Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – A farmer leaves his tractor out and will be back for more work with this field of hay bales on Lakeshore Road in the town of Yates.
One of the nearby barns is shedding pieces near the corner of Lakeshore and North Lyndonville roads.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Adam Eick, right, is pictured with his FFA advisor and teacher Todd Eick of Medina during last week’s Orleans County 4-H Fair. The two are cousins.
MEDINA – A conference in Iowa assembled 49 outstanding agriculture students from 26 states in a highly competitive program. One of those students, Adam Eick, is from Medina and looks forward to running his own farm someday.
He attended the New Century Farmer Program from July 14-18 in Johnston, Iowa, learning about the global marketplace, farm financing, demographic trends and risk management. Eick was able to network with other emerging farmers and experience some of the latest developments in agriculture technology.
“I see a bright future in the ag industry,” Eick said. “This conference solidified that because people have to eat.”
Eick, 19, is entering his sophomore year at Morrisville State College. He plays offensive lineman on the college’s football team.
Eick is from a dairy farming family. This summer he is a paid intern at Lamb Farms in Oakfield, working in the herd health program.
He was the only student from New York picked for the New Century program. Todd Eick, Adam’s teacher and FFA advisor at Medina, gave Adam a strong endrosement for the program.
“It was a great opportunity for Adam,” said Mr. Eick, who is Adam’s cousin. “He is a young man with a bright future. It’s been nice watching him grow up from a little boy to the young man he is becoming.”
Adam said he may move out West after college to work and perhaps own his own farm.
“There’s something about the Midwest that gets me excited about agriculture,” he said.
Provided photo – Royalty at the Orleans County 4-H Fair were crowned on Saturday with a brother and sister from Lyndonville – Ian and Jordyn Smith – picked as king and queen. They are pictured at right in the back row in this photo. Other royalty include, from left: Rachel Gregoire of Murray (duchess), Zach Moore of Albion (duke); Jacques Gregoire of Murray (prince) and his sister Grace Gregoire (princess).
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair dodged rain for nearly six days last week, leading to a turnout of about 25,000 people.
That is about average for the fair, which is one of the most successful small county fairs in the state, said Robert Batt, a 4-H educator. The Orleans County 4-H Fair draws the crowds without selling alcohol. The events are all youth and family oriented.
Saturday’s fair finale included the crowning of fair royalty. The following 4-H’ers were recognized:
A brother and sister from Lyndonville, Ian and Jordyn Smith, were crowned king and queen. Both Ian and Jordyn are long-time exhibitors in the rabbit area.
Zach Moore of Albion and Rachel Gregoire of Murray were named duke and duchess. Zach exhibits in the poultry and sheep animal areas as well as having several entries in the family and consumer science division. Rachel exhibits poultry and also had many exhibits in the family and consumer science division as well as being an integral part of running the building as a teen leader.
This year’s prince and princess were Jacques Gregoire and Grace Gregoire, another brother and sister team. Jacques and Grace both exhibit poultry and both dedicated many hours to working in both the family and consumer science building and the 4-H run food stands at the fair.
Photos by Tom Rivers
It’s been raining hard since about 11 last night, and many of the local farm fields, including this one on Brown Road in Albion, are flooded.
The rain also have swollen local creeks, including Sandy Creek in Kendall. This picture was taken from Route 272, looking west.
This field on Route 18 in Kendall, just east of the Kendall Junior-Senior High School, also is full of water.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo says there is a chance of rain each of the next four days.
Photos by Sue Cook – Claudia Drechsel explains to judge Linda Wilbur how to check rabbits for ear mites.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
KNOWLESVILLE – The Grand Master Showman of Small Animals competition tested participants’ skills in showing chickens, rabbits and dogs.
Competitors were chosen for their excellence at earlier shows in the week for the small animals. Six competed for Grand Master Showman including Jordyn Smith and Rachel Gregoire, representing rabbits; Andrew Moore and Claudia Drechsel, representing poultry; and Brooke Kiefer and Bailey Jackson, representing dogs.
Judges were brought from outside the area so that they would not have a bias or prior knowledge of any of the competitors.
Rachel Gregoire shows the Australian cattle dog.
