- March 19, 2025
Coralynn Soard, 10, is showing both a pig and chicken at the Flagler County Fair & Youth Show. Photo by Sierra Williams
Coralynn Soard, 10, (right) and her sister Clementine, 6, (left) are both showing chickens at the Flagler County Fair & Youth Show. Photo by Sierra Williams
Coralynn Soard, 10, is showing both a pig and chicken at the Flagler County Fair & Youth Show. Photo by Sierra Williams
Coralynn Soard said she doesn't name the animals she shows at the Flagler County Fair & Youth Show's 4-H and FFA Youth Livestock Show and Sale.
"It's a project, not a pet," she said.
Coralynn, 10, goes out twice a day with her 6-year-old sister Clementine to care for the pigs and chickens on their family's property, fetching eggs, cleaning coops and feeding and watering the animals.
Both girls are showing animals at the fair. While this is just Clementine's second year, Coralynn has been showing chickens at the fair for six years. This is the third year she is showing both a chicken and a pig, both of which will be sold and butchered at the end.
The Flagler County Fair has become a family event, Coralynn said: Coralynn and her sister are in fact the second generation to show animals at the fair. Jade Soard, their mother and a local 4-H leader, said she showed her own pigs from age 8 to 18. Even her husband, who did not grow up with the Flagler County Fair, has gotten involved, she said.
Coralynn said she was happy she could pass on what she knows about caring for chickens to her sister.
"It feels really rewarding to me that I can teach Clementine something," Coralynn said.
But raising farm animals is a part of the Soard family's life, with or without the fair. The family has multiple chickens, a calf, a dairy cow and a second pig that they are raising to fill their own freezer. The family then sells their extra chicken eggs and some baked goods at their family's roadside stand.
Taking care of animals takes a lot of patience, Coralynn said.
"I'm [fully] responsible for the pig," she said.
Soard said she and her husband want their five children to know where their food comes from.
"We want them to make sure that we're giving them a good life so then we know and we feel better when they're filling our freezer," she said.
Soard said she also incorporates the fair into Coralynn's homeschool lessons as well: teaching the young girl personal and financial responsibility as well as adding to her animal science education.
"So basically, it's like doing school in a fun way," Coralynn said.
"Yes, [teaching] life skills is our main focus," Soard said.
The money Coralynn earns will go into a bank account for when she's an adult - a nest egg to go towards college or a car or a house. In the meantime, Coralynn said she's happy to know the pig she is raising for the fair will go on to feed another family.
She said she's aware that not every child has the same upbringing as her, and considers herself lucky to have the experience, both to have farm animals at home and to raise them for the fair. It teachers her responsibility, she said, and about the animals themselves.
"I can tell you I wouldn't be this deep into the chicken business if it wasn't for the fair," she said with a laugh.
