From tidying up the livestock pens to learning the ropes and rules of the kitchen, members of Santa Fe County 4-H Club and their families spent Saturday morning readying the Santa Fe County Fairgrounds for the yearly county fair.

There are about 360 kids and teens in the county 4-H Club, according to Jacqueline Baca, Santa Fe County 4-H home economist. And all of them are required, as part of their membership, to help either get the grounds ready before the fair or clean up after.

If it sounds like a lot of work, it is. But most of the kids and their parents seemed happy to be there.

"We're just trying to get some of the (rabbit) dishes cleaned out," said Janna Grouseclose, who spent Saturday in the Small Animal Barn, where rabbits and poultry are shown and judged.

During the past few days, they've set up cages, filled some with wood chips and laid out a layer of chips on the floor.

Janna, 16, has been in 4-H for five years and has shown rabbits at the fair for six.

She gets the usual reaction from friends at Santa Fe High School who would rather spend their time texting — Janna calls it "finger exercise" — than raising animals. "They're like, 'You do what?" Janna said, laughing.

Earlene Grouseclose, Janna's mother, said they have a family history of participation in 4-H and Future Farmers of America.

She thinks the fair and its competition are not just a matter of raising animals or making crafts for prizes. "There's a lot of life skills that go into so many of these projects," she said. "It's not just baking a cake."

In the large exhibit hall, one group listened to Baca outline the rules of the kitchen, where all the concession stand goods are made. Another group put up exhibit backdrops. And Ashley Perea struggled to drag a wet mop across the concrete floor. Her dad, Durwin Perea, tried to show her how to slide it from side to side. "The mop's kind of heavy," said 11-year-old Ashley

Ashley is entering mini rex rabbits — they're small, with relatively small ears and smooth fur — in the fair. She's participated for three years.

"I'm very proud of her," said Durwin Perea about his daughter's membership in 4-H. "I've noticed, since she's been in it, the difference. Her confidence has gone through the roof, and it teaches lifelong lessons."

Baca said the preparation is "a lot of work for just a week, but it's really worth it."

Attendance at the fair ranges from 6,000 to 10,000, depending on the year, Baca said, with most people coming out from Thursday through Sunday.

And it's not only 4-H members who can participate. From the small pet show to the salsa contest and chile challenges, there are opportunities for the whole community to get involved.

Contact John Sena at 986-3079 or jsena@sfnewmexican.com.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Today
8 a.m.: 4-H horse show — NNMHA arena

Monday
1-6 p.m.: Check in for adult indoor exhibits

Tuesday
9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Check in for adult indoor exhibits
3-7 p.m.: Check in for open youth and 4-H indoor exhibits

Wednesday
8 a.m.-6 p.m.: Check in for all 4-H/FFA animals
8 a.m.-6 p.m.: Lamb and goat health inspection
9 a.m.-noon: Judging of adult indoor exhibits
4:30-7:30 p.m.: Judging of youth indoor exhibits
6 p.m.: Open ceremony for 4-H/FFA exhibitors and parents

Thursday
Noon-2 p.m.: Check in for agricultural product and floriculture exhibits
Noon-8 p.m.: Indoor exhibits open to the public
1 p.m.: Rabbit show
1-4 p.m.: Cattle show followed by dairy cattle show
2-4 p.m.: Judging of agricultural products & floriculture exhibits
5-8 p.m.: Swine show

Friday
8 a.m.-noon: Poultry show
9-11 a.m.: Sheep show
10 a.m.-8 p.m.: Indoor exhibits open to the public
11 a.m. -12:30 p.m.: Meat goat show followed by dairy goat demonstration
1-2 p.m.: Fun with agriculture
2-3 p.m.: Fun with agriculture
6 p.m.: Llama demonstration

Saturday
8:30 a.m.: 4-H dog show registration
9 a.m.-7 p.m.: Indoor exhibits open to the public
9 a.m.: 4-H dog show
10 a.m.: Herding dog demonstration — NNMHA arena
1-2 p.m.: Fun with agriculture
2-3 p.m.: Fun with agriculture
1-3 p.m.: Archery contest
2 p.m.: Registration for salsa contest
2:30 p.m.: Salsa contest
4 p.m.: Livestock auction
6-7 p.m.: Livestock buyers' dinner

Sunday, Aug. 9
9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Indoor exhibits open to the public
10 a.m.: Chile challenge registration
10:30 a.m.: Small pet show registration
11 a.m.: Chile challenge; small pet show
Noon-2 p.m.: Barnyard Olympics