Diamond and Johnson win top honors at market lamb competition
Tiffany Johnson of Indian Head settles her lamb during judging Monday afternoon at the Fayette County Fair. Johnson won reserve grand champion in 4-H competition.
Jane Rotharmel, who has volunteered with the Fayette County Fair since 1972, is checking the exhibitor's catalog Monday as she waits to register exhibitors in the Youth Building. The state honored Rotharmel as 2011 Outstanding Fayette County Fair Ambassador.
Barron L. "Boots'' Hetherington, special adviser to the governor, traveled to the fair Monday to present Jane Rotharmel with the 2011 Outstanding Fayette County Fair Ambassador award in a surprise ceremony.
Jacob Diamond of Smithfield won the title of grand champion market lamb and Tiffany Johnson of Indian Head earned reserve grand champion in 4-H competition Monday afternoon in the Indoor Arena at the Fayette County Fair.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Diamond, 18, who is in his last year of 4-H. “I usually show pigs and cows. I show lambs but that’s not my main thing.”
A son of Chris and Linda Diamond, he won with a Hampshire crossbred lamb that also won the champion heavyweight division. Diamond, who is is a sophomore at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, also will show market goat, swine and steer projects this week.
Talking about finishing his 4-H career, Diamond said he will miss “everything — especially my friends.”
Johnson, 13, is a daughter of Tawnia and Ronnie Johnson and an eighth-grade student at Connellsville Junior High East. She won with a Suffolk crossbred lamb that also was the reserve champion heavyweight.
Johnson has been in 4-H for five years in the lamb club.
“I like having fun with the lambs and hanging out with my friends,” she said of 4-H. “I like everything about lambs. Their bodies and faces. They’re very gentle.”
The market lamb competition, judged by Bob Hare of Winchester, Ohio, is divided into classes by weight. Ronald Ritenour won champion lightweight while Anthony Shaffer won reserve champion lightweight. Kaitlyn Wiltrout took the title for champion middleweight, while Jaden Bushmire was named reserve champion middleweight.
Meanwhile, a longtime fair volunteer received special recognition from the state Monday.
Barron L. “Boots” Hetherington, special adviser to the governor, traveled to the Fayette County Fair to present an award to Jane Rotharmel as 2011 Outstanding Fayette County Fair Ambassador.
In a surprise ceremony at the Youth Building, fair board President Bill Jackson introduced Hetherington, who explained the fair nominates a local person who is instrumental in making the fair a success.
“This is the most fun part of my job,” said Hetherington.
Rotharmel said, “Thank you and all the friends I’ve made at the fair.”
A native of Springhill Township, Rotharmel now lives in Pittsburgh but has been volunteering at the fair since 1972 in the Youth Building. She previously served on the board for the Penn State Agricultural Extension. While she formerly volunteered throughout the fair, Rotharmel now works two days, registering exhibits in the Youth Building on Mondays and helping with judging on Tuesdays.
Cathy Brady, extension educator, said, “She does a fantastic job.”
She’s one of our most devoted volunteers.”