Jordyn Smith went into the chicken portion of the show with great confidence.
During each portion of the show, the 4-H’ers had to demonstrate the correct care and handling of the animal. During the dog portion, they also had to run the dog around the show ring and make the animal perform patterns for the judge. They also had to know the nomenclature and what each of the body parts did or how it should be cared for.
Brooke Kiefer shows the dog to judge Toni Garcia.
Claudia Drechsel of Holley was named the Grand Master Showman for her competence of all three species of animals. Brooke Kiefer was named the Reserve Champion.
“This is my third year participating in small animal grand master and I really enjoy learning about all the different breeds,” said Drechsel. “I like that they switch up what we use (each year). It’s really cool to learn about all the different breeds.”
Dreschel also competed in the Grand Master Showman competition on Friday for large animals, qualifying for her prowess in showing sheep.
Kiefer (left) and Drechsel received trophies for their hard work.
Poultry judge Bill Ziehm found the 4-H’ers impressive. He said that when they weren’t sure about an answer or gave a wrong answer “they maintained their composure and moved on to the next question with a positive attitude.”
“You have to study. You really do,” said Drechsel. “Small animals are lots of knowledge. Large animals are more how you present the animal and present yourself. It’s a really good experience and a good thing to have fun with. It’s not all about winning. From a personal standpoint, I’d rather lose and have fun, than win and not have fun.”
Andrew Moore answers questions for Bill Ziehm.
Bailey Jackson talks to the judge while the audience looks on.
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Ethan Bannister looks for bids at the 4-H Animal Meat Auction on Saturday. His sister Jayne is in the ring with a lamb. Jayne had the grand champion market lamb for the auction.
Her brother Robert, in back, serves as auctioneer for the event, which brought in about $27,000 for 4-H’ers. Emily Bannister was clerk for the auction and Skip Lear, back right, serves on the 4-H Livestock Auction Committee.
Trevor Bentley of Lyndonville leads the reserve champion steer out of the ring after the 1,170-pound animal sold for $6.75 a pound or $7,904 total, the biggest price on the day. Bill and Stacy Corcoran bought the steer, paying well above the market price to support Trevor and the 4-H program.
Robert Bannister, a former Orleans County 4-H member, serves as auctioneer for the event, which is now in its fifth year at the fair since it started in 2010. Robert’s sister Jayne of Point Breeze is in the ring with a lamb.
Some turkeys raised by 4-H youths wait to be auctioned off on Saturday.
Janie Schutz of Waterport raised this lamb that was sold during Saturday’s auction.
Ian Smith of Lyndonville stands with his rabbit during the auction. Andy Beach, right, assisted with the event that included $26,988 in sale prices.
4-H’ers sold beef cattle, pigs, lambs, meat goats, meat rabbits, chickens and turkeys.
Photos by Tom Rivers
A crowd gathered near the Grease Pole to watch a fireworks show put on by Young Explosives.
The crowd seemed to get bigger after the fireworks for the grease pole climbing competition. In this picture, Coming In Greasy members work their way up the pole. Mallori Wienke is on the bottom while Alexis Hartway works to go higher. The team climbed the pole. Five teams tried it on Friday night.
Marisa Hanlon of Kendall weaves between barrels during a drill at the fairgrounds on Friday while the sun was setting.
Ty Reilly, 5, of Albion powers a tractor in the small-fry tractor pull. Ty finished second in the 45 and under division with a pull of 26 feet, inches.
Jason Clark keeps several meat goats corralled while waiting for participants in the Grand Master Showman competition. Clark is superintendent of the dairy goats. The top showmen from eight different livestock breeds competed for the grand master showman title on Friday.
Kiley Stadmiller shows a dairy cow in the Grand Master Showman Competition. She qualified after winning the Western Horse title.
People filled the stands near the horse arena and grease pole grounds to watch the fireworks.
Photos by Tom Rivers – Blacey Bakutis, 18, of Kendall practices dodging barrels with her horse Boomer Fritz during a drill on Friday evening.
Special Event: Kids Love Trucks: Orleans Emergency, Fire Departments, Law Enforcement, and Ambulance Services from across the county will have vehicles on display from 1 to 4 p.m.
