Wright sisters reflect on last Washakie County Fair season

Sisters Brooke and Bailey Wright have been involved with 4-H and FFA for nine and seven years, respectively. As the Wright family plans a move to Douglas, Brooke and Bailey spent last week attending their last fair as Washakie County 4-H and FFA members.

Both of the girls cited their family's involvement with the 4-H program as their incentive to join. "My family was always into it, I just decided to give it a try," Bailey said. The younger of the two, she competes with horses, pigs, sheep and goats. Over the years, she has also tried her hand at sewing and visual arts.

"I decided to start with lambs and I quickly found out that I like pigs more," Brooke explained. "I do pigs and sheep. I've also done visual arts, woodworking and leathercraft."

Some might notice a similarity in interest, namely pigs. "There is definitely some sibling rivalry," Brooke laughed. "We competed against each other in pigs this year. We help each other practice, then once we get there it's all competition. My favorite fair memory is probably last year when I won Grand with my pig and my sister won Reserve, because all of our work paid off for both of us and we got to ride the float together."

Bailey had her own favorite memory. "Mine is probably this year being Grand and beating my sister...," she said. Brooke may have rolled her eyes at this comment.

In the swine show at Washakie County Fair this year, the sisters were neck and neck. For 4-H Swine Showmanship, Brooke took Grand Champion Senior Swine Showman and Bailey earned Reserve Champion. For FFA, Brooke again took Grand Champion Showman and her sister took second. However, Bailey took the lead to win Grand Champion Market Swine.

Pigs were hardly the only animals that contributed to the sisters' winnings this year. Bailey won Grand Champion Senior Horse Showman, Grand Champion Mare, Reserve Champion Senior Meat Goat Showman, Grand Champion FFA Market Goat Showman, Reserve Champion Market Goat, and Reserve Champion Senior Market Sheep Showman. The girls competed directly against each other again in 4-H Round Robin, where Bailey earned Grand Champion and Brooke Reserve. Both of the Wrights added a sprinkling of first and second place ribbons in various categories on top.

Of all those prizes, the girls are most proud of their buckles for Showmanship and Overall market animal. Bailey estimated that she has 13 of the buckles. "I have won quite a few buckles, but it's fun to win the ribbons and stuff too because you can write the year and things on the back," Brooke said.

The pair has grown up in Worland, competing not only during fair week, but in many different sports, clubs, and activities.

When the Wrights move to Douglas, both girls plan to stay involved with Fair, 4-H and FFA. They will miss their hometown, though, and all of the people they have grown up around. Bailey said she will miss her friends, Brooke broadened that to the whole community.

"We've grown up here, so leaving is going to be pretty hard. There will still be animals, but it won't be the same people around us," Brooke said.