Smile

What makes Gus Richards smile? “My parents and my family,” said the 13-year-old Noblesville resident, a seventh-grader at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Noblesville. The Hamilton County 4-H’er was found Sunday afternoon winning Champion in Pocket Pets Intermediate division after showing his turtle at the 4-H Pocket Pet Show during the County 4-H Fair in Noblesville. This was his first year showing in the 4-H Pocket Pets project, and he showed a turtle named Turtly. He has owned the turtle for four years. How long do turtles live? “They live up to 30-plus years,” and he plans to have this turtle for a long time. Turtly is a red-eared slider and native across the United States and one of the most common turtles in zoos and as pets, he said. How much care does his turtle require? “Not much, you just have to feed them once every three days,” said Gus, who feeds with turtle pellets and freeze-dried shrimp. He is the son of Jonathon and Britnee Richards and has two sisters, Iris, 3, and Mae, 9. Why 4-H? “I like 4-H because my dad did it when he was young, and I’m just inspired by that to do it.” His dad, a 2003 Westfield High School grad, was a 10-year 4-H’er who showed livestock and poultry. Gus is a member of the Noblesville H&H 4-Club and is in his second year of 4-H. “If you are scared for 4-H, just go for it, and it’s really fun,” he said. Favorite Fair food? “The corn is the best.” Favorite Fair event? “The (4-H Model) Tractor Pull,” which he competed in on Monday morning. What else? “I’m going to the State Fair for (the 4-H) Rocketry (project). I built a rocket … It has to be a nice rocket to get Champion.” Read more about 4-H’er awards from the 2023 Hamilton County 4-H Fair in upcoming editions of The Times.