Junior Fair contests, sales wind down at Delaware County Fair

0

The main events for the 2015 Delaware County Junior Fair concluded Wednesday night after a day of contests and sales.

Last weekend, the 4-H and FFA exhibitors checked in and weighed in after working on their project(s) or raising their animal(s) during the summer. The poultry show took place minus poultry due concerns over the avian flu, and during the poultry sale, the fowl were represented by the youths’ project poster or a wooden cutout of a chicken.

After the individual shows for each animal, the exhibitors sold their animals at sales on Tuesday and Wednesday. The arena was a beehive of activity, with auctioneers rattling off numbers to get higher prices. Most of the youth smiled as they paraded their animals around the auction pen, and buyers raised their orange card for a bid. Once the animals were purchased, the exhibitors thanked the buyers with gifts ranging from canned preserves to a pot of mums.

Among the more frequent buyers were Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Hiram Masonic Lodge, but included State Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl, who paid $700 for Jacob Krinn’s 261-pound market hog.

“I’ve always supported the 4-H. I used to show horses,” Ruhl said. “I like to brag and display their little sign in my office,” she said, referring to the “We Supported the Delaware County Junior Fair” sign each buyer receives.

For the animals that aren’t being sold, another show took place on Wednesday, the Showman of Showmen contest. Eleven animals were involved — three cows, a llama, a goat, a pig, a lamb, a rabbit, a horse, a dog and a stuffed chicken. Exhibitors who had won previously with their animals were required to visit the other animals every five minutes. They were required to answer questions about the other animals and, in some cases, demonstrate how to handle them. After each round, a judge stationed next to the animal gave their score to a runner.

When the rounds were tallied up, the results were announced: Fifth, Sarah Lehner (dairy feeder); fourth, Josiah Bale (market beef steer); third, Madelyn Wecker (market lamb); second, Luke Kleilein (rabbit).

The winner was Clara Selle, who exhibited with Scottie, her 12-year-old Dalmatian-Greyhound mix.

“The best of the best are all competing against each other,” Selle, 18, said. “This is my fourth year of doing this. It means a lot of hard work and really pushing myself. To see this finally come together is a major accomplishment.”

Like many of the exhibitors this week, Selle was quite busy.

“I’m showing my horse, I’m showing dogs, I’m the senior princess for the fair and secretary of the Junior Fair board, and I’m in two clubs,” Selle said. In addition, she is a junior at Otterbein University and plans to be a veterinarian.

The Junior Fair exhibits buildings and barns are open today and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday’s events include the Dog Rally Obedience and Fun Show; and the Small Animal show and costume contest. Both begin at 9 a.m.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/09/web1_fair-logo8.jpeg

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/09/web1_DSCF6744.jpg

No posts to display