So ‘Fair,’ so good
2010 Greene County Fair Queen Chelsea Moore (right) crowns the 2011 Greene County Fair Queen, Samantha Morris, during a pageant on Aug. 6.
Local 4-H youths line up their steers during the 4-H Market Steer Show, which was held Tuesday night at the Greene County Fair.
The power pulling events are always popular attractions at the Greene County Fair, and this year is no exception. Truck and tractor pulls were held Tuesday night and are being held on Saturday.
2010 Greene County Fair Queen Chelsea Moore (right), chats with Samantha Morris, who was crowned this year's fair queen, during the 4-H Market Steer Show on Tuesday. The two are flanked by Moore's steer, Thunder, who weighs 1,290 pounds.
The midway at the Greene County Fair shows a multitude of colors. The fair in Waynesburg will continue through this week.
Dalton Riggenbach, 12, of Waynesburg has a blast on the bumper cars at the Greene County Fair.
Going for a spin on the ride at the Greene County Fair is Courtney Royer (left), 11, and Destiny Diluzio, 11, both from Bentlyville.
Sharing the ride on the bumper cars at the Greene County Fair are Samantha Amonett (left), 14, and Destiny Cox, 13, both form Waynesburg.
WAYNESBURG — The 2011 Greene County Fair kicked off earlier this week, welcoming a healthy number of fairgoers who flocked to the fairgrounds throughout the week to enjoy a wide array of agricultural events, musical performances, truck pulls and thrill rides.
?Although this year’s fair — which features the theme of “From the Farm Gate to the Dinner Plate” — officially began on Sunday, the crowds really started packing the fairgrounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, and they show no signs of slowing down as the fair week continues.
Fairgoers have been coming out in droves despite the humidity and few rainfalls found in the first few days of this year’s fair, enjoying many of the events and activities that offer everything from amusement rides and pageants to agricultural shows and tractor pulls.
Debbie Stephenson, fair secretary and treasurer, said she has been very pleased with the overall turnout thus far.
“Attendance has been terrific so far,” she said. “The weather has been extremely cooperative, and we couldn’t be happier with the way things have been going.”
Stephenson said that although it is impossible to tell what specific event or activity that brings each attendee to the fair, she is confident that the fair is a big draw because it offers something fun for men, women and children of all ages.
“There are a million things that people could be coming for,” she said. “Take Tuesday night, for example; we had the truck pulls and the 4-H Market Steer show. Earlier in the day, we had a number of 4-H shows. Regardless of why they were here, the fact is that the crowd was excellent.”
Stephenson said she is pleased to see people of all ages coming to the fair.
“A lot of different age groups are coming through those gates,and that’s wonderful,” she said. “And with all of the attractions that are scheduled for the rest of the week, we are expecting this to be one of our better attended fairs when it’s all said and done.”
The 2011 fair unofficially kicked off on Saturday with the 25th annual Fair Queen Pageant at the 4-H Building at the county fairgrounds.
Four contestants competed for this year’s title, and at the pageant’s conclusion, Samantha Morris was crowned fair queen. Morris is the 17-year-old daughter of Robert and Sheila Morris of Ruff Creek.
Also competing in the pageant were Christa Ziefel, 16, of Nineveh; Kristina Watters, 18, of Mt. Morris; and Ashley Zieglar, 18, of Dilliner. Zieglar was chosen as the runner up.
Chelsea Moore, the 2010 fair queen, helped crown Morris. Moore is the 17-year-old daughter of Mark and Joan Moore of Spraggs.
Tuesday night during the steer show, Morris and Moore took a few minutes out of their busy schedules to talk about fair queen royalty. Both young ladies have spent many years at the fair and agree on what is the most important aspect of the annual event.
“I’ve been showing animals here for 11 years, and without a doubt I can say the fair is all about the animals and about agriculture,” Morris said. “I know the fair has so much to offer, whether it’s the rides, the food, the attractions, or the demolition derby. And all those things are great. But it’s the agricultural aspects that matter the most.”
Moore, who has been showing animals since she was eight years old, emphatically agrees.