Strolling Entertainment: Amazing Magic Joe, throughout the grounds, 5-9 p.m.
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
9:30 am: Horse Games Day (Gymkhana) – Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: All Buildings Open
10 am: Little Britches Swine Show: Open to the Public – Swine Pavilion
11:10 am: Iron Chef 4-H Youth Activity Starts – Trolley Building
12 pm: Small-Animal Grand Master Showman Competition – Wachob Pavilion
Aaron Sugar of Albion pedals down the lane in the small fry tractor pull on Friday evening. Aaron won the 45 pounds and under division with a full pull that went 45 feet.
12 pm: Leaders’ Pie Stand Opens – Davis Building
12 pm to 8:30 pm: Master Gardner – Lawn of Education Center
12:10 pm: Iron Chef 4-H Youth Activity Judging – Trolley Building
1 pm to 4 pm: Kids Love Trucks: ORLEANS EMERGENCY, Fire Dept., Law Enforcement, and Ambulance Services from across the county. Education Center Parking Lot
1 pm: Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Fair Office
1:30 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Pedal Tractor Course: Fair Office
1:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
A classic car show drew about 100 participants and big crowds by the Trolley Building and Education Center. Fire trucks and emergency vehicles from around the county will be stationed there for tours today from 1 to 4 p.m.
The classic car show took a break from the Medina Canal Basin to move to the fairgrounds on Friday.
2:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
3:30 pm: Market Animal Auction Preview – Show Arena
3:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
4 pm: Market Animal Auction – Show Arena
4 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Pedal Tractor Course: Fair Office
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
5 pm: Steak Dinner: Sponsored by Renovation Lodge #97 Grand Lodge F&AM of NY Cost $12 – Curtis Pavilion
Trenton Jones, right, greets a horse ridden by Faith Woody of Albion on Friday evening. The horse riders were practicing a dance pattern set to music. Part of the routine includes a brief meeting with people along the fence.
5:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
6 pm: Set up for Band – Orleanshub.com Stage
6 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
7 pm: Julie Dunlap & High Maintenance Country Band – Orleanshub.com Stage
7 pm: Master Gardener Lecture – Education Center
7 pm: Awards Ceremony and Crowning of Fair Royalty – Curtis Pavilion
8 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
8:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
9 pm: 4-H Dairy Cow Bingo – Cattle Building
10 pm: Buildings Close
10 pm: Greased Pole Climbing Contest, Final Qualifying Round (Teams Must Pre-register at Fair Office) – At Greased Pole
10:30 pm: Greased Pole Championship – At Greased Pole
Photos by Tom Rivers – Jenny McKenna, back left, shows a goat while next to Elizabeth Storm during the Grand Master Showman Competition on Friday. Tammi Kron serves as one of the judges.
KNOWLESVILLE – Jenny McKenna captured won the Orleans County 4-H Fair’s most prestigious titles on Friday, winning the Grand Master Showman.
The competition takes the top showman in nine different animal breeds and has them compete for the grand master showman, showing nine different types of animals. Jenny, 19, won in her final year as a 4-H’er.
“It’s a great way to end my 4-H career,” she said. “It’s been a lot of hard work and determination.”
Jenny McKenna shows a dairy cow during Friday’s event. She showed eight other animal breeds in the grueling three-hour competition.
Her three sisters – Caton, Kerri and Betsey – have all won the title. Jenny just completed her first year of college at Roberts Wesleyan. She is transferring to Cornell University to major in animal science with a minor in agricultural business.
After the grand master event, McKenna quickly changed clothes to compete in the grease pole competition. She was part of the Iron Fists team that included her mother, Iva.
Tammi Kron of Alden was one of the judges for the Grand Master Showman. She said McKenna stayed positive in the show ring and could answer her questions about each of the animal breeds.
“She had a lot of show ring presence,” Kron said.
Jayne Bannister, 16, of Point Breeze was the reserve champion. She is shown working with a goat during the Gand Master Showman Competition. Jayne has won the title before.
Melanie Klossner sets up a llama before judge Jim Lasel of Albion during the Grand Master Showman Competition.
Nicole Mrzywka answers a question from judge Tammi Kron while Nicole’s sister Natalie, left, waits her turn.
