By Jon Chown
Claire Hamilton of Boulder Creek was in the Livestock Barn with her two lambs on the opening day of the Santa Cruz County Fair, reflecting on her time with Quail Creek 4-H in San Lorenzo Valley. For nearly her entire life, that she can remember, she’s been raising animals.”
“I’ve been in 4-H for 11 years, raising sheep for eight years,” she said. “This will be my last year doing it and I hope for it to end on a good note.”
As it turned out, both she and the county fair would have a pretty good week. Hamilton sold her lamb at auction for more than $3,000. The fair reported lower attendance numbers, about 10% off last year, but revenues mostly the same.
“We had a tremendous run for all five days,” said Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Marketing Manager Ron Haedicke. “It was a little slow Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday we were packed, Saturday we were packed, and we had a pretty good Sunday. So it was a fantastic run.”
Despite the lower attendance numbers, Haedicke said that vendors reported great sales, and the Junior Livestock Auction raised nearly $666,123 in sales, which is possibly a record, and that doesn’t even include the $19,413 raised by the sale of the Heritage Hog.
“It’s great to see such community support,” Haedicke said.
Raising animals for 4-H is a hands-on project for kids that combines the responsibility of caring for the animals, with the hard reality of business. The youths select an animal, a hog, lamb, steer, goat, rabbit, or poultry, and spend months caring for it. They feed, water, groom and monitor the animal’s health. They also keep records on expenses, preparing them to evaluate profits or losses when the animal is sold.
“It is hard every year. I love these animals and I’ve given them so much of my time and attention,” Hamilton said.
Fortunately, Hamilton said while stroking one of her goats, she’s a breeder and will not be eaten. But he’s a market lamb, she said while pointing to the other and then then stroking his head. “He’ll be eaten. He’s a good boy, though.”
Good enough for the 145-pound lamb to sell for $17 per pound, plus another $650 in add-ons (donations from the community to particular sales).
Last year Hamilton had the Reserve 4-H Champion lamb. “That was really amazing,” she said. “I never expected anything like that.”
Hamilton is the daughter of Diane and Shawn Hamilton. She just recently graduated from San Lorenzo Valley High School and is headed to UC Davis where her sister Mia is currently studying. She will be majoring in molecular medical microbiology while studying to become a doctor.
She said she’s excited for college, but a little nervous as well. She knows she will miss home, so she has mixed feelings. She’s glad her sister will be there.
“Originally I wanted to be a vet, but my career path changed when I was in my early teens,” she said.
Hamilton said 4-H exposed her to a lot of things, and after helping heal some animals, even assisting in some surgeries, she said it made her want to help people.
“4-H also helped me with my college application,” she said. “And I’ve met some great people. They’re all so kind and so hard-working.”
The fair ran from Sept. 10-14. Haedicke said planning for next year’s county fair has already started.