Fair includes plenty of animal competitions
Ready to show their dogs at the Fayette County Fair dog show, contestants line up their animals for the walk around the ring. Photo taken in 2010
In this photo take in 2010 Hayle Dennis of Vanderbilt and "Sima" do their walk around the ring during judging of the dog show at the Fayette County Fair.
In this photo taken in 2010 three year old Maddox Davis of Dawson shows of his calf during Dairy cow judging at the Fayette County Fair.
In this file photo taken in 2010 Andrea Janson of McClellandtown calls out to her horse during the judging of the draft horse competition Thursday morning as Fay Wolfe of Bruceton Mills, W. Va, follows with Stand Dennis riding along. The fair continues through Saturday.
In this photo taken in 2010 Jessica Butler (left) of Dawson, daughter of Douglas and Betty Butler, and Patty Mills of Power Line Farm in Vanderbilt show their crossbreed heifers during Wednesday's judging at the Fayette County Fair.
In this photo taken in 2010 Alan Vance of Alverton gives his entry into the hog and swine show a little help as he unloads at the Fayette County Fair .
Fairgoers who are interested in animals always have a treat at the Fayette County Fair.
From dogs to horses to steers and pigs, the fair showcases a variety of species throughout the 10-day event.
“Some people tell me they come every year and go through the barns,” said Linda Rooker, fair board secretary and co-chairwoman of the livestock auction committee.
The animals are not only on display but competing for ribbons, offering exciting shows for an eager public that comes annually to watch.
Animal show highlights of the fair include:
July 29: Judging of 4-H carcass lambs on foot, Fayette County 4-H Horse Show with game classes, open and 4-H breeding sheep, American Boer Goat Association-sanctioned goat show, 4-H carcass steers, followed by Mason-Dixon Polled Hereford Show and Feeder Calf Show, and 4-H carcass swine, followed by open carcass show and open and 4-H breeding swine.
July 30: Fayette County 4-H Horse Show, with performance classes and the light horse production show, both take place while the Mon Valley Dairy Show now moves from Labor Day weekend to the fair.
Walt Bumgarner, director of the Penn State Cooperative Extension, said the Mon Valley show is a regional qualifier that includes 4-H youths from six to seven counties in southwestern Pennsylvania who will go on to compete at the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg in the fall.
July 31: The 4-H dog show and the open horse riding show.
Aug. 1: Judging of 4-H market lambs.
Aug. 2: Judging of poultry and rabbits, open and 4-H dairy cattle, 4-H market goats, 4-H market breeding goats, 4-H horse fun show and 4-H market swine make for a big day of competition.
Aug. 3: Judging of open and 4-H dairy goats, open and 4-H beef cattle, and 4-H market steers.
Aug. 4: Judging takes place for draft horses and 4-H horses shown at halter, while there’s also an animal dressing contest that’s just for fun when youths dress animals in costume.
Aug. 5: The 4-H Supreme Showman competition takes place in the morning throughout the fairgrounds with grand champion showmen from seven species competing for the supreme title. Results are announced before the 5?p.m. start of the 4-H livestock auction.
Rooker explained about 350 animals weigh in for 4-H livestock shows and a little more than 300 will appear in the auction that always receives strong encouragement by the public.
She said, “We always have support from a lot of local businesses, but last year we had a lot of individuals and small businesses buy one lot.”
More information on the competitions is available in the exhibitor’s catalog and on the fair website.