Piglets and ducks and calves, oh my!
It’s not too often we get to see these animals be born, but for Oxford resident Audrey Shuttleworth, she saw it all happen right before her very eyes last week.
Shuttleworth witnessed these tiny miracles at the annual Oakland County 4-H Fair, held at Springfield Oaks county park in Davisburg.
The 19-year-old 4-H alumni volunteered to be a part of the fair, in which she helped in the various livestock barns.
This year’s fair featured a poultry barn, rabbit barn, livestock barn and the Miracle of Life barn, where very big, and very pregnant, animals gave birth throughout the week.
Shuttleworth said two calves, two litters of piglets, ducks and chicks were born during the week.
‘It’s pretty cool to see,? she said.
Although Shuttleworth isn’t getting into the animal field (she’s training to be a paramedic for the Oxford Fire Department), she’s been involved in the 4-H Club since 1998 and began showing animals in 2000.
‘We had some friends who raised poultry, so we decided to do chickens too,? she said.
The Shuttleworth’s began to raise and show their chickens, turkeys and sheep for the 4-H fair. When Shuttleworth joined 4-H, she was one of the founding members of the Vet-Science Club and has been hooked ever since.
Shuttleworth won Champion Meat Pen in 2000 for the family’s chickens and the Champion Meat Pen in 2000. She also won the Champion Turkey for her show turkey in 2003.
Because she is over 18, Shuttleworth said she was ‘bummed? she could no longer show her animals for prizes. However, last year she ended her 4-H competitions on a high note.
‘I was the 4-H Fair queen first runner-up,? she said with a smile.
Each year, a 4-H Fair king and queen are chosen to basically act as ambassadors for the 4-H club.
Although Shuttleworth can’t show animals at 4-H anymore, she said there’s no way she’d ever give up being a part of the fair every year.
‘I want to stay with 4-H my entire life,? she said.

Shuttleworth won Champion Meat Pen in 2000 for the family’s chickens and the Champion Meat Pen in 2000. She also won the Champion Turkey for her show turkey in 2003.
Because she is over 18, Shuttleworth said she was ‘bummed? she could no longer show her animals for prizes. However, last year she ended her 4-H competitions on a high note.
‘I was the 4-H Fair queen first runner-up,? she said with a smile.
Each year, a 4-H Fair king and queen are chosen to basically act as public relations for the 4-H club.
Although Shuttleworth can’t show animals at 4-H anymore, she said there’s no way she’d ever give up being a part of the fair every year.
‘I want to stay with 4-H my entire life,? she said.