VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — Scubber the ferret has an easy life in his four-story cage. He glides around from floor to floor and stops to rest in his fourth-floor bedroom.
On Monday, he brought his owner the grand champion ribbon in the pet project category at the Fountain County 4-H Fair.
Shantell Spencer, 11, of Mellott walked off with the top award in her first year in the project.
“I was really surprised,” she said after accepting the top ribbon and trophy.
Spencer and the other 4-H members showed the judge Jim Hackley of Fowler their animals in a natural habitat as he talked to each member about their animal.
He got the kids comfortable by asking them if they owned a pet store or worked in a pet store. Then he asked them, “Why would I want to buy your animal?”
Hackley looks at the habitat, the knowledge the kids have about their animal and the condition of the animals.
“All the kids have done a good job with these little critters,” Hackley said. “I love to see the jobs they are doing. This is the closest they have come to being a parent.”
Curk Nesius’ leopard gecko took reserve grand champion honors. This is his third year in the project. Nesius, 11, is from Attica.
Abbey Estes, 10, of Hillsboro showed her guinea pig.
“I had to clean out the cage and put in fresh food and bedding,” she said.
Her brother, Logan, 11, said, “You have to make sure the animal is in good condition.”
LaDonna Spicer, superintendent of the pet project, said the project was added six or seven years ago for those who are not able to show the more traditional animals.
“We call this pocket pets,” she said. “Any small rodent or animal can be shown. Many kids can’t afford the other animals.”
Spencer’s ferret was the star attraction during the contest.
“He is a real good pet,” Spencer said.
FAST FACTS
Shantell Spencer of Mellott won grand champion in the Fountain County 4-H Fair pet projects. Curk Nesius of Attica won reserve grand champion.
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