The annual animal dress-up contest was held Thursday, June 20 at the Morrison County Fair, sponsored by Little Falls Machine. Dozens of 4-H members showed off their creative costumes and charming companions to a packed crowd in the livestock show arena.
Bernie Hoffman and Sheila Rudolph hosted the fun event as various contestants paraded their dressed-up goats, chickens and other barnyard friends. Contestants ranged in age from 5 to 13 years old and represented 4-H clubs from across the county.
The evening started with announcements of the contest lineup by Hoffman. The young contestants then took turns introducing their animals to the crowd as Hoffman shared details about their costume designs.
First up was 7-year-old Annabelle Gates and her 5-month-old mini rex rabbit, Nibbles. Gates brought a Hawaiian theme to the Minnesotan event, wearing a hula skirt and multiple colorful leis while holding her precious bunny. She is the daughter of Ben and Megan Gates and is part of the Boots ‘n Buckles 4-H club.
Also the child of Ben and Megan Gates and a member of the Boots ‘n Buckles 4-H club was the next contestant, 6-year-old Gabe Gates and his 2-month-old silver laced wyandotte chicken, Tiny Elvis. Walking out to the song “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band, Gates charmed audiences with his detailed costume of Colonel Sanders, the founder and mascot of the Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurant chain. Tiny Elvis also received some laughs as he was nestled comfortably inside a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket, hopefully oblivious to the implications.
Both Gates children said this was their first year being a part of a 4-H club and they loved being a part of it. Gabe Gates added that he also loved chickens.
Emma Butterfass, a 13-year-old from the Lucky Clovers 4-H Club and attending the Little Falls Community High School, walked out into the arena with her goat, Snickers. Both Butterfass and Snickers wore leis, with Butterfass saying Snickers got her name because of how her coat resembled the popular candy bar. She also said she enjoyed being with animals. Her parents are Jill and Bret Butterfass.
The next contestants went out as two pairs of humans and animals. The humans were 7-year-old Becket Gerads and 9-year-old Paisley Robinson, with their animals being the wether lamb Baby and the ewe lamb Penelope. However, only one of the human contestants stood on two legs, as one was dressed up as a farmer leading Baby and Penelope while the other dressed up as a lion in hot pursuit of its prey, rapidly crawling on all fours across the arena. Gerads and Robinson are members of the Livestock Legends 4-H club.
Then came 5-year-old Sophie Schwab and her goat, Vinny. Walking out to the song “Let It Go” from the popular animated Disney film, “Frozen,” Schwab was dressed as Queen Elsa with Vinny covered in a watery veil representing Nokk, a magical water horse that appears in “Frozen II.” In character as Elsa, Schwab said she and Nokk joined the Morrison County Fair all the way from Norway, keeping the weather nice and cool with their frozen powers. She is the daughter of Nick and Zaryn Schwab and will be a part of the Boots ‘n Buckles 4-H club starting this fall.
Keeping up the enchanted theme was 9-year-old Vivian Rudolph, who was joined by her sheep Burnette and her father, Nate Rudolph. Vivian Rudolph was dressed up as a fairy with giant wings, while Nate Rudolph walked while ducking down with a mushroom cap and Burnette wore a green cap reminiscent of a forest elf. Vivian Rudolph is a part of the Snappy Elmdalers 4-H club and the daughter of Nate and Brenda Rudolph, and she says she and Burnette love running side by side in the barn.
Following Rudolph was 10-year-old Rosabella Warnke, dressed up as a barrel of monkeys. Joining her was not a monkey, however, but the ruby-eyed white rabbit 7-Up. Warnke is a member of the Boots ‘n Buckles 4-H club and the daughter of Chad Warnke and Doris Brisk.
Next was 11-year-old Grace Anez with her goat Frisky, who Anez said got her name because of her frisky attitude. Both girl and goat were blinged out, with Anez wearing a backward baseball hat and sunglasses and Frisky wearing matching shades along with some jewelry and a tiny jean jacket. Anez attends Mary of Lourdes Middle School and is a member of the Livestock Legends 4-H club. Her parents are Lisa and Vince Anez.
The next contestant was 9-year-old Brently Gadaez, who limped out with his Boer goat Alex, who got his name from the TV show, “Walker Texas Ranger.” Wearing a cast on his left leg and right arm and bandages across his head, Gadaez also had fake blood on his nose, shirt and head. With Alex, who wore orange bandages across his body, as the prime suspect for Gadaez’s injuries, Gadaez held out a sign that said “GOAT 4 SALE!”, making the audience laugh. He said he enjoys fishing, hunting and walking with his goats, and although he may not have actually caused these serious injuries to Gadaez or be for sale, Alex can still be very naughty. Gadaez is the son of Brandon and Kayla Gadaez and is a member of the Snappy Elmdalers 4-H club.
The final contestant was 8-year-old Cooper Fleischbacker with his lamb Wrangler. Dressed up as a wrangler himself with an orange and blue shirt, Fleischbacker walked Wrangler across the arena, who wore an orange saddle with his name boldly written on each side. Fleischbacker said Wrangler had been the “sweetest and cutest little lamb” since his family had adopted him at just a week old. He attends Pioneer Elementary School and is a member of the Boots ‘n Buckles 4-H club. His parents are Codey and Michelle Fleischbacker.
After all contestants were evaluated by judges Janell Holmquist and Sara Mullen, Hoffman announced the winners. Third place and $20 went to Gadaez and Alex. Second place of $30 was awarded to Gerads, Robinson, Baby and Penelope. Taking home the top $50 prize as this year’s best dressed animal was Gates and Tiny Elvis.
Hoffman thanked all participants and sponsors who helped make the event a continued success. The Morrison County Fair looks forward to seeing what creative costumes the 4-Hers dream up for next year’s dress-up contest.
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