Alexandria Fair and Horse Show

By Patricia A. Scheyer | Contributor

The 2011 Alexandria Fair will begin this year onWednesday, Aug. 31, with the traditional parade whichcommences at Campbell County Middle school andprogresses to the fairgrounds, where admission to thefair Wednesday evening is free.

“Our parade starts at 6:45 p.m., and our GrandMarshall this year is WandaPainter, a longtime memberof the fair board,” said DougCarmack, President of theFair Board. “I think everyyear the fair is bigger andbetter.”

It is definitely bigger andbetter than the first fair, heldin 1856, when a group offarmers gathered togetherand bought 10 acres of landso they could display thefruits of their labor.

“It was an agrarian society,and the farmers wanted toshow off everything fromhome made wine to vegetables to livestock,” said JimDavis, another longtime member of the fair, who pos-sesses a fair bill from the first fair held on Oct. 14, 15,and 16. “They didn’t have the fair during the CivilWar, but resumed shortly thereafter. We still hold thefair at the same place, but now we have 30 acres.”

Admission to the fair after Wednesday is $8, for ages3 and up, and that includes all rides, courtesy of MurrayBrothers. People can visit the craft tent, or the Floralhall, which will display any fruits and vegetables, quilts,photography, and art that are submitted to the fair forjudging. On Thursday the gates open at 3:30 p.m., and

on the program for thatnight is ATV racing, theMiss Teen Alexandria Fair,and the Miss AlexandriaFair, at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.respectively.

“We have a website thatpeople can visit to deter-mine what time every-thing is, and that is alexan-driafairandhorseshow.com,”said Carmack. “All of thepageants have a time forregistration on Aug. 21from 1 to 3 p.m., and Aug.25 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the

Dining Hall at the fairgrounds. The princess, Pre-Teen,and Little Mr. and Miss contests will be Sunday, Sept.4, as will the Hat Contest.”

Last year the attendance at the fair was 15,000 to16,000 people, and they expect that much again thisyear, if not more. Friday promises open mike karaokeat 7 p.m., and the cattle show at 6 p.m. Saturday fea-tures a livestock sale as well as horse shows in theafternoon and the evening. On Monday people canattend the very popular greased pig contest and thechicken rodeo.

Wanda Painter is 85 years young, loves the fair, andhas been on the fair board for 40 years.

“I moved to Alexandria after high school, and I’vebeen on my farm, Campbell Vineyards, ever since1945,” Painter said. “We have raised and shown applesand grapes at the fair. I used to be in charge of theFloral Hall, and it is amazing what people can producethat they proudly show at the fair.”

Painter will lead the parade on Wednesday nightthat kicks off the Labor Day weekend fair.

“One year we dressed up for the 150th anniversaryin old fashioned clothes, and rode in a horse drawncarriage, but as Grand Marshall I will be in a convert-ible,” she said. “The fair is all good fun. We wanteveryone to come and have a good time.”

Colton Hancock, California, tosses a chicken across the finish lineduring the “Chicken Rodeo” at the Alexandria Fair and Horse Show.

Alexandria Faircontinues to grow

“The fair isall good fun.

We wanteveryone to

come andhave a

good time.”Wanda PainterGrand Marshall

3 Parade

4 Lonestar concert

6 Gardening

7 4-H

8 Quad racing

8 Games

9 Horse Show

10 Pageants

10 Recipes

11 Livestock Show

CONTACT The AlexandriaFair and Horse Show programis published by the Specialty

Publications Department of

The Community Recorder.

Questions and comments canbe sent to Editor Melissa

Stewart c/o The CommunityRecorder/394 Wards

Corner/Loveland, OH 45140or e-mail mjstewart@nky.com.

Or call 513-248-7121.

For advertising information,please call 578-5501.

Rider Roland Shelburne controls his miniature horse as he com-petes in the 35 class miniature horse competition.

By Melissa Stewart Editor

Some would say the annual Alexandria Fair andHorse Show Parade is a magical event. To celebratethat, this year’s parade theme is “End of SummerMagic.”

“The fair marks the end of summer, so, we’re goingto try to make it magical this year,” said Parade ChairValerie Sanzenbacker.

So what about the parade sparks the thought ofmagical?

“I feel as though the paradegets the whole communityinvolved in the fair and showtheir support,” explainedSanzenbacker. “It’s a goodtime and a great kick-off to thefair.”

Last year’s parade included90 participants and the streetswere lined with watchers fromCampbell County MiddleSchool to the AlexandriaFairgrounds.

