BURLINGTON, Ky. — The Boone County 4-H and Utopia Fair kicked off Aug. 7. Vendors, food, animals and more have taken over the Boone County Fairgrounds. While it’s a yearly favorite for many to enjoy, it’s also a big working event each year for many kids, including 15-year-old Colton Kearns. Kearns has been showing livestock since he was 9.

“I show pig, sheep, goats, cattle, the dairy steers and the big steers, and I show chickens, rabbits and ducks as well,” Kearns said.

Kearns said it’s a busy commitment throughout the year as well. He’s spent his summer rolling out of bed in the mornings to go feed the animals for the first hours of the day.

“Then from there on out you work with the animals throughout the day, training them and staying consistent with how they’re gonna do in the ring and then you do chores around the farm and then it’s time to feed for the night,” he said.

Kearns puts in busy days over the summer. He said he’s got a supportive team around him, and that includes his parents. Their support comes in all forms — including lending a helping hand with the livestock during the school year while he’s sitting in a classroom.

“We spend countless hours in the barn during school. We take care of feeding in the morning and then Colton, as soon as he gets off the bus he is certainly in the barns, helping out, washing, picking up stalls, feeding, cleaning, you name it,” Serenity Kearns, Colton’s mom, said.

She is also a part of the support Colton has this time of the year at the fairs. 

“To see him succeed, it puts a lot of value and a lot of benefit on what we do and it makes us very proud,” she said.

Kearns said it’s a lot of work, but he enjoys the growth that comes over time working with livestock.

“It’s definitely worth it. Every year you have bigger goals and you can always improve, no matter what. Even if you win the whole thing, you always have something you want to improve on and that makes it worth it,” he said.

The fair runs through Aug. 12.