Off to a ‘Fair’ start
WAYNESBURG – The 2014 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 “Treasure the Memories,” 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 during 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 Thursday that she has been very pleased with the overall turnout thus far.
“Attendance has been wonderful so far,” she said.
“We had great turnouts Tuesday and Wednesday, and we are expecting large crowds the rest of the way. We couldn’t be happier with the way things have been going.”
Fair Manager Larry Marshall said that although it is impossible to tell what specific event or activity that brings each attendee to the fair, he is confident that the fair is a big draw because it offers something fun for everyone.
“There are so many different things that people could be coming for,” Marshall said. “Whether it’s the truck pulls, the 4-H market shows, or the music acts, people have been coming out in droves to the fair.”
Stephenson and Marshall said they are 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 fantastic,” Stephenson 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,” Stephenson said.
Two highlights of the fair occurred on Monday, when the 2014 Fair Queen and Lamb and Wool Queen were crowned at the 4-H Building at the county fairgrounds.
Sadie Wright, the 19-year-old daughter of Jeff and Pam Wright of Mt. Morris, was crowned Fair Queen; and Jessica Self, the 20-year-old daughter of John and Melody Self of Greensboro, 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 33 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 8 to 18 displayed their market steers, ranging from over 1,000 pounds to more than 1,400 pounds.
Julie Policz, 13, of Jefferson showed the overall grand champion. She also showed the champion steer in the heavyweight division.
Curtis Patton, 18, of Spraggs showed the overall reserve grand champion market steer. He also showed the reserve champion steer in the heavyweight division.
In the middleweight division, Avery Berdine, 11, of New Freeport showed the champion and Austin Orndoff, 10, of Waynesburg showed the reserve champion; and in the lightweight division, Hannah Cole, 10, of Waynesburg showed the champion and Christa Ziefel, 18, of Nineveh showed the reserve champion.
In the steer showmanship competition held Tuesday, Curtis Patton placed first in the senior category; Julie Policz won first place in the intermediate category; and Trent Wolen, 9, of Clarksville placed first in the junior category.
Placing first in the owned, bred and born category was Benjamin Archer, 11, of West Finley; and winning the Rate of Gain category was Braden Tennant, 11, of Waynesburg.
The crowds returned on Wednesday for the 4-H Market Lamb Show, in which 65 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 again for the top prize crown of overall champion and overall reserve grand champion.
Bryn Patton, 12, of Waynesburg showed the overall grand champion and Lexie Mooney, 14, of Sycamore showed the overall reserve grand champion.
Patton also showed the champion in the heavyweight division, and Mooney also showed the champion in the middleweight division.
Hannah Cole, 10, of Waynesburg showed the reserve champion in the heavyweight division, and Curtis Patton, 18, of Spraggs showed the reserve champion in the middleweight division.
In the lightweight division, Ryan Grecoe, 12, of Washington showed the champion and Gavin Husenits, 8, of Carmichaels showed the reserve champion.
In the lamb showmanship competition held Wednesday, Jenna Henry, 17, of Waynesburg placed first in the senior category; Julie Policz, 13, of Jefferson won first place in the intermediate category; and Hannah Cole placed first in the junior category. Hannah Cole also placed first in the owned, bred and born category.
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 pulling competitions beginning at 7 p.m.