By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

LEBANON, Ohio — Luke Irving of Franklin raises eight rabbits, two goats and a pig as 4-H projects. As home pets Luke has six more rabbits, two dogs and two cats.

Luke’s brother, Jake, 14, shares the love of animals. Jake raises a pair of market hogs, seven market rabbits and one market goat.
That’s a huge order for the Irvings, especially since they don’t live on a farm.

The Irvings were exhibitors at last week’s Warren County Fair. Both have been in 4-H for four years.

“I want to live on a farm someday and have lots of animals,” said Luke, who will be a seventh-grader at Middletown Christian School this fall.

The Irvings live in Hunter.

“We have about seven acres so we live in the country a little bit,” said their mother, Lesa. “All around us are farms and these neighbors got us into 4-H.”

The two boys have flourished in 4-H and have raised all kinds of animals.

Neither get attached to their animals, knowing most will head to market.

“I’m ready to get rid of ‘em,” Jake said.

“Yeah, we just want the money,” Luke added.

Luke’s pet goat, Lucy Lu-Lu, will return home safely with many of the ribbons the two won at this year’s county fair.

Luke earned a Reserved Grand Champion award in ATV Safety at this year’s county fair and that effort qualifies him for competition at the Ohio State Fair. Luke underwent interviews and written tests involving dirt bike safety at the county level.

But this pair’s true love is raising and being around animals.
“I want to raise other animals but mom says ‘no,’” said Luke, 12.

Lesa said jokingly, “no to horses, no to geese and no to cattle - there’s a limit.”