Bullskin board excited about turnout at fair
BULLSKIN TWP. – The 75th annual Bullskin Township Community Fair and Farm Products Show began Monday and so far the committee has seen a good turnout, according to board secretary William Faith. Faith said, “We are encouraged that this year will be another successful year. We have a full schedule of events and entertainment and everyone who has been here already has said that they have had a real good time.”
Since 1928 visitors have attended this annual event, said announcer and fair association member Sam Glassburn.
Fair association member Brian Dillon said the fair is like “old home week” for residents.
“For one week a year, we get to socialize with our neighbors,” said Dillon. “People actually plan their vacations around the Bullskin Township Community Fair, so they can touch base with friends and family.”
A horse and pony show was held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday and residents from the surrounding area entered fruit, vegetables, canned goods, jams and jellies, baked goods and maple syrup and much, much more beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday.
A truck-pulling contest was held at 7:30 Monday and judging of all products and livestock began at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s entertainment included a tractor square dance at 7 p.m. in the main arena, a horse-pulling contest at 8 p.m. in the main arena and the Stonee Ridge Band at 8 p.m.
Glassburn said the last time a tractor square dance was held at the fair was 50 years ago.
“This is really something,” he said. “Those fellows really know what they are doing.”
Caller Carl Schrock of Somerset said the Roof Garden Tractor Buddies “Square Dancing Tractors” have only been performing since this spring.
“A bunch of us got together and thought that this would be an interesting thing to get into. So we just started getting some tractors and drivers together, and we’ve been having a great time doing it,” said Schrock.
The Roof Garden Tractor Buddies have about 16 tractors and 18 drivers, according to driver Lori Trent of Somerset.
“We are having so much fun that we will perform anywhere,” said Trent. “Last week, we did a grand opening for a business. So whoever wants us, we’ll do it.”
Trent said the group practices at least once a week and does four different dances. She also said that next year the group would like to get some more drivers and tractors so they can get two circles going at one time.
Faith said the winners of the light-weight horse-pulling contest Tuesday night were Rob Perkey of East Huntingdon Township, first place; the Brown Brothers (Scott and Rich) of Acme, second place; Frank Miller of Perkey Farm, third place; Mark Minton, fourth place; and the Brown Brothers, fifth place.
Winners of the heavy-weight contest were Dave Hower of Dawson, first place; Butch Lepley of Meyersdale, second place; and Paul Lepley of Meyersdale, third place.
A Rodeo will be held in the arena at the fair grounds tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sponsors of rodeo belt buckles are Stonee Ridge Farm, Wayne and Peg Brown of Acme, C&L Shows, Mount Pleasant, Glassburn Auction Service, Bullskin Township Lions, Mark and Loretta Bell of Scottdale, Bill and Marge Glowacki of Scottdale, Keystone Drilling and Excavating of Mount Pleasant, Miedel’s Family Restaurant of Connellsville, John’s Auto Service of Connellsville and John and Esther Cadzow of Arizona.
A demolition derby will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the main arena Thursday and a tractor-pulling contest will be held in the arena on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Stonee Ridge Band will also perform on stage at 8 p.m. on Friday.
Saturday’s events begin at 9 a.m. with a garden tractor pull, followed at 10 a.m. by a tractor dead-weight pull. Payment of premiums will be held from 9:30 a.m. until noon, followed by a pet parade with youngsters 12 years and under at 12:30 p.m.
A kids pedal tractor pull will be held at 1:30 p.m., followed by a special matinee on the midway from 2 to 4 p.m. A demolition derby will round out the evening at 7:30 p.m.