Fair enjoying good weather, crowds
DUNBAR TWP. – In its first few days, the Fayette County Fair is enjoying good weather and crowds. “We’ve had no rain and it’s not extremely hot. I don’t think we could ask for anything more,” Bill Jackson, president of the Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association, said late Saturday morning.
It rained slightly at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, but didn’t affect any events, Jackson later reported.
Jackson had no official numbers, but said attendance may be up because of the weather and Friday night’s show by The Clarks in the Outdoor Arena – the first musical act to perform in this venue for several years of the fair. The 2009 fair attendance was approximately 95,000.
“The weather (for the concert) was ideal and we had a good crowd. There might have been 4,000 people there,” said Jackson.
People were also expected to turn out for Saturday night’s performance in the Indoor Arena by country singer David Nail. Jackson said the fair had received a lot of calls about Nail.
In addition, Valerie Sesler, president of the 4-H Youth and Development Advisory Committee, reported Friday’s 4-H benefit auction garnered more than $12,000. The auction provides scholarships and assists youths in attending 4-H regional, state and national events.
“Sandy Brittingham was our auctioneer for Rittenhouse and I think she did a great job. It was a beautiful day, so we had a lot of bidders. We had over 300 items to auction. It went really well,” Sesler said.
Meanwhile, Ronald Haas of Vanderbilt captured first place in both apple pie and angel food cake competitions held at in the Fiddlers Building Saturday afternoon. Betsy Haas picked up her husband’s blue ribbons.
Asked his secrets, Betsy Haas said her husband believes the secret to his apple pie is using summer Rambo apples, an heirloom apple they raise on their farm.
As to the angel food cake, she said, “I think he puts a lot of love into it.”
Ronald Haas can now advance to state competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Betsy Haas said her husband won fourth place there a few years ago with his angel food cake, which was entered from a different fair.
Melissa McKulka, culinary arts instructor for the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School, served as judge.
She said, “Everybody’s was absolutely excellent. Even if you didn’t win a ribbon, you did a great job.”
The other winners as announced by Kathy Hair, chairwoman, included: angel food cake – Bonnie Mortimer, Mount Pleasant, second place; and Amy Foster, Ohiopyle, third place; apple pie – Christine Minerd, second place; Shawn Miciotto, third place; Debbie Britt, Perryopolis, fourth place; and Carrie Hawk, East Millsboro, fifth place.
Competition for the 4-H archery club took place near Flatwoods Saturday at Bats and Bows.
Jodi Martucci, who is leader of club along with her husband, Bryan, explained the competition is held off-site from the fairgrounds because it must be in an approved archery range.
She said the club has about 20 members and is sending eight youths who will make up two teams to competition in the upcoming State Achievement Days at State College.
Bryan Martucci said the archery club teaches youths discipline.
“They learn a sport that is an Olympic sport,” he noted. “More universities are offering archery as a sport and giving scholarships. And we don’t separate girls and guys – they compete the same.”
Brett Redshaw of Franklin Township, the 11-year-old son of Jodie and Russell Redshaw, has been a member of the club for several years. A home-schooled, sixth-grade student, he said the tournaments are one of his favorite parts of the club.
“It feels pretty good to get a bulls eye,” Redshaw said.
Redshaw, who also used to be in a 4-H horse club, also enjoys 4-H for the practical lessons it teaches youths.
Saturday’s fair competition also included performance classes for the 4-H Horse Show, judging of light horses, garden tractor pull and old-time farm dead-weight tractor pull, and Southwestern Pennsylvania Champion Holstein Show.
Results for the light horse show, included: Rachel Free, champion miniature gelding; Tony Regula, champion Paint stallion; Megan Regula, champion Paint mare; Ruth Ann Free, champion quarter horse stallion; Tina Allen, champion quarter horse mare. Tina Allen won supreme champion gelding and supreme champion mare while Rachel Free won supreme champion stallion.
Amy Pritchard of Jefferson Hills, who judged the light horse competition, had high praise for the fair.
“I think it’s beautiful. Everybody takes care of everything so nicely,” she said. “Everybody gets together and puts on a wonderful production.”