McKenna qualified by winning the dairy cattle showman title. Other master showmen include Elizabeth Storm, representing Horses – English; Kiley Stadmiller, Horses – Western; Claudia Drechsel, sheep; Natalie Mrzywka, meat goats; Nicole Mrzywka, dairy goats; Rylie Lear, swine; Melanie Klossner, llama; and Jayne Bannister, beef cattle. Last year’s grand master showman, Janie Schutz, also was invited back for the competition on Friday.
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – This farmer works on a crop of hay on Friday evening just south of the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo says there is potential for severe thunderstorms late tonight through Monday afternoon, which could lead to flooding in Orleans and other Western New York counties.
The field of hay bales as it appears at sunset, looking west from Wood Road.
Photos by Sue Cook – Games at the fair attracted a lot of attention throughout the day on Thursday. Many people were happy to walk away with stuffed animals or other prizes.
Special Event: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Craft Sale located in the Buzz Hill Education Center Lot, including professional appraisals from 4 to 7 pm at a special price of $5 per item (bring photos for your larger items).
Strolling Entertainment: Amazing Magic Joe, throughout the grounds, 5 to 9 p.m.
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
9:30 am: Youth Ag Olympics Fun Activities – South Lawn
9:30 am: Miniature Horse Show & Driving Competition – Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: $5 Admission per car starts
10 am: All Buildings Open
The Hot Country Liners do a line dance on Thursday evening to “What Does the Fox Say,” a song by Norwegian comedy band Ylvis.
10 am: Grand Master Showman Workshop Starting in Show Arena
10:30 am: Tractor Driving Contest – South Parking Lot
12 pm: Leaders’ Pie Stand Opens
12 pm: Goat Knowledge Bowl: Dairy and Meat – Knights Building
12:30 pm: Dog Show, Agility Competition (Classes 23-30) – Show Arena
1 pm: Little Shepherds Sheep Show – Open to Public – Knights Building
1 pm: Story Time sponsored by Medina Community Library – Trolley Building
3 pm to 10 pm: Midway Rides of Utica $20 Unlimited Ride wristband – Midway
3 pm: Story Time sponsored by Medina Community Library – Trolley Building
Jayne Bannister squares the back legs of her animal during the sheep show.
3 pm: Horse Judging Contest – Education Center
3:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
4 pm: Royalty questionnaires due – Fair Office
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4 pm to 8:30 pm: Master Gardener – Lawn of Education Center
4:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
5 pm: Friday Night Fish Fry: Sponsored by Renovation Lodge #97 Cost: $9 Adult (Half portion $7) – Curtis Pavilion
5:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
5:30 pm: Classic Car Cruise-In – Education Center Parking Lot
The Mathes sisters Emma (front) and Lillian speak with judge Chad Swartz during the wool-outfit show.
6 pm: Set Up for Band – Orleanshub.com Stage
6 pm: Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Fair Office
6 pm: Grand Master Showman – Livestock Areas
6 pm to 8 pm: Pie Eating Contest: Sponsored by Brown’s Berry Patch – (Register at Fair Office during the week) – Curtis Pavilion
6 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
Lakeside Karate invited children from the community to join them on stage and learn some basics in front of the audience.
6:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
6:30 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Pedal Tractor Course: Fair Office
7 pm: The Music of Jonesy (Rock and Roll) – Orleanshub.com Stage
7 pm: Quadrille Horse Demonstration – Carlos Marcello Arena
7 pm: Spanish/English Story Time: Sponsored by Medina Community Library – Trolley Building
8 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
8:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
10 pm: Buildings Close
10 pm: Fireworks (Rain Date Saturday @ 10 pm)
10:30 pm: Greased Pole Climbing Contest (Teams must pre-register at Fair Office) – At Greased Pole
The sun sets over the fair.
Image from Vice News – Cows are pictured in a milking parlor at a dairy farm in Western New York.
New York’s dairy industry is growing, and it’s especially hot in Western New York with new yogurt plants opening in Batavia. Farmers don’t need to worry about a supply for their product.
The state’s farms generate about $5 billion in sales, and about half comes from dairy producers. We’re the third-leading dairy state and the top producer of yogurt in the country.
