'It was fun': Young exhibitors earn awards after months of raising livestock for the fair

Months of hard work behind him, Paxen Bauer could only wait Tuesday as the judge took another look at each rabbit.

After what felt like hours, the official finally turned on the microphone, looked at the 13-year-old Bucyrus boy and called him "the grand champion."

"It was pretty good," Bauer said afterward. "It was fun."

The young showman couldn't hide his smile after earning top honors during Tuesday's fryer rabbit show at the 2024 Crawford County Fair.

The fair runs through Saturday night, featuring grandstand entertainment and free carnivals rides every day.

Admission is $10, which includes rides. Children 36 inches and shorter are free.

'I like getting to work with them'

Bauer started showing rabbits three years ago.

His dad, Justin Bauer, showed them at the Crawford County Fair when he was a youngster.

"They're a good sized animal," Paxen Bauer. "They're gentle."

He found success early and was named the fair's reserve champion during his first year.

He didn't place during his second year, but winning grand champion this year made up for it.

He breeds his own New Zealand White rabbits to make sure their genetics come out right.

"It matters about their meat," Bauer said. "It's all about the thickness of their loin and the quality of their fur."

After winning the show Tuesday, the young breeder had proof he was doing it right.

"I like getting to work with them," Bauer said. "They're fun."

Junior fair livestock sale starts 9 a.m. Saturday

Livestock and equine shows are scheduled through Saturday, the last day of the fair.

Wednesday's schedule will be a horse show at 9 a.m. in the horse arena and an alpaca show at 9 a.m. in the show arena. Horse versatility will be at 3 p.m. The goat show will be at 4 p.m.

Thursday's lineup includes open class sheep at 8 a.m., another horse class at 9 a.m., dairy at 10 a.m., and market hogs at 6 p.m.

Some of the exhibitors will sell their dairy and feeder calves 10 a.m. Friday during the Back to the Farm sale.

For everyone else, the junior fair livestock sale begins 9 a.m. Saturday in the show arena. The public is invited to support the youth during the auction.

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