Longtime parade-goerBobbie Fugate, of Alexandria,said the parade is “awesome.”

“I’ve gone to the parade and the fair ever since wemoved here. We’d take the kids to the fair andparade,” she said. “Over the years you really getaquatinted with a lot of people and they turn out to beyour friends. For me, the fact that you can go visitwith these friends is the best part of the parade andfair.”

Sanzenbacker said she enjoys how the businessesand organizations marching in the parade come upwith floats that connect with the theme.

“They get very creative with the floats,” she said.“That’s the most exciting part.”

Susan Murrell, owner of Susan’s Salon & Spa, inAlexandria, has been a parade participant since 1987.

“I love it,” she said. “I love the fair, the parade – thesense of community they bring. It’s really exciting,there’s so much energy in the town that night.”

She’s not sure exactly what their float is going to bethis year, but promises that it, the whole parade, andthe entire weekend “will be something magical.”

The communityloves a parade

Details of the parade

Theme: End of Summer Magic

Date: Wednesday, Aug. 31

Time: 6:45 p.m.Location: Starts

Campbell County Middle School andends at Alexandria

Fairgrounds

One of the floats at the Alexandria Fair and Horse Show.

Aug. 31 - Sept. 5, 20113

4Alexandria Fair and Horse Show

By Melissa Stewart | Editor

Fairgoers get rockin’!The Alexandria Fair andHorse Show is addingmusic to its long list ofthings for visitors to enjoythis year.

The fair welcomescountrymusic hitmakersLonestar tothe fair-grounds,on Route 10inAlexandria,Monday,Aug. 29.Specialguestsinclude sea-son eightAmericanIdol con-testantsDanny

Gokey and Casey James.The concert is presentedby Giffin Industries andKerry Chevrolet.

“The idea came fromGriffin Industries,”explained Fair BoardPresident Doug Carmack.“They came up with this

as a way for a donation tothe Fair. The concert willnot be going on at thesame time as the fair butwe hope it will let morepeople know that the fairfollows and hopefully itwill bring more people tothe fair.”

Tickets for the concert,which starts at 6:30 p.m.range from $25 to $60.Seating is assigned andVIP tent packages areavailable. For a seatingchart and to purchasetickets visit www.rwatick-ets.com.

The country musicgroup Lonestar hasclimbed the record chartswith such hits as“Amazed” and “NoNews.” According to theirbiography on the websiteCMT.com, all of the mem-bers drifted into MusicCity from Texas. By late1992, Dean Sams hadrecruited singer-song-writer Richie McDonaldand vocalist John Rich(who are no longer withthe band), as well as twoformer members of theband Canyon – MichaelBritt and Keech

Rainwater. Billed original-ly as Texassee, the bandhit the road and per-

formed more than 500shows in 1993-94.

Lonestar made its

debut on the Billboardcountry music charts in1995 with the Top 10Single “Tequila Talkin.’”According to their web-site,www.lonestarnow.com,since then, the band hasamassed a total of 27 sin-gles on the country charts,with 10 of those reachingNo. 1.

In 2007, Cody Collinsstepped in as lead singer,bringing a fresh look andsound to the already suc-cessful band.

In asking foundingmember Dean Sams whatthe future means, Samssaid: “We feel like wehave the opportunity thatfew bands ever get, we’vesold millions of records,have had 10 No. 1 hits,and now we have thechance to take control ofour careers and do it allover again.”

Lonestar, consisting ofCody Collins, Dean Sams,Michael Britt, and KeechRainwater, released their11th studio album in thespring of 2010, continuingthe band’s legacy.

Getyour

ticketsFor

tickets visitwww.rwa

tickets.comor call

781-7700.VIP tent

packagesare

available.

Lonestar concert to kick off fair

Alexandria Fair and Horse Show6

www.nky. com

By Neva Martin | Contributor

Gardeners seem to have a gene forgrowing things. They say it’s also a lotof fun.

Anna Lee Wheeler of Alexandria hasbeen gardening since age 8. She grew upwith the fair, where her grandparentshad a photo booth. She submittednumerousentries in 4-H,but she callsflowers herartistic outlet.She has wonseveral first-place prizes inthe OpenClasses for sev-eral decades.

“I startedwith marigoldsand zinnias,”said Wheeler, and still raises them.“Now I’m into big baskets, roses andhydrangeas. I don’t do dahlias.”

