By By SPIROS GALLOS / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS - It's an unwritten rule at the Berrien County Fair that you shouldn't take part in horse showing and livestock showing.
As always, there are exceptions to the rule.
Meet the Roths of Niles.
Camden Roth, 8, is exhibiting three types of animal this year: horses, lambs, and swine.
His older brother, Cameron, 14, is exhibiting lambs and swine.
Their mother, Sue Roth, works behind the scenes helping the boys prep their animals for exhibition, offering last-minute words of encouragement before a judging, and being a pair of open arms to congratulate or console either of her sons after a judging.
It's 2 p.m. on Monday and Camden has just won his class for halter horses at the horse judging.
Cameron is getting his lambs prepared for the lamb judging at 3 p.m.
The boys' older sister, Camille, 18, "retired" from the fair last year after winning large livestock overall showman and now helps her mom prep the animals before judging.
Around 2:30 p.m., Camille and Camden make sure there are fresh batteries in their walkie-talkies.
One of the reasons people typically don't show horses and livestock: judgings usually occur at the same time.
Camille will watch the horse judging to make sure Camden doesn't miss judging of the appaloosa class, his horse's class.
Cameron enters the judging for his lamb at the Intermediate class. His lamb gives him some fuss, but he calms her down and wins the championship for Lamb Showmanship in the Intermediate class.
Cameron is relieved to be out of the judging pen.
This year is Cameron's ninth showing at the fair, his fourth showing lambs. Later in the week, the lambs will be auctioned off.
The money earned from the auctions go straight to the kids' college funds after expenses are taken out, Sue says.
Regardless of loss, Sue gives the boys' $20 for each animal they show.
So much hectic activity, and to think this is only the first of seven days of the fair.