Fairlawn Elementary Students Exhibit 4-H Animals at St. Lucie Fair

Students from Fairlawn Elementary School in St. Lucie County brought chickens, goats, turtles, bunnies, swine, and steer to the St. Lucie County Fair after months of raising and caring for the animals through local 4-H groups.

Participants spanned kindergarten through fifth grade, giving some of the youngest students their first experience preparing an animal for public exhibition. The process required months of feeding, training, and hands-on care before fair day.

The experience was designed to build responsibility, commitment, and patience — life skills that extend well beyond the fairgrounds, school officials said. Preparing animals for a county fair typically involves meeting specific health, grooming, and handling standards that young exhibitors must learn alongside their 4-H group leaders.

The variety of animals on display reflected the range of 4-H project tracks available to St. Lucie County youth, from small pets like turtles and bunnies to larger livestock including goats and steer. These animals demand a more sustained daily commitment from their young caretakers, according to school officials.

Fairlawn Elementary is part of the St. Lucie Public Schools district. Information on 4-H youth programs in St. Lucie County is available through the University of Florida's IFAS Extension office, which coordinates 4-H enrollment locally.

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