One who does is Cold Spring resi-dent Bonnie Rust, Grand Champion rib-bon winner in flowers two out of thelast three years. While this year’s heatmay have dampened expectations ondahlias, she’s hoping her gladiola, waterlilies and zinnias fare better.

“I’ve probably been participatingover 20 years,” said Rust. Her grandpar-ents raised flowers, and she grew upwith green-thumb parents, Bill and BettyRuschman. Her father has passed away,but her mother still has a garden.

She gets much joy from gardening,but a highlight for Rust includes sharingflowers with neighbors, as well as withrelatives and friends at a couple of near-by assisted-living and rehabilitation cen-ters, including Highlandspring of FortThomas.

“I got a Grand Champion and 10first-place ribbons last year and I knowpeople who live in Barrington of FortThomas,” said Rust. “I took the flowersand ribbons over to them. They sharedmemories with me about going to thefair, and really enjoyed the flowers andribbons hanging from their carts andwheelchairs.”

Darlene Blackaby grows flowers, too.The Alexandria resident also growspotatoes, beans and 120 tomato plants as

well as beets and carrots, which shecans.

“My husband, Jim, likes to get upand open a pint jar of (canned) potatoesand fry them up for breakfast,” saidBlackaby, who starts her own seedlingsin her 8-by-10-foot greenhouse, winningribbons for her plants over many years.“Last year we won on a 92-poundpumpkin.”

These gardeners say they don’t haveany secrets to their success.

“It has a lot to do with the weather,”said Blackaby. “We live on the river sowe have really nice soil.”

Young’uns also play a part. Rust’sthree children get a kick out of garden-ing, while Blackaby says it’s a fun activi-ty to do with her grandchildren.

Perhaps passing on the gene to futuregenerations.

Gardening winners bloomwhen their growing succeeds

Bonnie Rust of Cold Spring has been a big flowerwinner in the Open Classes over the past fewyears. Here she shows one of her dahlias, withwhich she had much success.

“I’veprobably

beenparticpating

over 20years.”Bonnie Rust

7Aug. 31 - Sept. 5, 2011

By Patricia A. Scheyer | Contributor

The Alexandria Fair will hostseveral events for the 4-H clubsin the area, providing a showcasefor animals, vegetables and fruit,sewing, and other venues whichthe 4-H clubs sponsor.

“Having 4-H at the AlexandriaFair brings out the families sothat the kids can show off whatthey learned,” said Owen Prim,Campbell County ExtensionAgent for 4-H. “This is our 154thfair, and the 4-H has been aroundfor 102 years, so they have beenpartners for the last 102 years.”

The 4-H works through all theschools in the area, some duringschool hours, and others afterschool. Four H isn’t just horsesand livestock, although that is abig part, but Prim says it is alsoshooting sports, sewing, food,crafts, photography and manyother projects that let kidsachieve the result at their ownpace.

“Kids are able to set their owngoals, and then take on the

responsibility to complete them,and that helps with life skills,”said Prim. “They can exhibit thephysical evidence of what theylearned at the fair, and thatmakes them proud.”

Connor Boesch, who is 18 andlives in California, has beeninvolved with 4-H since he wasabout 9, and he will be going toMorehead for Equine Science inthe fall.

“We don’t have a farm, but

my grandma has a farm nextdoor to us, and we have alwayshad animals to raise,” Boeschsaid. “We used to raiseHerefords, then we went toAngus Limosines. Last year Iraised a steer called ‘MediumRare’ and sold it at the fair. Ithink 4-H teaches responsibility,because you have to feed the ani-mals two times a day, and keeprecords.”

Boesch said that when he has

kids, he will want them to be in4-H, because they will learnthings they can use in life.

Sadie Boschert, who is 16, hasbeen in 4-H since she was 9, andshe realizes the important skills4-H gives to students.

“4-H is so much more thanlivestock, although I have a cou-ple of miniature horses that Ishow, too,” said Boschert. “I havemade rugs out of tee shirts, donecooking and sewing, and lots ofother crafts. But I think it hashelped me with my leadershipabilities, too. It gives me confi-dence, and helps me and othersbecome better members of thecommunity, and better people ingeneral.”

Owen Prim concluded that thefair is the end result of the 4-Hproject, sort of like the recital atthe end of a year of dance les-sons. It is a chance for parentsand relatives to bust their buttonsat what their kid did, and achance for the student, whetherage 9 or 19, to realize he can bevery productive if he tries.