However, the industry is vulnerable because of a broken immigration system, a new documentary highlights. Roy Germano was in the area in April, talking to dairy farmers, workers, an immigration attorney, a retired immigration officer and others affected by the issue.
Vice News on Wednesday debuted the documentary, “Immigrant America: They Steal Our Jobs?” Germano says dairy farms have grown larger, requiring 24-hour milking operations. Workers from Mexico, many without legal documents to be in the country, typically are working the overnight shifts at the dairy farms, doing “a dirty monotonous job that most Americans don’t want to do.”
Vice News – A federal program that allows farmers to hire foreign workers legally can’t be used by dairy farmers because the dairy jobs aren’t considered seasonal.
Fruit and vegetable farms have access to legal foreign workers through the H2A program, but the federal government hasn’t made that possible for dairies because the work isn’t considered seasonal. Dairies haven’t had much success finding local Americans to work the night shifts.
Many dairies say they have been forced to hire Mexicans who don’t have proper documents. They are hard-working and dedicated, but they are also vulnerable to sudden removal by immigration officers. Germano interviews one dairy farmer who will soon have long-term milking employees deported.
“I am tired of the inaction in Washington,” a WNY dairy farmer tells Germano. “We’re trying to run a business. We’re the ones caught in the crosshairs between the government that makes the laws and the other agency that has to enforce the laws.”
The dairy farmer says he and others in the industry don’t have legitimate access to foreign workers for their farms. (Germano doesn’t identify the farmer because he fears retaliation from ICE.)
“What incentive is there to grow our business when at any given time our workers can be taken away?” he said.
Vice News – Roy Germano visited local dairies for his documentary about the immigration crisis in WNY.
Germano tries working in the milking parlor and strugglesto attach the milker units to the cows teats. He pushes liquid manure with a squeegee to drains and seems overwhelmed by the smells in the parlor.
Germano wonders if any local Americans who are looking for a job would work at a dairy. He does an experiment, going to unemployment office in Batavia. He tells people looking for jobs that he has immediate openings at dairies, but they’ll have to work the night shift from 2 a.m. to noon. There are plenty of jobs for $9 an hour with housing, he tells them.
The local residents overwhelmingly declined the positions, not wanting to work on a farm especially during the night. (Some dairies are turning to robots to milk cows, and Germano shows a robot in action. The robots cost about $250,000 each and can milk about 50 cows a day, a big investment for the farms. The farms are “price takers” and can’t demand an increase in milk to pay their employees more, perhaps making the jobs more attractive to local Americans, Germano says.)
Western New York is a dairy powerhouse. The area is also home to the largest immigration detention facility in the country outside of Arizona. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have arrested many farm workers, often without probable cause, because of pressure to meet quotas to fill the ICE facility in Batavia, according to the documentary.
Vice News – Many local farmworkers are arrested and placed at the immigration and detention facility in Batavia.
Germano interviews a dairy worker who is soon to be deported. He is married to an American with an American child. He doesn’t want to be separated from his family. So he said he will make the dangerous journey back to the area once he is deported to Mexico.
The racial profiling by police and ICE, when farmworkers try to go to the store or church, has many rarely leaving farms, Germano says. The workers pay people to get them groceries. They don’t fully participate in community life.
Germano advocates for immigration policies that meet employer needs, and stop treating family farmers and hardworking immigrants like criminals.
“This absurd unjust system is easy enough to fix. It will just take a little courage from Congress to do so.” Germano said in concluding the documentary.
(Editor’s note: Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers wrote “Farm Hands: Hard work and hard lessons from Western New Yorks farms.” The book is based on his experiences working at local farms in 2008. Germano said that book was part of his inspiration for the documentary on the WNY dairies.)
Photo by Tom Rivers – Jeff Ebel from the Troll Diggers is the third man up on the grease pole last night. The Grease Pole returns tonight at 10 p.m.
Special Event: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Craft Sale located in the Buzz Hill Education Center Lot. Including professional appraisals from 4-7 pm at a special price of $5 per item (bring photos for your larger items).
Strolling Entertainment: Amazing Magic Joe, throughout the grounds, 5 to 9 p.m.