“Agriculture is so important in Greene County and it should always be one of the prominently featured events here at the fair,” she said.
As for being crowned fair queen, Morris said she was surprised and happy that she won, and she was even more happy to be crowned by Moore, her longtime close friend.
Morris said though it has been a hectic week for her so far, she is proud to be representing as fair queen.
“I am looking forward to serving as fair queen and representing the Greene County Fair for the rest of this week and for the next year,” she said. “I’m already having a lot of fun and meeting a lot of great people.”
Moore said though it was bittersweet to see her reign end, she is happy for Morris. She also offered some advice for the newly crowned queen.
“Be yourself, have fun and enjoy every moment, because you won’t believe how fast the year will fly,” she said.
Fair royalty also reigned on Monday, as Sadie Wright, the 16-year-old daughter of Jeff and Pam Wright of Mt. Morris, was crowned Lamb and Wool Queen.
Meanwhile, local 4-Hers were busy throughout the week preparing for their animals for a variety of different shows, including the 4-H Market Steer Show Tuesday night.
A large crowd gathered in the livestock barn for the steer show, in which 39 steers were entered in three weight divisions, lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight divisions. Each division was divided into three different classes.
In each division, a champion and reserve champion were selected. All of those winners were then eligible to compete for the top prize crown of overall champion and overall reserve grand champion.
4-Hers from the age of 9 to 18 displayed their market steers, ranging from over 1,000 pounds to over 1,500 pounds.
Joseph Headlee III, 12, of Waynesburg showed the overall grand champion. He also showed the champion steer in the middleweight division.
Lexie Mooney, 11, of Sycamore showed the overall reserve grand champion market steer. She also showed the reserve champion steer in the middleweight division.
Rodney Parson, 11, of Graysville showed the champion in the heavyweight division, and Wyatt Murphy, 13, of Holbrook showed the reserve champion in the heavyweight division.
In the lightweight division, Tim Remsing, 17, showed the champion and Michelle Dulaney, 18, of Waynesburg showed the reserve champion.
In the steer showmanship competition held Tuesday, Tony Staggers, 15, of Graysville placed first in the senior category; Joseph Headlee won first place in the intermediate category; and Julie Policz, 10, of Jefferson placed first in the junior category. Placing first in the owned, bred and born category was Wyatt Whipkey, and placing first in the rate of gain category was Gregory Staggers, 8, of Graysville.
The crowds returned on Wednesday for the 4-H Market Lamb Show, in which 69 lambs were entered in lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight divisions. Similar to the steer show, a champion lamb and reserve champion lamb was selected in each division. All of those winners were then eligible to compete for the top prize crown of overall champion and overall reserve grand champion.
Hayden Demniak, 9, of Carmichaels showed the overall grand champion and Nicole Willis, 8, of Rices Landing showed the overall reserve grand champion. Demniak also showed the champion in the heavyweight division, and Willis showed the reserve champion in the heavyweight division.
In the middleweight division, Tristan Cole, 8, of Waynesburg showed the champion and Karlie Hoy showed the reserve champion.
In the lightweight division, Madison Clayton, 9, of Waynesburg showed the champion and Lindsey Longstreth, 17, of Waynesburg showed the reserve champion.
In the lamb showmanship competition held Wednesday, Jennifer Self, 15, of Greensboro placed first in the senior category; Jenna Henry, 13, of Waynesburg won first place in the intermediate category; and Hayden Demniak placed first in the junior category. Placing first in the owned, bred and born category was Tristan Cole.
The steer and lambs that were shown on Tuesday and Wednesday were sold for auction during the 4-H Market Steer and Lamb Sale on Thursday. Information regarding the sale was not available by press time but will be published in next week’s issue.
The Greene County Fair may be almost over, but there is still plenty of fun and excitement left that will be offered to fairgoers over the event’s final two days.
On Friday, the fair will feature the return of Croushore’s Demolition Derby at 7 p.m. The fair’s final day, Saturday, will feature more truck and tractor pulls beginning at 6:30 p.m.