DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa's kids are spending the end of their summers getting ready for school to start, most of which start Aug. 24. But for thousands of 4-H kids and members of the National FFA Organization, the Iowa State Fair makes this a quick turnaround.
Aden Wolfe and his brother Anthony have been showing pigs since they were 3 years old.
"I love brushing pigs, and I don't take the most time on that, but I love water brushing him and then always getting to see their face," said Anthony Wolfe, an incoming high school freshman and 4-H member.
Cleaning, feeding, brushing their pigs and more are a regular part of these Grinnell teen brothers' day-to-day.
"Well, we fight sometimes, but it's a love-hate relationship,'" Anthony said.
But the brothers say they make a good team, especially leading up to the state fair. Both kids will be showing pigs, Aden with FFA and Anthony with 4-H.
The Iowa State Fair ends Sunday, Aug. 23, and like many Iowa teens, Aden and Anthony start school the very next day.
"You have to make sure you're ready to go because it's a quick turnaround, but it's also just it's almost the mental aspect as well," said Aden Wolfe, incoming high school senior and FFA member. "Like you put in so much time for these pigs and then in like 48 hours it's over and you, you're already back in school."
Like many kids involved in FFA and 4-H, Aden and Anthony also play sports, on top of keeping up with schoolwork.
"I mean, I treat it like a Super Bowl," Aden said when talking about the state fair. "This is what I lose sleep about. This is what I'm thinking about 24/7."
And though the hours are long, the preparation is the most fulfilling part for the brothers.
"My favorite part is the process. It's these hours that I've been in here the last five weeks," Aden said. "It's the hours I'll spend at State Fair the nights before, the thinking and decision-making that we do day in and day out. That's what I truly enjoy."
A sacrifice well worth it for these Iowa teens, fueled by a passion that grew inside the barn that raised them.
Where will KCCI be at the fair?
You can see KCCI 8 News live at 4:30 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.
See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.
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