FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM)- The Washington County Fair kicks off Tuesday (Aug. 26) at the Fairgrounds located off of Interstate 49 exit 66. There are carnival rides, a petting zoo and competitions that promote agriculture.
The competitions start with poultry and dairy cattle judging. The Hill Family arrived at the Dairy Barn before 5 a.m. to groom and feed their cattle.
Dale Hill helps his four sons, Conner, Eric, Trey and Sawyer. They live in Fayetteville and are members of a 4-H Club.
"I'm proud of them because I know how much they've worked throughout the year," Hill said. "I see how much they work at it every day and we have some nice conversations about it. It's just nice to see all of their hard work pay off and for them to realize it."
The kids are third generation farmers, who started competing when they were five years old, according to their dad.
"I think it teaches them some life-long lessons, responsibility and how to care something whether they go on to whatever they do the rest of their life.”
The dairy cattle judging includes the cow's body structure, straightness of their top, rib cage and their walk, Hill said.
Hill said he wakes his kids up at 3:30 a.m. so they can take care of their animals year round.
"It teaches them some responsibility, it teaches them how to take care of something," Hill said. "Basically you have to feed the animals before you eat."
It costs $5 to get into the fair. The Washington County Fair is a tradition dating back to 1857. It's the largest county fair in Arkansas, according to its website.