It all started at the county fair

Breaking from a tradition this year of highlighting one of the area’s long enduring romances for Valentine’s Day, the Signal American’s 2025 love story features five young couples, all long time friends. Their relationships grew out of shared 4-H and agricultural experiences, culminating each year at the Washington County Fair. 

 Living proof of how quickly time passes, these 10 “kids” were entering the showring with their first livestock or horse projects not all that long ago, or it seems like it, anyway. They are one of many generations of the county’s youth growing up at the fair and photographed through the Signal American’s camera lens, each rooted and all moving forward to carry on their rich, rural Idaho legacies.

Jayden and Lauren 

(DeVries) Mink

 Married shortly after Lauren graduated from Cambridge High School in 2021, Jayden earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho in Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production in 2023, while Lauren also studied in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

 Growing up in the Cambridge and Midvale areas, they really don’t have a recollection of when they first met.

 “We vaguely remember seeing each other when Jayden and my older sister were in 4-H showing at the fair,” Lauren said. “I think he was 8 and I was 6.”

 As time went by, they would see each other at Tri-Valley sports events, and always at the Washington County Fair, but their actual friendship started about the time they were both in junior high.

 Lauren and her twin sister, Anna, transferred from Midvale High School to Cambridge as freshmen to be able to participate in CHS’s successful FFA program.

 “Jayden and I both enjoyed showing (beef), along with our siblings and many of the kids in our friend group,” Lauren said. “We dated all through high school, and eventually got married in 2021.”

 This past August, the couple moved back to Cambridge, picking up as the fifth generation on the Mink Land and Livestock Ranch.

 “Our faith and passion for agriculture have been cornerstones in our relationship and life,” she said. “We are blessed to be building our life and family here in Cambridge and Washington County.”

Austin and CJ (Davis) 

Barnett

 CJ and Austin both began showing at the fair as first-year novices. CJ, from Weiser, took a liking to swine projects, and Austin, Midvale, showed steers. Even though they had both shown at the fair three or four years, CJ said they actually met at a cattle pregnancy checking clinic through the extension office in 2012.

 “We talked on and off, but didn’t get serious until 2013,” she said. 

 “He was a farm kid, mature, intelligent and hard working. What else could you ask for?”

 CJ said once they started dating, there was never a question.

 “We were just together,” she laughed. “I don’t know if that has anything to do with our roots, but we just never strayed from each other. Jeff Springer told us at the very beginning, ‘when you guys get married, you can’t move. You have to stay here because our athletic programs will need your kids in them.’ So, that’s exactly what we did.”

 CJ had started a swine breeding business in 2011, and now, under AC Livestock, they have a respected reputation in the world of show swine.

 “Sage is only 2, but she already has the love for agriculture that we do, and I’m sure she will be showing hogs and steers as soon as she’s old enough,” CJ added.

 Stepping right out of their involvement as youth into adult functional roles at the fair, the young couple are now the swine superintendents.

 “It’s pretty cool to step into that role and watch from that perspective,” she said. “To know exactly what the kids are going through and experiencing.

 “It’s Austin’s busiest time of year with farming, but he always makes it up for the show and the sale,” CJ added. “It’s so important to show up and support these kids, the way we were supported through our 10 years of showing.”

Michael and Sydney (Cobb) Barnett

 Even though Sydney was born in Weiser, her family had lived in Vale for a number of years, returning to Weiser when she was in high school. Michael grew up in Midvale, and is Austin Barnett’s brother.

 “Michael and I met when we were 16 through mutual friends,” Sydney said. “We were standing at the snow cone stand, and it was my first fair after moving back to Weiser.”

 They started dating after the fair that fall, continuing the relationship through high school and college.

 “We were engaged my junior year of college, and were married the next June, 2022,” she said. 

 Sydney said their similar interests make the relationship work.

 “We both showed steers at the fair, and came from ranching/agricultural families,” she said. “Many of our dates were fishing in the summer and snowboarding in the winter. But, we always looked forward to fair week, because it meant an entire week of hanging out together. I recall at least two prom dates being branding.”

 Now, as adults, the couple still love going to the fair with young son, Royce, in tow. 

 “We watch my siblings show and love seeing everyone,” she said. “We step in to help where needed, and are excited for Royce’s future as a showman, and to teach him all about raising and showing livestock. We are excited for him to experience fair week and enjoy it as much as we did, and making lifelong friendships.”

 Those friendships continue, and some have even become family.

 “Sydney Haubrich and I have been friends since we were very little,” she said. “Lauren and I got to know each other well while spending many days watching Jayden and Michael play baseball together at Weiser High School. She is one of my closest friends now.

 “CJ, Katie, and I first met in gymnastics class when we were around 5,” she added. “Now, CJ is my sister-in-law and I’m so glad Royce and Sage get to grow up together as cousins.”

Wyatt and Sydney (Maloney) 

Haubrich

 Sydney grew up in Weiser, and Wyatt grew up in Midvale in the South Crane area, meeting and competing against each other with their horse projects from their earliest start in 4-H. That’s about as close as they can come to identifying when they first met.

 “He officially asked me to be his girlfriend in 2013, but we were too shy to have much to say, so I’m not sure if that counts,” Sydney said. “I do remember the first time we held hands…we were both sweating bullets.”

 They also competed in high school rodeo together.

 “Wyatt’s dad hired me to move water and help through haying in the summers, and I cleaned horse stalls for his grandma in the winters,” she added. “We dated throughout high school and college and got married on Aug. 21, 2022.”

 The couple lives on the family ranch in Crane Creek, and welcomed a baby girl, Hallee, in May 2024.

 The friendship ties between the Haubrichs and today’s other Valentine subjects run deep and long.

 “Sydney Barnett and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember,” Sydney Haubrich said. “I’m pretty sure we were in diapers when we met. I played basketball with CJ Barnett and Katie Springer in high school, and have been friends ever since.

 “Wyatt went to school in Midvale with their husbands, Michael, Austin, and Garrett,” she added. “They’ve all been friends before we girls came along. We are looking forward to following our kids in sports and rodeos. We are so lucky!”

Garrett and Katie (Davis) Springer

 Like their friends, Katie and Garrett had become acquainted at the fair when they were in novice and beginner showmanship classes.

 “I don’t remember when we officially met, but I always knew who he was, because I started showing sheep and he (two years older) was showing steers,” Katie said. 

 Katie said their relationship was kindled when they were in some animal science classes together at TVCC, and their parents, all fair volunteers, had also first met in classes at TVCC.

 “We would talk, and then started messaging each other, and we just never stopped,” Katie said. “Our love for agriculture and small town life is something we had in common, and bonded over.”

 The pair were married after Katie graduated from Oregon State University, and their little girl, Quinn, was born last summer, in time to attend her first Washington County Fair.

 “We knew we wanted to give our children the same amazing experiences and connections that rural life and agriculture gave us,” Katie said. “We can’t wait for Quinn to show at the fair and grow up in such an amazing community.”

 Although they haven’t taken on any official roles at the fair, yet, Katie’s club lamb business supplies a good number of project lambs to sheep project 4-H members, and she makes a point to spend the whole week there, helping out, shearing some sheep, and watching the shows.

 “Garrett always helps out with things like steer weigh-in, and every night at the Cambridge rodeo. We will always be involved in the Washington County Fair, and I’m sure we will take on more roles as Quinn grows up and is involved,” Katie said.