Yes.

Monday, August 16, 1999

Yes. That was, indeed, a camel at the 1999 Mower County Fair.

Jennifer Subra, 7, showed the camel in the 4-H Pet Show.

Subra is a Cloverbud, which is the youngest group of children in the 4-H program. Too young to compete with the older children, but a part of a program designed to introduce children to 4-H activities.

She is the daughter of Bob and Gail Subra, who live south of Austin. The Subra family is well-known for its many exotic animals and regulars at the Mower County Fair, where their creatures delight visitors to the Children’s Farmyard.

But a camel is something quite different than any animal they have ever brought to the County Fair before.

"It’s just something I’ve always been interested in and something I always wanted for the farm," said Bob. "We hope to use it this Christmas at live nativity scenes at Christmastime."

Bob’s father, Earl (deceased), is a member of the Mower County Livestock Hall of Fame and Bob grew up on a farm with beasts of burden. "I’ve been around animals all my life, I guess. They’re very interesting and smart," he said.

When not tending the Subra family zoo, Bob is a U.S. Department of Agriculture meat inspector.

"What we do is really a hobby that just grew," he said. "As far as the camel goes, we have introduced her to the halter and the challenge will be to break her to be tame and do what we want."

"Nala" is a four-months-old female white and brown in color.

Jennifer named her for a favorite character in the popular Walt Disney movie "The Lion King."

The camel, a dromedary, is being bottle-fed three times a day, but will soon be eating a nutritious diet of hay, grain and grass.

The Subra family bought Nala from a Kansas breeder, who has a herd of 75.

The pet show attracted six entrants, who brought guinea pigs, dogs, rabbits, a horse and Jennifer’s camel to be judged.

The exhibitor will be a second grade student this fall.

"He’s my favorite of all the animals," she said. "We play tag with him."

Nala is the first camel to every be shown in competition at the Mower County Fair.