4-H presence alive and well at Alexandria Fair

Sadie Boschert poses with her 13-year-old miniature horse, Mythbuster, at theAlexandria fair last year.

Connor Boesch smiles as he hands over the reins of “Medium Rare” the Angus Limosine steer he raised in 4-H, to the Schulkers family last year at the fair.

8Alexandria Fair and Horse Show

By Patricia A. Scheyer | Contributor

People who attend theAlexandria Fair this year willonce again be treated to quaddrag racing, which will takeplace on Thursday evening, thesecond night of the fair. Theevent will take place in the centerring, and participants will racethrough the ring and out the gatefrom 7 p.m. to close to midnight.

“We had a good crowd lastyear, and I think they like itbecause it is something new, andbasically anyone can do it,” saidAndrew McNichols, Chair of theMotor Sports at the fair. “I thinkit adds a younger and fresh feel

to the fair.”The cost to enter the race is

$10, and the prize is based on theamount of entries. The winnerwill receive 75 percent of the totalcollected. The promoter for theracing is Wolfe Brothers Racing,and they help put on two othermotor events during the yearbesides the Fair drag racing.

“We have different classes, fromsmall to souped up,” saidMcNichols. “I don’t rememberexactly how many signed up lastyear, but I think it might have beenaround 50. You can ride if you areunder 18 if your parent signs awaiver. The only real equipmentwe require is a helmet.”

Brittany Carmack, ofAlexandria, rode in her first racelast year, and loved it.

“I’ve been riding quads since Iwas 4 or 5, so I am comfortableon a quad,” Carmack explained.“I never crashed, but my brotherChris was flipped off his quadwhen he was about 10, and hadto have 72 stitches in his face,because he hit a road sign. It wasscary. I really liked racing at thefair. I was the only girl, and thatwas even better. Quad racing isdifferent, and it is fun.”

Gates open for registration forthe racing at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Quad racing exciting to watch

By Neva MartinContributor

Racing on a stick, don-ning unique headwear,chasing chickens – the fairoffers something foreverybody when it comesto fun and games.

Throw in the hula-hoop, watermelon-spit-ting and greased-pig con-tests, and you get just afew of the fair’s live reali-ty shows, said MaryMcCormick, who workswith the children’s con-tests.

“The stick horse race isfor children walking to 8-year-olds,” saidMcCormick of the Fridaynight event. “It’s calledthe first class of the horseshow. We provide thestick horse.”

Wanda Hornsby mostenjoys the hat contest,held this year on Sunday.Categories include Food,Historical, Western,Prettiest and Craziest hat,her favorite, since shewon in that category afew years back.

“I had a chicken hatwith legs hanging downthe back, the first time Iwas involved,” saidHornsby, who now works

with the event. “Somepeople really get into it. Itcan get pretty funny.”

New this year is akaraoke contest for kidsunder 18, held Saturdaynight, said Sandy Shaw,who is in charge of thefair book and publicity.

“They’ve done(karaoke) for the adults inpast years,” Shaw said,adding “A cornhole tour-nament (Monday) is start-ing to grow.”

Shaw’s favorite is the

Games people play:They're all fun at the fair

Youngsters compete in the stick horse race every year, to open thehorse show.

With the sounds of the revving enginesreverberating around the fairgroundsmain arena, a quad all terrain vehicledrag racer kicks up dirt as he sprints out ofthe starting line.

See GAMES on page 9

The fair offerssomething foreveryonewhen itcomes to funand games.

9Aug. 31 - Sept. 5, 2011

By Patricia A. Scheyer | Contributor

Horse shows are a very impor-tant part of the Alexandria Fairand Horse Show, which willbegin on Aug. 31 with a paradeto the fairgrounds. The horseshows start on Friday evening,and from there shows will con-tinue Saturday afternoon andevening, Sunday afternoon andevening, and Monday afternoonand evening, with the champi-onship horse show being onMonday evening.

“We have 122 classes of horseshows,” said Doug Carmack,President of the Alexandria FairBoard. “Some of the classes areSaddle Bred, Standard Bred,Arabian, Morgan, Quarter Horse,Hackney, Miniature, andCarriage Horse. The winner ofevery show receives a crystal tro-phy, which they like, and thenribbons and cash prizes are givenfor places 1 through 6, except forMonday night, when ribbons andcash will be awarded to places 1through 8.”

The fairgrounds have 236available stalls, and they are allbooked, according to Carmack.

