“It’s my favorite week of the year,” said Sarah Laughlin, 19, of Mount Chestnut.

She is talking about the 65th Butler Farm Show taking place this week.

For Sarah, who is the Butler County 4-H Youth Council treasurer, the annual event is more than just animals, amusements and food; it’s a part of her heritage.

The Laughlins — Ken, Joyce and their children, Nicole Laughlin Monday, Luke, Sarah and Rachel — are an integral part of the show and contribute countless volunteer hours to ensure its success. Ken is president, and the rest of the family pitches in as well.

“We love getting ready for the farm show by helping with all the prep days, then helping with tear down,” said Sarah.

Two years ago, the Laughlins won the coveted Eagle Bowl award, presented annually by the Butler Eagle. The honor recognizes the family that participates to the greatest extent and with the highest degree of success during Farm Show week. Other criteria include good sportsmanship and volunteerism.

Sarah, also a member of the Junior Agriculturalists Livestock 4-H Club, will wrap up her 10-year 4-H career when she shows, then sells, her two market pigs and two market lambs in the Junior Livestock Auction at the Farm Show.

She estimates that she has raised more than 20 pigs and at least 15 lambs over the years, and admits that she used to feel sad when it was time to sell the animals.

“I used to cry every time I sold my animals, but now I understand that it’s part of the business,” she said.

She likes raising pigs, but really loves the challenge of showing lambs. Showmanship is the process of making the animal look its best when presented to a judge.

An accomplished showwoman, Sarah has nabbed top honors two years running in the farm show Master Showmanship contest where 4-H and FFA members show three different species, pigs, lambs and beef cattle.

Sarah credits 4-H with providing many opportunities she otherwise wouldn’t have experienced. She’s competed in livestock judging at the local and state levels and has exhibited project animals several times at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

She also exhibited animals at the Big Butler Fair this year and earned reserve grand champion with her pig.

She received the Outstanding 4-H/FFA Award, an honor based on a nomination from a 4-H club leader, FFA adviser, or fair department superintendent emphasizing the member’s Big Butler Fair activities, leadership and cooperation with other exhibitors during the week. She also served as last year’s Big Butler Fair Princess.

Keeping accurate financial records also is part of being a successful 4-H’er. Because Sarah loves math, keeping her record books comes easy. In fact, she will attend Westminster College this fall to study accounting and plans to be involved in farm management after graduation.

A 2013 graduate of Butler High School, Sarah was a member of the high school rifle team and threw the shot put and discus for the track team.

While Sarah has built an impressive resume with a long list of accomplishments, she remains modest.

“The friends you make and the relationships you build in 4-H mean more than any of the awards you receive,” Sarah said.

The county 4-H is part of the nation’s largest non-formal youth development organization that provides its members, ages 8 to 19, the opportunity to “learn by doing,” through hands-on projects.

The county has nearly 30 4-H clubs with about 300 members who work on projects that feature animals, sewing, baking, shooting sports and robotics.

Each club can elect a representative to join the county 4-H Youth Council whose members serve as the countywide teen leaders and 4-H spokesmen. Learn about council members in this Clover Corner column.

For information about the county 4-H, contact Jean Kummer at the county Extension Office at 724-287-4761, Ext. 224.

Jean Kummer is the 4-H extension educator in the county.