BURTON
The animals brought Elise Silipini to the Geauga County Fair this year. And the animals kept the 8-year-old girl there throughout most of the day on Friday.
Elise, who just started third grade in Chardon, said she could spend all day tending to the goats and cows and other creatures she met at this year's fair. One new friend in particular, miniature horse Amber, didn't seem to mind the attention she received from Elise.
"I just saw Amber needed food, and so I gave her food," the youngster said. "I love the horses and the pigs, especially. But I love them all."
Elise's mom, Shea Swedenborg, said the family makes the annual visit to the fair, in its 188th year, a family affair. And like many fairgoers, they don't have to stray away from the animals for the kids to have a good time.
"The children enjoy seeing the animals and petting them so much, they really don't even ask to go on any rides or anything," she said. "They could spend all day with the animals and be happy and content, which is a really great thing."
The fair, which continues through Monday, features more than 2,000 animals. And whether you're there to observe or participate in an event, you realize early on the animals basically rule, Amber Sangrik, 17, of Mentor, said.
Amber, who shows her family's cows and goats, has been participating in the fair the past nine years. On Friday her pal Amp, a black steer, kept her busy.
"Amp's tired," Amber said. "It's been a long day. I've been trying to wash him down but he's not real happy about that. I think he just wants to get back with his friends, the rest of the steers."
As a fair veteran Amber said, three's no doubt the animals spark the most interest out of people, with many of them commenting the four-legged creatures are what keep them coming back year after year, especially with their children and grandchildren.
"It's a tradition," she said. "A lot of people and many children don't have the chance to see animals up close, especially farm animals, very often.
"This is a real treat for them. So you try to give them a chance to see the animals and show them how you take care of them and everything. It gives us a chance to show them a little bit of what we do, how we take care of them and everything. It's really nice. It's a fun thing to do."
Cheyanne Bosse, 10, of Ledgemont, said she also enjoys introducing other children to her partner, her horse Too Totally Cool, or "Cool," for short. Cheyanne and Cool have racked up numerous awards and claimed first-place honors at the fair on Friday in the English Pleasure hose riding competition.
"It's really fun and it's challenging, especially when he's acting up or being bad, which happens sometimes," she said. "But that's OK. It's neat to be here and be part of this and see how people like watching us and seeing him."
Even the older "kids" confess the animals are the star attraction of the fair. Jennifer Raynor and Karen Searer, both 29 and of Mentor, said the food, rides, entertainment, games and other activities along midway lag behind the the cows, pigs, sheep and ponies.
"The fair is great and this one is especially nice," Raynor said. "It's so laid back and easy going. There's nothing bad about it. But it's the animals. I come for the animals. The rest is just icing on the cake."
