Bradenton's Harley Busch, 3, is eager to ride the carousel alongside her father John Busch at the Manatee County Fair. She also rode a camel moments before.
Photo by Madison Bierl
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For East County's Kinley Albritton, the Manatee County Fair is a lot of things.
It's an opportunity to get outside, to eat fair food and to show off her talents. Albritton is this year's Little Miss Manatee Fair Queen.
Her favorite part of the fair is the animals. She is preparing to show Ace, a Hampshire/Yorkshire crossbreed pig who is 6 months old and weighs 206 pounds.
"The Manatee County Fair is such a great community to be around," Albritton said. "All the directors are nice and so welcoming."
Kristyn Landrum, Albritton's mom who was with her on Thursday's opening day of the fair, said it's exciting to watch her daughter work so hard and to showcase what she has accomplished.
Albritton was joined by many other students who were getting ready to show their animals.
Alana Perry, a freshman at Lakewood Ranch High School, showed a Chianina cattle cross named "Tex." Perry said Tex is a good listener.
"It's definitely a family affair and she's still got three more years after this," said Scott Perry, Alana's father. "It is a lot of time and effort on her part and a lot of dedication. I think it teaches (the students) a lot about life."
Collete Testa, a senior FFA member at Lakewood Ranch High School, had the opportunity to show the chapter calf, a 1,663 pound Brangus named Kingston.
She said Kingston used to be a "little butthead" but they have come a long way as a team since March. She said she was very proud of herself and Kingston.
"It's such a God-given opportunity and I'm so grateful to be here," Testa said. "I wish more people were involved in agriculture. I think what the fair does is amazing because it allows the public to see what us agriculturists do."
Palmetto's Lavion Smith, 3, is eager to ride every ride he can at the Manatee County Fair.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Myakka City's MJ Leworthy takes a look at the fish he won at the Manatee County Fair.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Anhorn Entertainment's Jason Anhorn draws a caricature of Timothy Ho and Lauren Robledo. He added their dogs based on a photo at their request.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Timothy Ho and Lauren Robledo see the reveal of the caricature of them drawn by Anhorn Entertainment's Jason Anhorn at the Manatee County Fair.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Braden River High School students Maggie Faller and Sophi Jo Branscomb pose with the chapter steer named Tater before the steer show.
Photo by Madison Bierl
East Bradenton's Kristyn Landrum opens her mouth nice and wide to get a taste of the french fries at the fair with the help of her daughter Kinley Albritton.
Photo by Madison Bierl
The Manatee County Fair has a wide variety of different animals to see and pet, including this goat at the petting zoo.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Jan. 15 was opening day of the Manatee County Fair and it runs until Jan. 25.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Myakka City's Landon Berger and his father Tyler Berger appreciate the learning curve that comes with showing an animal at the Manatee County Fair. Berger shows a Maine Angus named Sirloin, who weighs 1,120 pounds.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Palmetto's Athena Stills, 4, loves anything related to unicorns and mermaids. She is overjoyed to take home a unicorn toy.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Palmetto's Maebry Paris, Bradenton's Lyllian Darlington, Palmetto's Julianna Wells and East Bradenton's Kinley Albritton each won Miss Manatee Fair Queen for their age groups.
Photo by Madison Bierl
In Puppy Pals Live, 4-year-old standard poodle named Rudy shows off his skill of jumping quite the distance over hurdles.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch High School freshman Alana Perry is supported by her parents Angela and Scott Perry while preparing to show her chianina cross named "Texas Encore."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch High School senior Collete Testa poses with the chapter calf, a 1,663 pound brangus named Kingston.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
