Jun 20, 2008 By Jean Lohr For The 4 min read

She was just a baby, barely five months old, the first time she was thrust into the limelight. She liked it. She won a blue ribbon – spring calf class – and an honorable mention Junior Champion at the Washington County Fair.

You could say Sensation was sensational. A star was born.

Now, according to Alisa Fava-Fasnacht of the Emerald Valley Farm in Scenery Hill, the yearling wants to “glam it up” one more time.

“She has big hooves to fill,” said Fava-Fasnacht of the young brown and black Jersey bred of championship stock. “So she’s getting an early start. She is holding her first ‘meet and greet’ to help Fayette Friends of Animals raise funds and awareness” of the no-kill shelter at 1290 Connellsville St., Uniontown.

This year’s Ex-PAWS-ition, the annual rain-or-shine event at which Sensation will appear, takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 28 on the grounds of the Christian W. Klay Winery, Fayette Springs Road, Chalk Hill, just off Route 40.

“This is really a fun day for the whole family,” said Sharon Klay, owner and winemaker. “We want all the pets in the area to bring their owners and their families.”

In its seventh year, the Ex-PAWS-ition boasts a plethora of animal visits.

“We’ve had all kinds of animals … goats, birds, cats, dogs and ferrets,” Klay said.

Now they can add champion Jersey cow to that list.

“We even have people who don’t have pets showing up,” said Klay in amazement. “That’s what makes this day so successful. Everyone is welcome.”

A donation is requested to enter the grounds. Fayette Friends of Animals will kick it off with a spaghetti dinner – eat in or take out – on the upper floor of the restored 1880s antique barn. Pet owners, their families and friends are all invited.

“The more the merrier,” said Klay of the fund-raiser now in its seventh year.

Other foods will be available on site, but said Klay, “Of course the biggest fund-raiser is the spaghetti dinner.”

There will be a veterinarian on hand for the rabies clinic that begins at noon. Also available will be distemper shots and pet identification microchips.

“The prices are lower than at a veterinarian’s office. This alone can be a big draw for those families with more than one animal,” Klay said.

Always out to promote Pennsylvania products, Klay said there will be a wine-and-cheese tasting, which will include ward-winning wines from the Christian W. Klay Winery and cheeses from the award-winning Emerald Valley Artisan Cheese Collection.

In addition to pet product vendors, pet photos will be taken from noon to 2 p.m.

The annual pet blessing service, conducted by the Rev. Vitaly Dudkin of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in New Salem, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

That will be followed by the pet parade at 3 p.m. and the pet costume contest at 3:30 p.m.

“We’ll have other contests as well,” Klay said.

Included will be the longest tail, shortest tail, biggest bark, best outfit and best behaved. Appropriate prizes will be awarded.

Though no pet adoptions will be made that day, there will be animals there that need good homes.

“People can start the process that day,” Klay said.

Klay, who came up with the original idea for the Ex-PAWS-ition, has marveled as it has grown.

“I just wanted to help the Fayette Friends of Animals,” she said. “The devotion of the volunteers there is unbelievable … admirable. They take care of the animals until they can find them good homes … even the ones with special problems. Every weekend they take them home. The volunteers are really impressive.”

For more information about the Fayette Friends of Animals no-kill shelter, call 724-434-1422 or visit the Web site at webpages.charter.net/ffoa/index.html

To learn more details about the Christian W. Klay Winery, Chalk Hill, or Ex-PAWS-ition call 724-439-5622 or visit the Web site at www.cwklaywinery.com.

To read more about Emerald Valley Farms in Scenery Hill, their fine selection of artisan Cheeses and other products or Sensation and the other award-winning Jerseys, visit the Web address at www.emeraldvalleyfarm.com or call 724-323-3324.