearlong projects.
“I’ve been in them for so long,” said Netzel, who will be a senior this fall at Clintonville High School.
The poultry project begins in the spring when Netzel gets chicks and then picks the best ones for the fair.
Last year she received Best of Show for poultry. The poultry are judged on criteria such as weight, feathers, markings and eye color, to name a few.
The judge might also ask the exhibitor to answer some questions, such as the parts of a chicken.
“I can name 40 of them,” Netzel said.
For the showmanship part of the judging, she needs to pose the bird and lift its head and tail feathers, something she works on during the year.
“They catch on,” Netzel said.
She also decides which rabbits to show. She brought four Silver Martins to this year’s fair. Rabbits are judged on elements such as body type, weight and eye color, again to name a few.
For the showmanship judging, the rabbit must be held correctly, posed and flipped on its back. Getting the rabbit comfortable on its back is something she starts early.
“If you start when they’re young, they’re better at it,” Netzel said.
Netzel has done well in showmanship, winning grand champion twice.
She also also participates in cake decorating, food preservation, photography and youth leadership at the fair.
This year she is taking two cakes to the fair. Netzel practices during the year by making cakes for her family. She keeps her eye open for decorating ideas and then adds her own touches.
“I do double layers a lot,” she said.
This is her first year in food preservation, something that Netzel said she had been doing for her family already. She cans pickles, jelly, jam, salsa and tomato juice. The jars are judged on how they look, if they are sealed correctly, color, how they are packed in the jar, and the technique used to can.
“It’s nice to see how much you can get done,” she said.
Photography has been part of her fair portfolio for six years. Netzel said she did well last year when she was up for a Merit Award. She was proud of being recognized even though she did not receive the award.
“I really like scenery,” she said. “Even if there are two sunsets, they are never the same.”
Netzel said the youth leadership category gives her a chance to tell others how being in 4-H has helped her.
“It teaches you responsibility and leadership that you can use later,” said Netzel, the daughter of William and Nancy Netzel. “It’s helped me with interviews.”
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