ROME TOWNSHIP ­— Haley Pancake, a 12-year-old Lawrence County goat wiz, spent her Saturday morning with fellow 4-Hers and individuals involved with Targeted Assistance for Needy Families to build animal pens, paint, pick up leaves and more to ensure the Lawrence County Fairgrounds are clean and ready for the Lawrence County Fair, set to start Friday, July 5.

Pancake said this is her fourth year involved with the fair, and her second-straight year of coming up before opening day and helping to get things ready.

“I wanted to come out here because community work is important,” Pancake said. “I like it because you get to know people and help set up where you’ll be showing your animals.”

Pancake said her family has a large farm where they keep many goats, but she’ll bring about 10 to show at the fair. She said she enjoys working with goats and showing them.

Jim Thompson, fair board president, said it is a great thing to be able to get the kids out and involved in making the fairgrounds ready for the thousands of people expected to attend.

“We’ve got them over in the barn setting up the pens today, but we’ve gotten most of it done,” Thompson said. “Now we are just weed eating, picking up leaves and other final touches.”

In addition to last minute mowing and painting, new pavement was placed Friday on the fairgrounds’ walkways.

The Lawrence County Fair begins July 5 and runs through July 13. Those seeking more information can go to www.lawrencecountyohiofair.com.