Hard work pays off in Fayette County Fair agricultural shows
Frances Borsodi Zajac|Herald-Standard
In this file photo, Kelsey Kissner, of Hiller, pictured near the Indoor Arena, earned reserve grand champion 4-H market goat wither a Boer goat that took champion heavyweight. Kissner said the secret to success is “Hard work and effort. You have to have a passion for it.’’
Frances Borsodi Zajac|Herald-Standard
Bailey Keffer, 18, of Connellsville shows off the honors she won with her grand champion 4-H market goat. Keffer said, “You’ve got to put a lot of time in it and be dedicated to your animal.’’
Frances Borsodi Zajac|Herald-Standard
In this file photo, Taylor Hennessey, 16, was named grand champion 4-H market lamb after earning the champion heavyweight title with a Hampshire cross.
Amerrah Hennessey, 9, of Vanderbilt, (in the pink) took grand champion market swine in her first year of 4-H, winning with the Division 2 champion. The animals were divided into divisions by weight.
Amerrah Hennessey, 9, of Vanderbilt, second from right, beams as she poses with her family in the barn after winning grand champion market swine. Her parents, left, are Savannah and Mike Hennessey.
Morgan Hollowood, left, of Dawson, hugs her young cousin Amerrah Hennessey, of Vanderbilt after Hennessey won grand champion market swine in 4-H competition at the Fayette County Fair.
Competitors lead Jerseys into the ring at the Indoor Arena under the watchful eye of the judge during dairy cattle competition at the Fayette County Fair, running through Aug. 4 at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.
This beautiful turkey can be seen in the Poultry Building at the Fayette County Fair, running through Aug. 4 at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.
These beautiful baskets of home garden displays can be seen in the Grange Building at the Fayette County Fair, running through Aug. 4 at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.
Corbin Boyd, of Lemont Furnace, rides around an obstacle course during the 4-H Fun Show in the Horse Arena at the Fayette County Fair, running through Aug. 4 at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.
Hard work and determination are being rewarded in agricultural shows throughout the Fayette County Fair, taking place now through Aug. 4 at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.
Judges routinely comment on it. Leaders point out these attributes in their 4-H club members. Even the youths realize these important lessons.
“You’ve got to put a lot of time in it and be dedicated to your animal,” said Bailey Keffer, 18, of Connellsville, who earned grand champion 4-H market goat. “You have to have a passion. Always look up to older showmen so you can learn.”
“You have to work and have patience,” said Taylor Hennessey, 16, of Connellsville, who earned grand champion 4-H market lamb.
Lisa Allen, of Smock, who recorded awards for the 4-H and open class dairy cattle show at the fair, pointed out, “Five 4-H youths were grand champions in their breeds. That says a lot. That’s important.”
The Fayette County Fair offers 4-H competition open to youths who are members of local 4-H clubs as well as open class shows that are open to all exhibitors.
Here’s a look at results from some of these shows:
4-H market goats
Keffer took grand champion with a crossbred that also won champion middleweight. A daughter of James and Rana Keffer, she is a 2018 graduate of Connellsville Area High School and will enter Westmoreland County Community College this fall.
Keffer believes her animal was selected for overall muscle and mass: “When he gets out and goes, he’s good all over.”
She earned reserve market goat and reserve market swine in 2017 and is in her 10th year of 4-H.
Kelsey Kissner of Hiller, also a member of New Horizons, earned reserve grand champion wither a Boer goat that took champion heavyweight.
A daughter of Rebecca and Michael Kissner, she is a 2018 graduate of Brownsville Area High School and a freshman at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Involved in 4-H for eight years, Kissner said, “The fair to me is fun because at home I work so hard to get my animals ready. Here there is excitement.”
Other results: Serena Anderson, of Dunbar, champion lightweight; Hannah Peck of Normalville, reserve champion lightweight; Manoah Brown of Acme, reserve champion middleweight; Sadie Richter of Acme, reserve champion heavyweight.
