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roger@tmnews.com

BEDFORD — A horse dressed as a hippie, a goat dressed for a luau and another goat decked out as a racehorse were among participants in the annual Lawrence County Farm Bureau Pet Parade. The Tuesday afternoon event entertained a show arena full of spectators at the Lawrence County 4-H Fair.

Kamron Roop dressed as a jockey and saddled up his goat Jethro to lead him out of the starting gate and past judges at the parade.

Kamron and Jethro claimed a first-place prize in the parade’s category for 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds.

Horses, too, were in the mix of pets, which also included dogs, cats, sheep and even a chicken.

Four-year-old Brooklyn Peterson, daughter of John and Terri Peterson of Bedford, captured a third-place win as she rode high atop her horse Sugar for the judges’ inspection.

Terri said Brooklyn wanted to show in the pet parade because her sisters, 10-year-old Baili and 9-year-old Sara (the fair’s reigning Little Miss) show in other project areas. “This is Brooklyn’s way to participate,” Terri said. “She always wants to do what her sisters do.”

Family members of the parade’s participants were in attendance to watch the youngsters participate. Among the grandmas who came out for the event was Brooklyn’s grandmother Nina Peterson, who spoke of the child’s affection for Sugar. “She loves to kiss her.”

A tie-dyed shirt and peace-sign necklace made Taylor Hunter’s miniature horse Clover the only hippie horse in the arena. Flowers in her hair completed Clover’s retro look.

Taylor, the 8-year-old daughter of Jessica and Richard Hunter, was a Pet Parade veteran, having competed in previous years.

The parade is regular feature at the Lawrence County 4-H Fair. Mike and Nancy Ryan organize the event and keep it moving.

Nancy said the parade had been part of the annual fair when she was growing up, but it had disappeared from the fair’s schedule. She arranged to bring it back. “There wasn’t anything for my young daughter to do at the fair,” she said. The Ryans’ daughter Meagan was 4 at the time. She has since completed 10 years of 4-H and a year of college.

Tuesday’s Pet Parade attracted about 20 participants in three age divisions.

Times-Mail Staff Writer Roger Moon welcomes comments at 277-7253 or at roger@tmnews.com.

Results

Pet Parade winners are listed below along with their parents’ names and the type of pet.

Ages 7-9: first, McKenley Byers, Devin and Amanda Byers, miniature horse; second, Emily Thomas, Eric and Julia Thomas, dog; third; Haley Hagan, Crystal and Greg Hagan and Lori and Bobby Stewart, goat.

Ages 4-6: first, Kamron Roop, Ryan Woods and Kristen Woods, goat; second, Aubrey Wynn, Jane Chastain and Mike Wynn, goat; third, Brooklyn Peterson, John and Terri Peterson, horse.

Age 3 and under: first, Bella Mae Byers, Devin and Amanda Byers, dog; second, Chloe Spires, Crystal and Greg Hagan and Ty Spires, goat; third, Grant Phillips, Chad and Janie Phillips, lamb.