‘Bicentennial Ox’ arrives at fairgrounds, will be painted during fair
More oxen could be around the county to help celebrate the 200th anniversary in 2025; Creature to be named during fair next month
Photos courtesy of Robert Batt: Joan Gabalski, a summer assistant at the Cornell Cooperative extension in Orleans County, stands next to a fiberglass ox that was delivered on Thursday at the fairgrounds.
KNOWLESVILLE – An animal harking back to the Orleans County’s early days about two centuries ago is back at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds and will be given a prominent part of the upcoming fair, July 22-27.
A fiberglass ox was delivered by FedEx on Thursday afternoon, traveling from Texas. Robert Batt, the executive director of the Extension, welcomed the idea of having an oxen on display to celebrate the county’s roots.
“It’s impressive,” Batt said about the ox. “We think it’s a fantastic piece to add to the county fairgrounds.”
Joan Gabalski and the ox are shown next to the pie tin that was a world record breaker in 1977.
Orleans County officially formed on April 15, 1825. The State Legislature recognized Orleans County that day, allowing it to splinter from Genesee County. Orleans is now less than a year from its bicentennial. Batt is on the Bicentennial Committee.
The committee is considering having a public art project with fiberglass oxen around the county, and painted in different themes.
But first the committee wanted to see if the public would embrace the idea of the oxen as a public art project, and also as a symbol for the county. The ox will be painted by artist Stacey Kirby Steward during the fair from July 22-27. She is planning an agricultural theme for the ox.
If there are enough sponsors for more oxen, there could be several of them around the county in 2025.
Batt is happy to have an ox at the fairgrounds. He expects it will join the giant pie tin as a fun curiosity. That pie tie celebrates the world’s largest apple pie that was baked at the fair in 1977.
“I see a lot of people stop here to get photos with the pie plate,” Batt said.
The ox is expected to draw a crowd, too. The creature will be on display and Batt thinks it will be a hit with kids and younger adults who like to get selfies for their social media pages.
He also thinks the ox is great way to remind people of the county’s pioneer days. The animal was critical for the fledgling county, pulling wagons across rough terrain, helping to clear trees, dig the Erie Canal and provide lots of muscle for taming the land. Oxen also weren’t picky eaters. They could subsist on poor grass.
Batt would like to name the ox, and wants to see ideas on the Orleans Hub social media page. He already has heard the suggestion, “Orlo,” giving the ox an Orleans-sounding name.
The Bicentennial Committee is expected to create a short list of names to present as options. People can vote during the fair. The ballot box will likely be near the ox while it is painted by Steward, who has created many murals in Albion and Holley. The ox’s name will likely be announced on Saturday, the last day of the fair.
