After 11 years in 4-H and six trips to showcase her rabbits at the Minnesota State Fair, Crystal Stundahl is making one last trip, this time with the grand champion rabbit of the Mower County Fair.

This is her first year to win grand champion rabbit, but last chance to compete at the State Fair.

“I feel lucky to have gone all those years,” she said.

Stundahl is just one of the 71 4-H kids heading up to the State Fair this weekend to showcase their livestock. Their ages range from sixth grade to one year past high school.

Each 4-H student will compete with one animal that won at the Mower County Fair. The exhibits include beef, dairy, goats, rabbits, poultry, sheep and swine.

In addition, three llama exhibitors from Mower County will attend the State Fair next week.

“It’s always exciting,” said Melissa Koch, the local 4-H program coordinator.

Koch left for the cities on Wednesday afternoon with the local participants and will stay there through Sunday to help with exhibits and make sure everything goes smoothly.

Seventy one is “pretty average” for the number of livestock exhibits going to the State Fair each year, said Koch, and most of the entrants have been to it “a handful of times.”

Over the weekend, the entrants will spend one day showing their animals and another day in a showmanship competition. They also will have the opportunity to compete in a Quizbowl contest and Skill-a-thon.

In addition, six of the livestock exhibitors will conduct demonstrations.

“They will take their livestock, and for an hour talk to the public walking through,” Koch explained. “They’ll be judged on their demonstration and be sharing their knowledge.”

There is a 4-H activity going on every day, Stundahl said, but they also get a lot of free time.

About 10 volunteers are also going on the trip, helping with everything from loading up the animals to helping the kids get back to their dorms in the 4-H building.

Stundahl is “kind of sad” that this is her last year going to the State Fair, but feels ready to be done.

Now a biology major at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, she hasn’t spent as much time raising her rabbits as in past years. But she will continue to attend the State Fair after this summer to support her younger sister, Lisa, and other friends she has made through 4-H.

Those attending the State Fair for the first time are always really excited, explained Koch — “It’s an honor.”