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SLAYTON - When people think 4-H and county fair, they think livestock, but some kids competing at the Murray County Fair don't have any livestock, just projects.

Some, like Dan Beech of Slayton and Tyler Greenfield of Balaton, both 17, have quite a few projects.

Beech has been in 4-H for nine years and is a member of the Lowville-Mason Prairie Hustlers 4-H Club. He is a member of the 4-H Murray County Ambassadors, which works with younger kids "to give them a creative outlet," he said.

Greenfield is a member of the Lakers 4-H Club and has 15 projects entered in indoor gardening, regular flower gardening, potatoes, vegetable gardening, exploring the environment, self-determined, photography and safety, with multiple entries in some categories.

"I've done potatoes and vegetable gardening pretty much since I started 4-H," he said.

Beech has projects entered in photography, cooking and the performing arts.

"I like to take pictures, I enjoy cooking," he said. "I'm a musician and I like to share that with other people. 4-H gives me the opportunity to do that."

"It's an enjoyable activity," Beech said. "I think it's boosted my self-confidence. Gives you the chance to display the work you have done."

"I like seeing from when we plant them to seeing the end effort," Greenfield said. "From seed to finished project. They're good to eat, too."

Beech made an apple pie, cookies and a puff pastry.

"I like to eat dessert, I guess," he said. "It's fun to cook."

Although he has no interest in being a professional baker, he plans to continue cooking for his own enjoyment.

"It's a good life skill, I would say," Beech said.

He tries to be creative with his photography.

"I like taking nature shots a lot," Beech said. "More of an artistic form of photography, more abstract."

Greenfield has taken pictures for eight or nine years.

"I like taking different kinds of pictures and comparing them to other people's, comparing their likes to yours," he said.

He has no plans to become a professional photographer, but does think he'll continue it as a hobby.

"I have two more years in 4-H," Greenfield said. "I'll definitely do it for those two years."

Greenfield has made a couple of trips to the state fair with potatoes. "And last year, with my Justin Morneau (posterboard) project," he said. This year's project on Joe Mauer earned a reserve champion award.

"My experience with state fair was probably the best thing I've done in 4-H," Greenfield said, pointing out you compete against everyone in state, "not just county."

Greenfield said 4-H was a "good experience, a good way to meet people and better yourself."