4-H market lamb
Hennessey, 16, was named grand champion after earning the champion heavyweight title with a Hampshire cross. A daughter of Juliana Dorogi and Bill Hennessey, she is a junior at Geibel Catholic High School in Connellsville.
Hennessey said of 4-H, “I’ve been around it my whole life and I just enjoy it.”
Other results: Emilyn Shearer of Connellsville, received reserve grand champion and reserve heavyweight titles. Hayden Keefer of Mount Pleasant, champion lightweight; Jaydra Keefer of Scottdale, reserve champion lightweight; Samuel Leonard of Dawson, champion middleweight; Hayden Demniak of Carmichaels, reserve champion middleweight.
4-H market swine
Amerrah Hennessey, 9, of Vanderbilt, took grand champion in her first year of 4-H, winning with the Division 2 champion. The animals were divided into divisions by weight.
A daughter of Mike and Savannah Hennessey and a fourth-grade student in the Connellsville Area School District, she said the win involved a lot of work. Hennessey also had support from her family, including cousin Morgan Hollowood and friend Joe Espey.
While Amerrah was shy, Mike said the family was feeling “very ecstatic.”
Cole Dupont won reserve grand champion with his Division 4 champion swine.
Other results: Division 1: Lane Rice, of Dawson, champion; Mikaela Kamp of Gibbon Glade, reserve champion; Division 2: Joshua Hustosky of Uniontown, reserve champion; Division 3: Brody Johnston, of Mill Run champion; Jeremiah Calloway, reserve champion; Division 4: Johnny Hustosky of Uniontown, reserve champion; Purebred: Kenzie Mowry, champion; Taylor Hennessey, reserve champion; Countybred: Cole Dupont, grand champion; Mikaela Kamp, reserve grand champion.
Carcass lamb
Gracie Joseph took champion on foot and the rail in this 4-H competition.
Dairy cattle
Jakob Derr of Dawson took the supreme champion title with a red-and-white Holstein that’s a 6-year-old milking cow. Mia Keefer of Fencil Farms earned supreme champion junior with an Ayrshire fall calf.
Results by breed:
Holstein: Adriana Angelo, 4-H and open class grand champion and senior champion; Isabel Angelo, 4-H reserve grand champion and reserve senior champion; Katie Wright, open class, reserve grand champion and reserve senior champion; Cole Miller, 4-H and open class champion and reserve champion junior.
Jersey: Elizabeth McCloy, 4-H and open class junior champion; Laura Caruso, 4-H and open class reserve junior champion; Ian Walker, 4-H reserve grand champion and senior champion; Jessica Wolfe, 4-H reserve senior champion; Lane Vance, open class grand champion and senior champion.
Guernsey: Lee Michael Baker, 4-H and open junior champion; Madison David, 4-H reserve; Shelby Hawkins, open class reserve; Elizabeth McCloy, 4-H and open grand champion and reserve grand champion and 4-H and open senior champion and reserve senior champion.
Ayrshire: Ellie Holchin, 4-H junior champion and open class reserve junior champion; Mia Keefer, open class junior champion; Anthony Spadoro, 4-H reserve junior champion and 4-H reserve senior champion; Grace Spadoro, 4-H and open class grand champion and senior champion; Katie Wright, open class reserve grand champion and reserve senior champion.
Red and white Holstein: Madison Davis, 4-H junior champion and open class reserve junior champion; Beth Cree, open class junior champion; Maddox Davis, 4-H reserve junior chamion; Ian Walker, 4-H senior champion and open class reserve senior champion; Isabel Angelo, 4-H reserve senior champion.
Brown Swiss: Nicholas Love, 4-H and open class junior champion, 4-H and open class reserve grand champion and reserve senior champion; Anthony Spadoro, 4-H and open class reserve junior champion; Olivia Love, 4-H and open class grand champion and senior champion.
Milking Shorthorn: Caden Miller, 4-H junior champion, 4-H and open class reserve junior champion, 4-H and open class reserve grand champion and reserve senior champion; Brooke Vance, open class junior champion; Mason Davis, 4-H and open class grand champion and senior champion.