Dancing through the raindrops at the fair

COEUR d’ALENE — Dancing through raindrops, Joyce Crawford of Coeur d'Alene and John Ely of Post Falls spun as the music of Bill Bozly soaked into the crowd Tuesday afternoon at the North Idaho State Fair.

The two have been dancing together for about six months and a little rain wasn’t going to take away from their date at the fair as they enjoyed the Music on the Midway series.

“We’re always going dancing somewhere,” Ely said.

Nearby, in the goat shed, Caitlyn Wheeler was also dancing while holding her 8-week-old baby goat. Many of the show goats in the space were more social since it helped draw in visitors looking to learn more about the animals, while the animals themselves appreciated the extra love and attention.

As a member of the Pioneer Panhandle 4-H club, 10-year-old Piper Harrel was proud of all the skills and training she has learned in the two years she’s been involved with breeding goats.

“I got first prize in cakes and for my poster. If I win first prize in goats, I’ll have three first prizes this year,” Harrel said.

Harrel's pet goat, Lady, can walk in figure eights while being led on a leash and has no fear when it comes to charming people who stop by to see her.

It’s Lady’s first time being a show goat, and Harrel said that she has taken to the experience with as much gusto as she has for jumping fences at home.

“She loves people, but she hates being in a crate and hates car rides,” Harrel said.

Lady was bottle-fed when she was born after being partially crushed by the weight of her siblings. Because she needed some extra nurturing from her human family, she has taken a shine to people and is a favorite among the kids showing their goats with the club.

The 4-H club's fair activities have been a helpful distraction for Makenna Harshfield.

Harshfield, 11, lives near the Sarah Loop fire in Athol and said that she has been very stressed out after days of being in the same area as the fire and hearing helicopters going overhead during repeated emergency efforts.

“It’s been bad for my anxiety. I just try and ignore it and stay inside,” Harshfield said.

She’s been happy to find peace and solace among the goats. Spending time with her friends in the Pioneer Panhandle and teaching visitors to the goat shed about how to care for the animals has been a way of keeping the scarier realities of the outside world at bay.

“I get out of my comfort zone, and I talk to people a little more than I usually do,” Harshfield said.

She’s been grateful to learn more about the animals they help care for as a team. People are responsible for their individual animals, but if someone notices that a goat needs food or water, or their area needs to be swept, the 4-H kids band together to take care of what needs to be done.

“If 4-H is one word, it’s together,” Harshfield said.