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
8 am to 3 pm: Youth Camp Day- Sponsored by the Orleans County 4-H – Fair Committee
9:30 am: Western Horse Show – Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: $5 admission per car starts
10 am: All Buildings Open
10 am: Poultry Show – Wachob Pavilion
10 am: Wildlife I.D. Contest – Log Cabin
10:30 am: Little Britches Cattle Show (open to public) – Show Arena
12 pm: Leader’s Pie Stand Opens
12 pm to 1 pm: Dog Agility Demonstration with Della’s Agility Dream Dogs – and Guests – Show Arena
Photo by Sue Cook – During a motorcycle cruise-in on Wednesday, Dick Christopher rode in on a 2013 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide trike, which is a three-wheeled motorcycle.
1 pm: Story Time sponsored by Yates Community Library – Trolley Building
1 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
1:45 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
2 pm to 4 pm: Family and Consumer Science Knowledge Bowl – Center Stage
3 pm: Llama/Alpaca Costume, Leaping Llama/Alpaca, Llama/Alpaca Limbo – Show Arena
3 pm: Little Britches Llama/Alpaca – Open to Public – Show Arena
3 to 10 pm: Midway of Utica $20 unlimited ride wristband – Midway
3 pm: Story Time sponsored by Yates Community Library – Trolley Building
4 – 8:30 pm: Master Gardener – Lawn of Education Center
4 pm to close: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Craft Sale – Education Center Parking Lot
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
4:30 pm : Chicken BBQ Sponsored by Orleans County Cornell – Cooperative Extension – No Presale – Curtis Pavilion
6 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
6 pm: Sheep Show (Costume class at end) – Knight’s Building
6 pm: Small Animal Grand Master Information Session – Wachob Pavilion
6 pm: Registration for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Ends – Fair Office
6 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
Photo by Sue Cook – Emily Fearby, left, observes judge Peter Snyder as he talks to Melissa Robinson about her goat. Emma Mathes, right, readjusts her goat’s pose.
6:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
6:30 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Pedal Tractor Course: Fair Office
7 pm: Spanish/English Story Time sponsored by Yates Community Library -Trolley Building
7 pm to 8:30 pm: Local Entertainment Variety Acts – Orleanshub.com Stage
8 pm: $1000 Karaoke Challenge Finals – Orleanshub.com Stage
8 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
8:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
10 pm: Buildings Close
10 pm: Greased Pole Climbing Competition (teams must pre-register at fair office) – At Greased Pole
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Troll Diggers are all from Hamlin and include Nate Jenks, Sam Pak, Isaiah Jenks, Jeff Ebel, Andrew Jones and Jonah Pak.
Photos by Tom Rivers – Bo Parton, 2, sits on the shoulders of his uncle Ethan Bannister during last night’s Orleans County 4-H Fair. Bo’s aunt Jayne Bannister is participating in several livestock showing events.
Special Event: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Motorcycle Cruise-In. Free admission for bikes parking in the Buzz Hill Education Center Lot.
Special Event: Senior Citizen Coffee, free Coffee for Senior Citizens from 1pm to 4pm, compliments of the Orleans County 4-H Senior Council
Strolling Entertainment: Amazing Magic Joe, throughout the grounds, 5-9 p.m.
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
8 am: Goat Show (Dairy, Companion, and Pack) – Knights Building
9:30 am: Dressage Horse Show – Carlos Marcello Arena
10 am: $5 Admission per car Starts
John Gabalski, left, of Byron and Ian Smith of Lyndonville watch while the judge, Jim Goodrich, looks over their rabbits. They had three entered in the meat pen competition, which judges rabbits in groups of three. The rabbits will be part of Saturday’s market animal auction at 4 p.m.
10 am: All Buildings Open
10 am: Bread and homemade butter demonstration – Trolley Building
11 am to 1 pm: Nutrifare Senior Luncheon with Al Howe (Food will be served at 12:00pm) – Curtis Pavilion
12 pm: Leader’s Pie Stand Opens
12 pm to 2 pm: Pottery by Megan Demos with pottery wheel – Trolley Bldg.
1 pm: Story Time: Sponsored by the Holley Community Library – Trolley Building
2 pm: Orleans County 4-H Fair Photography Contest (open to public with advance entry. Call 585-798-4265) – Trolley Bldg.
