LUMBERTON — Hunter Thompson, a student at Cottonwood Pre-school in Lumberton, was determined to get a good look at every one of the animals at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair. A lover of animals, he also wanted to pet and feed every animal that he could.

“I like everything,” he said as he and his classmates got a close-up look Friday at the animals — including chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigs, a yak, donkey, horse and New Guinea singing dog — that are on display at the fair. “I especially like the donkey,” said Hunter.

Austin Hunt, another Cottonwood student, was so impressed with all of the animals that even after giving it considerable thought he couldn’t choose a favorite.

“‘I liked the camels, the cow and the sheep,” he said. After a long pause he added, “I liked the donkey too.”

For the third consecutive year, children up to age 4 have been given special barnyard tours before the fair opens for evening business. It’s a chance, said Buddy Britt, the fair’s livestock chairman, for the children to learn firsthand about animals. In some cases they even get to pet and feed the animals.

“Some of these children have never seen — and may never otherwise have a chance — to see these animals,” Britt said. “On these tours we want to teach them about the animals, as well as offer them something to enjoy... They get real excited when they are here.”

The tours were not limited to students from schools in Robeson County, Britt said. At least one school from Hoke County participated in the tours that were offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Britt said that overall between 1,300 and 1,500 children took part.

On Friday, Michelle Morgan, executive director at Cottonwood Pre-school, toured the barnyard with 18 of her students. She had brought another group of students on Wednesday.

“This is great,” she said. “It’s something that’s definitely worthwhile for the children.”

Britt said that while the children enjoyed their close-up encounters with all of the animals, the baby chicks and baby pigs seemed to grab the attention of most youngsters.

“I don’t know why the baby chicks and pigs are the most popular,” he said. “I guess it is because they are babies and the kids are babies themselves.”

It was Britt who originally came up with the idea of having the special barnyard tours for pre-school children. He and his wife Debbie take their vacation every year at fair time so that they can organize and oversee the tours.

“People ask us why we do this during our vacation,” Debbie said. “The answer is simple — we do this because we love it.”

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Saturday

11 a.m. — Fair opens

11 a.m. — 4-H lamb show

Noon to 5 p.m. — Chicken bog cook off

1 p.m. — 4-H heifer/steer show

2:30 p.m. — Old county fair afternoon

3:30 p.m. — Diaper derby, midway stage

5:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. — Comedy hypnotist Alan Sands

7 p.m. — Demo derby

7 p.m. — Apollo night at gate No. 10

Midnight — Fair closes