Observer Photos by Sara Holthouse Charlotte Couchman and her horse Renaissance

By Sara Holthouse

sholthouse@post-journal.com

DUNKIRK — As the Chautauqua County Fair gets underway for 2025, area youth and 4-H members are in the midst of showing their animals throughout the week.

In the fair’s horse barn, Charlotte Couchman and her horse Renaissance, who is in her early 20s, are preparing for their final shows during their final week of showing with 4-H at the fair.

“She is getting to her retired stage so I still ride her but don’t push her as much,” Couchman said. “She is the friendliest horse you’ve ever met and loves the fair.”

Dale Perry and his Brown Swiss cow as they prepare for showing in Wednesday’s Open Class Dairy Show.

Additionally, Couchman said Renaissance, who she calls Ren, is her “heart horse” and that Ren is more than willing to do everything with her. Another aspect that Couchman enjoys about the fair is talking with the public.

“I love interacting with the public and educating people and talking about horses,” Couchman said. “I like to brighten peoples’ days.”

In the rabbit and poultry barn, Raelyn Nickerson has two rabbits, Dolland and Sargeant. Dolland and Nickerson won Best of Opposite Sex for his breed.

“I’ve had him since he was five weeks old, and normally they leave their moms at eight weeks so I had him for three extra weeks,” Nickerson said. “I’ve had the other since last year’s fair, and his birthday is on Memorial Day. His brother is here too.”

Showing wise, Nickerson said she enjoys showing because it shows how many years things 4-H kids can do at the fair in one day.

“I like showing because it shows other kids that if you are busy one day you can still do something else on that same day,” Nickerson said. “4-H has also helped me open up more.”

In the 4-H Dairy Barn, Dale Perry is showing a Brown Swiss cow for the first time, after showing a Holstein last year. He referred to his cow as “a little bit stubborn sometimes,” adding that she likes to eat and has hair that can feel like human hair when it is clipped. When talking with the Post-Journal Perry had not shown his cow yet.

“I have a Brown Swiss this year because last year I saw that the Holstein class was huge and there was no way I’d get anywhere near first or second,” Perry said. “So this year I have a Brown Swiss, which we’ve never had before so it’s new for us.”

The Chautauqua County Fair continues throughout the rest of this week, including more 4-H and open class animal shows.