“Many of our local people

come in trailers, and work out ofthose, instead of renting a stall,”said Carmack. “But we have peo-ple come from all over the coun-try to take part in the shows. Onetrainer rented 22 stalls for hishorses.”

Jim Davis, of California, Ky.,still shows his hackney ponieswith his grandson, and hisdaughter shows her AmericanSaddle Bred.

“Ours is among the biggest

and best county horse shows,”said Davis proudly. “TheAlexandria Fair is part of all ofour heritage, and people whohave never been should definite-ly make a point of going thisyear. “

Davis said he has been show-ing horses for years, and heknows that people from all overKentucky, and surrounding statescome to the horse shows.

“When you show the horses,

and especially if you win, there isa sense of pride that you’ve donesomething good,” said Davis.“There is also a fellowship whenyou’re sitting in the horse barn,with all the other horse people,that is very rewarding. Rich orpoor, you don’t know the differ-ence sitting around talking in thehorse barn.”

Jim Schack and his familyhave been showing horses at thefair for 25 years, and will againthis year.

“My oldest daughter,Miranda, will be showing, as willmy other daughters, Marybethand Maria,” said Schack. “Mywife Melissa shows the horses,and so do my sons, James andJason. It is very much a familything with us.”

Schack believes the AlexandriaFair is a treasure that everyoneshould take advantage of.

“There is something for every-one at the fair, and that includesthe horse shows,” he said.“Especially for young familieswith children. Where can you getso much to do for $8 apiece? It isa really good value, and familiescan have good clean fun.”

Horse shows are still an integral part of fair

The Schack family from California, Ky., Jim and Melissa and their children Miranda,Mary Beth, Maria, James and Jason, display all the ribbons they won at the Alexandriafair last year for showing horses.

chicken rodeo, held onMonday, when young-sters under 18 dash to befirst in their age group tochase their chicken overthe finish line. “It’s agreat activity for thekids.”

Many activities are thebrainchild of Mary’sbrother-in-law, Orville“Junior” McCormick, afair board member whopassed away earlier thisyear. He had directed theChildren’s Farm, whichincludes a petting zoo,under the grandstand.

“The chicken rodeowill be called the JuniorMcCormick ChickenRodeo,” Shaw said.

Jane Wright is co-chair-ing the Children’s Farmwith Junior’s son-in-lawTim Tanacea, and Junior’swidow, DonnaMcCormick, will donateseveral silkies in memoryof him.

Wright explained thatsilkies are furry, soft,docile chickens.

“People look at themand say ‘What is that?’”Wright said. “We bringthem in for the smallerchildren.”

Contests occur everynight and are a favorite atthe fair, said MaryMcCormick. “We try tokeep everybody happy.”

GAMES |From 8

10Alexandria Fair and Horse Show

By Jill Rooksberry | Contributor

Beauty pageants are increasingin popularity these days and theAlexandria Fair offers up some ofthe best around.

The contests are open toCampbell County residents onlyand take place on Thursday, Sept.1, Saturday, Sept. 3 and Sunday,Sept. 4 at the EntertainmentStage. The pageants involve con-testants ranging in age from birthto 22 years of age.

Mary Jane Schack is theAlexandria Fair Beauty Pageantdirector and she believes that thepageant is there for the contest-ants and fairgoers to, above all,have a good time.

“It’s a fun thing and we wantthe contestants to enjoy them-selves and learn how to presentthemselves positively to thejudges and audience,” Schacksaid. “We do it because the peo-ple in the county enjoy it andthey want to come to the fair tosee what they enjoy seeing.”

Rebecca Williams of ColdSpring, Ky., was 10 years old lastyear when she won Miss Pre-Teen Alexandria Fair. Williamshad always been a fan of beautypageants and was excited tofinally get the chance to take partin one.

To prepare she had to practicewalking in front of the judges athome which was more difficultthan she thought it would be.She eventually got it down andon pageant day she nailed it. Inthe end, she found that standingup in front of a crowd was thebiggest challenge of all.

“I have a bit of stage fright sothat was hard being up in front ofpeople,” Williams said. “It was agood experience because ithelped me be more confident andhelped me over my fear of beingin front of a crowd.”

More confidence and increasedself-esteem is what the organizersof the pageant hope all contest-ants, in the end, take away fromtheir beauty contest experience.

Pageants promotepositive self-esteem

Rebecca Williams of Cold Spring.

By Neva Martin | Contributor

Fair-goers in and out of thecounty can feel welcome, espe-cially when it comes to exhibits.

