Competitions continue to drive fair forward
DUNBAR TWP. – Competition took place all over the Fayette County Fairgrounds Tuesday, ranging from market goats to poultry to dairy cattle. Judges had praise for the exhibitors and committee members also commented on the quality of the exhibits. Here is a look at several different competitions:
Poultry and rabbits: Sarah Hamman, 14, of Connellsville, won grand champion rabbit with her 3-year-old Jersey Wooley named Snowball. This rabbit won reserve grand champion two years ago and her father was a grand champion about three years ago.
“They’re just fun,” Hamman, a daughter of John and Angie Hamman, said about raising rabbits.
A ninth-grade student at Connellsville Junior High East, Hamman also brought seven Dutch rabbits to the fair, including three named for the Jonas Brothers: Kevin, Joe and Nick.
Steve Stanish, who is co-chairman of the department with his brother, Ed, said, “We have 600 entries this year. Everything’s looking pretty nice. For as hot as it is, they’re in pretty good shape.”
Other department results include: reserve champion rabbit, a Flemish giant, light gray junior doe shown by Larry and Jack Daugherty; champion large fowl, buckeye male shown by Ed Stanish Sr.; reserve champion large fowl, rosecomb light brown leghorn shown by Jack Tickle; champion bantam, a black rosecomb cock shown by Curtis Geary; reserve champion bantam, a single-comb white leghorn shown by Sarah Geary; champion duck, white pekin, young drake shown by Liesa Stiller; reserve champion duck, a blue Swedish old hen shown by Jack Tickle; champion goose, a white emden old gander shown by Jack Tickle; reserve champion goose, young hen shown by Liesa Stiller; champion pigeon, blue barr old hen, Danielle Yobst; reserve champion pigeon, blue barr young hen, Danielle Yobst; champion turkey, Naragannsett old tom, Jay Yobst; reserve Naragannsett old hen, Jay Yobst.
4-H market goats: Scott Gardner of Grindstone took grand champion, while Kerri May of Mill Run was named reserve grand champion.
Gardner, a 14-year-old son of Bill and Jamie Gardner, had his first win with a market goat but previously won titles in steer and swine competition. He also won with his swine at the 2007 state farm show.
His secret?
“Just work, work, work – that’s all,” said the freshman at Brownsville Area Senior High School with a smile. “When you go into the arena, think that you are going to win. If you don’t think you’re going to win, you’re not going to win. You have to put forth your best effort.”
This is Gardner’s seventh year of 4-H.
“I like everything about it – you meet lots of people, the animals are fun and it’s a real fun experience,” he said.
May, a 19-year-old daughter of Walter and Kathy May, also took champion county-bred market goat in her last year of 4-H.
“I’m so excited,” said May, who is a sophomore at Cal U where she is studying to be a secondary history teacher.
May, who won reserve champion swine in 2008, also shows lamb, pig, steer and goat. She said she has enjoyed her years in 4-H.
“I just love how the hard work can pay off,” she said.
Other results include: Kerri May, lightweight champion; Zachary Diamond, reserve lightweight champion; Levi Butler, champion middleweight; Gina Shaffer, reserve champion middleweight; Scott Gardner, heavyweight champion; Jake Rittenour, reserve heavyweight champion. Levi Butler won reserve champion county-bred goat. Daniel Leonard won grand champion showman and Jaden Bushmire won reserve grand champion showman.
4-H exhibits in Youth Building: Cathy Brady, extension educator, reported three garden clubs contributed to a good showing of vegetable exhibits this year. They included Growing in the Garden from Franklin Township, with Kimberly Gerber and Jill Price as leaders, 4-Fun Club from Adah with Tracy and Joe Batronis as leaders and See Them Sprout from East Millsboro, with Teresa Mayle as leader. The Sunshine Bunch community club, with Judy McClure as leader, also entered vegetables.
“We are also up in sewing. The entries are triple what they were last year,” said Brady, who explained there are two clubs this year – one based in the Uniontown area, with Leda Bryner as leader, and another in the Connellsville mountain area, with Amy Knopsnider as leader. Many of the youths competed in the regional fashion revue in Greensburg and several won top awards.
This year’s 4-H fashion show has been rescheduled to take place at 2 p.m. Saturday. It is a showcase for the youths to show off their work.
The Sunshine Bunch also contributed a number of craft items, including decorated solar lights, ceramics, decorated bricks and tote bags, gel candles and tie-dye shirts. The leadership club also has projects entered into competition. Michele Livengood is leader of the senior group, which has been working on applying for scholarships, while Sara Remington is leader of the junior group, which has worked on community service. Cheryl Chiplasky has been involved with a new program called Family Fitness and group members have also brought projects to the fair.
Renee Dickson, a judge from Washington County, said, “There’s a lot of creativity here. You also have to give credit to the 4-H leaders. They have given a lot of time.”
Scarecrows and squash: Elaine and Ted Frantz reported many entries in these exhibits, also located in the Youth Building but said there’s always room for more. Squash contest is open to youths while the scarecrow competition is open to everyone. Both of these contests are open class. Participants do not have to be in 4-H.
Elaine Frantz said of the squash, “It’s a nice event for the kids. You get to know them and look forward to seeing them again next year.”
Results include: scarecrow – Trudy Diamond of Smithfield, first place; Bonnie Mortimer of Mount Pleasant, second; Jacob Batronis of Adah, third; Dalton Brown of Uniontown, fourth; Mary Willson of Fayette City, fifth. Squash – Nolan Miner, most perfect pumpkin; Max Molinaro, paint decoration, no carving; Kaleb Glebis, decorating, no painting or carving; Brady May, most perfect zucchini; Dakota Black, most perfect yellow squash.
Dairy cattle: Results available at presstime included: Holstein – Dr. Laurie Joseph, open class grand champion with a junior three year old; Austin Vance, 4-H grand champion with a 4-year-old cow. Jersey – Alexis Coleman, open and 4-H grand champion with a 6-year-old cow. Red and white Holsteins – Jakob Derr, 4-H and open class grand champion with a senior 3-year-old.
Lisa Allen, a member of the dairy committee, said, “We have an increase in 4-H membership. There are 20 to 30 4-Hers in dairy cattle. The youths work hard. Dairy is a 24/7 job.”
Christmas trees: Barbara Frazee became grand champion with her Frasier fir, while Larry Frazee was reserve grand champion with a Douglas fir.
Horticulture: Frances Rosensteel, department chairwoman, said, “We’re a little down from last year. I think it’s because of the heat.”
But she said, “I’ve had more red tomatoes this year than in the past three years. I have more peaches this year. We have a good many apples and lots of zucchini – this must have been good zucchini weather.”
Exhibits entered are of good quality, said Rosensteel and committee member Diana Black.
“They’re always proud of their exhibits,” said Black. “You see them when they come in.”
Rosensteel said, “Sometimes they’ll tell you their secrets and sometimes not.”