Bullskin Township Community Fair opens
BULLSKIN TWP. – The 78th annual Bullskin Township Community Fair and Farm Products Show, sponsored by the Pleasant Valley Grange, got under way Sunday with the annual Horse and Pony Show in Wooddale. Jim Swink of Wooddale said the Horse and Pony Show is a “family affair” for his family.
“My sons, Jake and Jesse, ride horses, my sister, Jennifer Wadsworth, rides horses and I ride horses,” said Swink. “We look forward to the Grange Fair every year.”
Jake Swink, 15, took second place in Class 1 Key Hole Horse contest on his horse Nosey and fourth place in the Class 2 Western Pleasure Horse contest on his horse Trouble while his 13-year-old brother (Jesse) took first place on his horse Jessi in the Class 3 Cloverleaf Barrels and third place in the Class 2 Western Pleasure Horse contest on his horse Trouble.
Wadsworth took first place in the Class 2 Western Pleasure Horse contest on her horse Mac.
Jim Swink said he and Wadsworth have been riding horses for about 20 years.
“We began riding when we were about 12 years and we are in our 30s now,” said Swink. “The boys began riding when they were 3 or 4 years old and they have been riding ever since.”
Swink said Jake and Jesse are both members of the 4-H Club, which helps put the annual Horse and Pony Show each year at the fair. He also said that he likes the 4-H Club because it keeps his family active.
“My parents, Jim and Bonnie Swink, have always had horses, but they didn’t show them,” said Swink. “My sister and I started to show them when we were 12 or 13 years old through 4-H Club and we have been active in the organization ever since.”
Jake Swink, who will be a sophomore at Connellsville Senior High School this fall, said what he likes best is going fast. He will also ride in Wednesday night’s rodeo and help out with the Mutton Bustin contest.
Eleven-year-old Callie Hoke was also having a good day. She took first place in the Class 3 Cloverleaf Barrels Pony contest and first place in the Class 2 Western Pleasure Pony contest.
Hoke, who will be in the seventh grade at Connellsville Junior High East in the fall, took third place in the Class 1 Keyhole Pony contest, third place in the Class 3 Cloverleaf Barrels Horse contest and fifth place in the Class 1 Keyhole Horse contest.
Hoke said she has been riding horses since she was three.
“My dad and brother ride too,” said Hoke. “We all try to beat each others times. I have two horses Junior and Sally and I try to ride every day for practice.”
Other Class 1 Keyhole Pony winners were Jessica Johnson riding her horse Chrissy, first place; Tabitha Cooper riding Kopper, second place; Ally Wilson riding Chief, fourth place; and Damian Swope riding Bob, fifth place.
Class 1 Keyhole Horse contest winners were Tess Hempel riding Deeper, first place; Maddy Festa riding Kizzy, third place; and Nick Nicholson riding Done, fourth place.
Class 2 Western Pleasure Pony contest winners were Jessica Johnson riding Chrissy, second place; Will Johnson riding Bubbles, third place; and Ally Wilson riding Chief, fourth place. Class 2 Western Pleasure Horse winners were Kim Slonecker riding Shock, second place and Erik Means riding Gold, firth place.
Class 3 Cloverleaf Barrels Pony winners were Jessica Johnson riding Chrissy, second place; Tabitha Cooper riding Kopper, third place; Will Johnson riding Bubbles, fourth place; and Ally Wilson riding Chief, fifth place.
Class 3 Cloverleaf Barrels Horse winners were Wink Ulery, riding Z, second place; Chip Nicholson riding Quick, fourth place; and Jimmy Hoke riding LA, fifth place.
The Bullskin Township Community Fair will run through Aug. 19. The rest of the schedule is as follows:
– Monday: Entry day from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.; truck pulling contest, 6:30 p.m.; Kortney Jean Zufall on the outside stage at 7:30 p.m.
– Tuesday: Judging of all products and livestock at 9 a.m.; ATV 4 wheeler obstacle course at 6:30 p.m.; Girlz in Black Hats at 7:30 p.m.
– Wednesday: Rodeo at 6:30 p.m. and The Trouble Band at 7:30 p.m.
– Thursday: Demolition Derby at 6:30 p.m. and The Ann Jane Allen Family Band at 7:30 p.m.
– Friday: Tractor pulling contest at 6:30 p.m. and Stonee Ridge Band at 7:30 p.m.
– Saturday: Garden tractor pull at 9 a.m.; tractor dead weight pull at 10 a.m.; payment of premiums from 9:30 a.m. until noon; pet parade for youngsters 12 years and under at 12:30 p.m.; kids pedal tractor pull at 1:30 p.m.; special matinee on the midway from 2 to 4 p.m.; demolition derby at 6:30 p.m. and Concrete Cowboy at 7:30 p.m.