The Open Classes exhibits,which feature Gardening,Canning and Food among othercategories, welcome everyone,not just Campbell County resi-dents. Two longtime entrantsgrew up in Alexandria.

Jane Wright, who now lives inthe Peach Grove area ofPendleton County, has been anOpen Classes participant for atleast 15 years.

“I do more canning than bak-ing,” said Wright, who is also aco-chair of the fair’s Children’sFarm. “I didn’t submit a bakedgood last year.”

Canned beans, tomatoes,tomato sauce, chili sauce, jams,

jellies, pickles - these have earnedher winning ribbons for the lastthree out of four years.

Wright won a blue ribbon forher zucchini bread a couple ofyears ago and it’s one for whichshe feels a special affinity. “Itbelonged to Francis McClanahan,a dearly departed friend of ourfamily.”

Zucchini Bread3 eggs1 cup vegetable oil2 cups sugar2 teaspoons vanilla1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon cinnamon2 1/2 cups flour2 cups chopped or shredded zucchini1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

Grease and sugar 2 loaf pans.Beat eggs until fluffy. Add oil,sugar and vanilla; mix until dis-solved. Add dry ingredients; mix.Add zucchini and nuts; mix. Pourinto prepared loaf pans. Bake at325 for 1 hour. Makes 2 loaves.

Helen Emerson has a 137-acrefarm in Pendleton County, but she,too, is a Campbell County native.

“I grew up below the fair-grounds, on Nelson Road,” saidEmerson. “My brother EddieAckerman has the original home-stead. Our lives have alwaysevolved around the fair.”

Her homemade catsup, whichtook second place last year, hasbeen a family staple from thefarm, passed down through thegenerations.

“My grandma, mom, aunt andme, we all made this, and now

I’m trying to pass it down to mydaughter. Nobody makes thisstuff anymore.”

Homemade Catsup6 quarts of tomatoes, washed and cut up3 medium-sized onions, quartered2 tablespoons pickling-mix spices1 tablespoon black pepper

Bring to a boil in a large pan;cook for 2 hours. Run through acolander; wash and rinse pan.Add 2 tablespoons celery seed, 1tablespoon brown mustard, 3 1/2cups sugar, 1 pint vinegar, 1tablespoon salt. Boil until thick;pour into jars.

Pressure-cook for 45 minutes.Makes about 6 quarts or 12 pintsof catsup.

For exhibitors who live out of the county – bring it in

11Aug. 31 - Sept. 5, 2011

By Jill Rooksberry | Contributor

The Alexandria Fair is a placewhere young men and womencan put their hard work, dedica-tion and know-how on displayduring the 4-H/ FFA LivestockShow and Sale in the fairground’sBig Livestock Barn. Showingsbegin Friday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.with the beef show followed bythe market hog show on Sept. 3 at9 a.m. and the goat and sheepshow on Sept. 3 at noon. The salewill take place on Sept. 3 at 6 p.m.

Owen Prim is a CountyExtension Agent for 4-H YouthDevelopment and believes thatthe life skills acquired throughthe process of caring and show-ing an animal are invaluable.

“The benefits for the youthinvolved in these shows are thatit teaches responsibility by taking

care of their own animals andproviding a project summary andrecord book,” Prim said. “Also,if they are on a judging team theyhave to learn decision-makingskills and back up their choiceswhich helps with their communi-cation skills.”

Depending on the type of ani-mal they choose to work with,youths begin working with theircharges as early as February andcontinue all the way up until fairtime in September. One of themost rewarding things about theprocess, according to Prim, is thatit becomes a family project.

“The best thing about theproject is that it takes the wholefamily being involved to be suc-cessful,” Prim said.

For Jake and Jarred Martin,brothers from California, Ky., theLivestock show is indeed a fami-

ly affair and they look forward totaking part in the competitionevery year. Last year Jake, 12,was thrilled that his marketheifer won Grand Champion.This year he hopes to have moreof his hard work pay off and winGrand Champion again, only thistime with his market hog, Helga.Martin finds that he enjoys thecamaraderie experienced with hispeers throughout the fair asmuch as caring for the animals.

“It’s really fun helping otherpeople get ready and havingthem help me,” Jake said.

Jarred Martin began showingat the fair when he was only 2years old and is going to beshowing a steer this year.

“It takes a lot of patience,hard work, time and a little bit ofmoney,” Jarred said. “It’s a lot offun.”

Livestock Show reveals youth’s dedication, know-how

Jake Martin

Jarred Martin