It's 'fair or bust' for the Ludwig family

With only days left until the start of the Plymouth County Fair, the Ludwig family has been busy preparing projects and anticipating fair rides and foods. From left to right: Anna, Cari, Jared, Katie, Jonathan and canine pals Shiloh and Buddy. [Click to enlarge]

(Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories about families preparing for the upcoming Plymouth County Fair)

In less than two weeks the Ludwig's family van will journey to the Plymouth County fairgrounds filled with 4-H baked goods, dogs, a homemade hurdle and coffee table, plus the five Ludwig children and a kitten, if there's room.

Joe and Donna Ludwig of Oyens and their five children Anna, Katie, Jonathan, Jared, and Cari are avid 4-H'ers and make their annual trek to the Plymouth County Fair a family affair.

"I'm thinking it might take us a couple of trips to get to the fairgrounds," chuckled Donna. "Last year, the only thing that we could fit in the van were the 4-H projects!"

Donna also serves as the leader of her children's 4-H club, the Fredonia Country Club.

As the five children continue to finish write-ups, they still have Anna's basketball tournaments to attend in Lincoln, Neb. before the fair arrives.

The oldest of five children, Anna, will be an eighth grader this fall at Gehlen Catholic Middle School. Patriotism was the underlying theme in many of her 4-H projects including a soldier scrapbook, which showcases the pen pal letters she's written and received from deployed soldiers in Iraq.

"I always watch the news and decided to write the soldiers letters to let them know that we're thinking of them and appreciate what they are doing for us," said 13 year-old Anna. "I figured that they would be excited to get mail."

Anna has also sent care packages filled with baked goods and thank you cards through Support Siouxland Soldiers and Veterans Affairs programs, which she is using for a citizenship fair project.

Even though her fair forte is 4-H projects, Anna says that her favorite part about the five-day event is showing Shiloh, the family dog, in the 4-H Dog Show.

"He's pretty well behaved," she said. "And everyone knows who he is!"

The eleven year-old Ludwig Triplets Jonathan, Katie, and Jared who will be sixth graders this fall.

Jonathan will also being showing "Buddy," another one of the family's canines. Attending the weekly Monday dog obedience classes at the fairgrounds, Jonathan says Buddy does okay for the most part.

"Except when there are new dogs. I've been dragged a couple of times by him," he said.

Leadership is a big part of 4-H involvement and as a junior 4-H'er, Jonathan has already been actively heading up major citizenship projects within his 4-H club including Project Rehema Ministries Inc., a Christian-based, nonprofit organization that ministers to the orphaned and vulnerable children of Tanzania.

"Each member of our club had to bring five items to donate," said Jonathan. "We've been putting together care packages with flip-flops, Band-Aids and soap to send to Africa."

As the fair quickly approaches, Jonathan is, like his older sister, looking forward to the 4-H Dog Show. After finishing two points shy of a grand champion placing in 2007, he is confident that his handling and extra practice with Buddy will pay off in big ways this year.

The salivating Jonathan was also quick to remark that he's ready to sink his teeth into "Tri-T nachos, 4-H Food-stand onion rings, and Knights of Columbus ice cream bars."

The solo female of the triplets is Katie Ludwig. This year's fair has been filled with many first-time 4-H experiences for her.

"I had never sewn before this year," said Katie.

With mom's guidance, a pillow was the chosen project for the beginning seamstress.

"I have a friend in the Marines who is having surgery," said 11 year-old Katie. "I thought making him a Marines printed pillow would be a nice gift."

After being caught earlier this summer jumping over pig crates on the farm in order to prepare for her upcoming Gehlen Middle School Track career, it was decided that Katie needed a hurdle to jump over instead.

"I just started putting pieces of PVC pipe together." said the wannabe hurdler.

Eventually, a homemade hurdle was formed and will be entered as a 4-H project. The PVC hurdle is already being used on the farm for track practice.

This past year, the Fredonia Country Club members took cake decorating lessons during a 4-H meeting. Katie decided to take her icing decor to the next level by experimenting on cupcakes. She will be entering cupcakes decorated as volleyballs, basketballs, and baseballs as a food exhibit.

Jumping PVC pipe hurdles and eating cake icing would cause most to get sick, but not Katie. "I'm so excited for the fair rides," she proclaimed. "The Scrambler's my favorite!"

The last of the triplets, Jared, is excited to "just walk around the fair and talk with friends."

But before he can do that, he's been busy putting the finishing touches on posters, recipes and wordworking exhibits.

After receiving a two-degree burn from touching a lawnmower's muffler, Jared was inspired to create a mower safety poster.

Jared will also be teaming up with his grandmother, Mary Ann Mousel, to make mulberry-rhubarb jelly and a family friend to build a coffee table.

"I plan to put it in the living room when it's finished," said Jared.

His final project includes making homemade soap out of melted chicken fat, lye, water and borax.

"I want to compare it to commercial soaps to see which one can get the stains out of my football uniform better."

Last but not least in the Ludwig family is Cari Ludwig.

An animal lover and kitten whisperer at heart, the 8 year-old Cari is not quite old enough to take part in 4-H but enjoys entering open exhibits in the Round Barn.

"I painted a brick red, white and blue to look like the flag." said Cari. "I had to use tape to get the stripes straight."

She is also entering a Christmas centerpiece and is hoping to show her friendly kitten Spotty in the Open Pet Show.

Cari is looking forward to joining her siblings in 4-H in the coming years and already has many project ideas in mind.

"I want to make a poster about animals when I'm a 4-H'er," she said.

In the meantime, she's busy preparing Spotty for the Open Pet Show and finishing her Christmas centerpiece.

As family van starts bursting at the seams with 4-H projects and the realization sets in that ready or not the fair is here, watch out for the Ludwig family as it's 'fair of bust' when heading west for the Plymouth County Fair.