This year the two girls have been busily preparing for the upcoming Leavenworth County Fair. For this family, it’s more than a week escapade.

Shannon, 11, and Sarah, 9, are involved with horse, dog, ceramics, sewing construction, archery and buymanship. Shannon also does sketch drawing.

Both girls claim that their favorite is horses.

“I like riding,” Sarah said.

Shannon added, “I really enjoy riding.”

Vickie said that the two started riding when they were about 3 years old. So, of course, it’s natural for their favorite 4-H project to be horses.

The Smiths have six horses, three of which the girls show in 4-H. The girls both show quarterhorses.

Shannon competed in several classes at the Kansas State Fair last year.

“It was really fun,” Shannon said. “I knew the competition was going to be hard and that it was going to be a good experience.”

Shannon has already qualified for the state fair again this year.

“I think I will do better since I have learned a lot and work a younger horse,” she said.

Last year, Shannon worked a two-jump course, and this year she will progress to the six-jump course. Shannon also competes in halter, showmanship, English pleasure, western pleasure and horsemanship, racing and trail.

Shannon said she generally receives blues and purples in her classes.

Sarah normally gets blues in horse. This year, she has a new horse and thinks she will do better at the fair show. She shows in about the same classes as her older sister.

“Hopefully, I don’t get thrown in racing this year,” Sarah said. “Last year, my horse threw me off and I hung on a fence.”

Vickie helps the girls in some way with just about everything.

“Both of the girls have improved a lot since last year,” she said.

The girls competed at the American Royal 4-H Show last year, which was quite an honor. Even though the two have not had as much time to ride as they did last year, they are optimistic about fair competition.

Shannon is also involved with hypology, the study of horses, judging and has attended several camps.

“I’m learning a lot from it,” Shannon said.

Despite the intense involvement with the horses, the two remain busy with several other projects. The girls’ second favorite project is the dog. They each show Pembroke Welsh Corgis. At last year’s county fair, Sarah was named champion in showmanship and received a blue in obedience. She received champion in another dog class. Shannon received reserve champion at the dog show and a red in obedience. Shannon showed her dog at the state fair, too.

Ceramics is another project that the girls enjoy. Last year, Sarah received one purple and two blues. This year she is submitting a beagle, cat, boot and a heart-shaped container.

Shannon is taking an English springer spaniel, pigeon in a bowl, boot and a smiley face container.

One of Vickie’s clients works with the girls on ceramics. Vickie helps out with everything else and is a co-project leader for both dog and horse.

As far as the fair is concerned Vickie is the on-call vet for the rodeo.

“Summer’s extremely busy for us,” Vickie said.

On top of all the projects the girls work on, they like to help out their friends with their hogs and sheep during the fair. They said that is probably what they like best about the Leavenworth County Fair. They also stay the night with their friends in a camper. Sarah and Shannon even had the privilege of meeting the rodeo clown and seeing all his miniature horses. They also met some of the cowboys.

“I was lassoed by one of the cowboys,” Sarah said.

The girls were in the parade last year. Sarah drove a miniature horse in the parade. Shannon rode her own horse. This year they will both ride in the parade.

The girls work shifts for the Happy Helpers food booth also.

Sarah and Shannon will be starting their fair activities early. They are competing in archery. Then, they both are involved with clothing. Basically, from Aug. 3 on, the Smiths will be doing something for the fair.

“We’ll be living down there,” Vickie said.