2 pm: Poultry Knowledge Bowl – Orleanshub.com Center Stage
3 pm: Story Time: Sponsored by the Holley Community Library – Trolley Building
3 pm to 8 pm: Orleans County 4-H Fair 2nd Annual Motorcycle Cruise-in – Education Center parking lot
Lydia Piazza sings “Giddy On Up” by Laura Bell Bundy during’s Tuesday’s karaoke competition. Singers will compete Thursday in the karaoke finals at 8 p.m., when $1,000 in prizes will be awarded.
3 pm to 10 pm: Midway Rides of Utica $20 unlimited rides wristband – Midway
3 pm: Dog Knowledge Bowl – Orleanshub.com Center Stage
4 pm: Dairy Cattle Showmanship – Show Arena
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4 pm to 7pm: Pottery by Megan Demonstrations with pottery wheel – Trolley Building
4:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
5 pm: Meat Goat Show – Knight’s Building
5 pm: BBQ Pulled Pork Dinner, Sponsored by Dance Theater. – Cost: $8 – Curtis Pavilion
5 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
5:30 pm till 8 pm: Orleans County 4-H Watermelon Carving Contest (open to public with advance registration, call 585-798-4265) – Curtis Pavilion
6 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
6 pm: Mounted Games Competition – Carlos Marcello Arena
Dustin Gardner, a Kendall graduate who now lives in Albion, gets ready to sing “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” by Reba McEntire.
6 pm: Registration Ends for the Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Orleanshub.com Stage
6 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
6:30 pm & 8:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building
6:30 pm: Dairy Cattle Show – Show Arena
6:30 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Tractor Pull Course: Fair Office
7 pm: Rooster Crowing Contest register at event – Wachob Pavilion
7 pm: Spanish/English Story Time: Sponsored by Holley Community Library – Trolley Building
7:30 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage
8 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
9 pm: $1000 Karaoke Challenge – Orleanshub.com Stage
10 pm: Buildings Close
10 pm: Greased Pole Climbing Contest (teams must pre-register at the fair office) – Greased Pole
Joyce Stamp of Medina sings “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri during karaoke on Tuesday night.
Photos by Sue Cook
Jacques Gregoire shows off his four-eyed vampire Frankenstein to the others at his table. This was also the first year of the watermelon-carving contest. Barb Kurzowski created the contest hoping to attract artists.
Kate Hardner was the judge of the event. She was looking for originality, the level of difficulty and artistic creative presentation in her evaluation of the completed pieces.
“These are all very well done. I’m very impressed. I especially love the way some of them are carved partially into the rind creating other colors and good depth in the pieces,” said Hardner as she waited for the last contestants to finish.
The watermelon-carving contest had seven participants and a helper. Masterpieces in this picture include a penguin, a porcupine, a minion from “Despicable Me,” and a punch bowl.
Megan Bruning of Medina performed pottery demonstrations on Wednesday. She used the wheel to spin the clay and formed bowls with her hands. Here, she uses a metal rib to smooth the side of her creation. She has been making pottery for 14 years.
The Amazing Magic Joe wows the crowd by producing a signed ten-dollar bill from inside a fresh lemon. Joe’s illusions will continue taking place throughout the rest of the week at various parts of the fairgrounds.
Jim Barrett stands beside his 2008 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom during a motorcycle cruise-in.
Most of the motorcycles that came to the show were Harley-Davidsons. Throughout the cruise-in about a dozen bikes came in.
The senior showmanship class offered Natalie Mrzywka (left) and Janie Schutz the opportunity to show off their goats at the start of the event.
The Chainsaw Chix demonstration has returned for another year after demand for professional chainsaw artist Sara Winter brought her back for the fourth time. Winter has been carving for seven years. In this photo Winter carves an owl for over 50 onlookers.
“I don’t have an art background,” said Winter. “I saw someone do it at a fair and I’ve been trying ever since.”
At demonstrations, she carves does what she calls a quick carve, which is creating a piece for speed. She completes pieces in 45 minutes to an hour.
Sara Winter sells her completed pieces from next to the log cabin where she holds her demos on the fairgrounds. From near the front of her workspace, a fox watches the crowd.
