HASTINGS, Neb. – Not every animal has to be big to make a large impact at county fair shows. 

4-H programs flock to county fairs each summer for youth participants to show off their respective fields of learning, whether that's showing an animal, cooking skills, or craftsmanship. 

4-H animal shows are a common part of county fairs, but many usually think of large animals like cow, sheep, pigs, and horses.

They're sometimes not recognized as much, but still an important piece of the fairs are the showcases of those animals that are much smaller. 

"It's unique because we see animals that you would never see anywhere else." said Adams County 4-H extension educator Ron Seymour.

Seymour has seen just about everything in 26 years of youth and teenagers showing off their small animals in the annual 4-H Small Animals Showcase. 

"To see somebody bring a tortoise, or a hermit crab, we had someone with a bearded dragon yesterday," said Seymour. "You may see that in the pet store, but maybe you don't somebody who actually has it, and now you can see how they work with that animal, what they do with it, and learn about the animals."

You may have to get a bit closer to get a good look at the cats, rodents, or reptiles that these kids are putting hard work in to show them off at the Adams County Fairfest.

Seymour says a lot more effort goes into maintaining one of these animals than one might think.

"Depending on the animal, they will have had to of washed it, cleaned it up, make sure that the nails are clipped, that it's dried and brushed out nicely," said Seymour. "When it is judged, the judge looks for all of those elements, as well as what the quality of the animal is."

While these kids aren’t hauling around 1,000 pound steers like some others, the goal remains the same: to build character by taking care of a living creature.

"It just gives people an opportunity to have something they're responsible for, prepare it, and then show it to the public to let them know what they learned, and what they are trying to do with their animal in their project." said Seymour.

4-H offers Nebraska youth all kinds of different programs to participate in, and Seymour says it’s never too late or early to get signed up.