By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Fair hosts fire trucks, emergency responders
Photos by Tom Rivers
The Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds is hosting fire departments, police agencies and other emergency first responders today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. next to the Buzz Hill Education Center.
I was invited for a trip high in the Albion ladder truck. Bill Francis managed the controls and sent me 103 feet up in the air to capture some images of the fairgrounds.
I was joined by Lynn Miller, an EMT with the Carlton Fire Company. Miller had never been in the ladder truck before.
Fair-goers are welcome to meet firefighters and tour the trucks. Mercy Flight also is expected to visit with one of the agency’s helicopters.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Waterport 4-H’er claims one of fair’s most prestigious titles
Photos by Tom Rivers – Janie Schutz poses with a steer after she won the grand master showman crown on Friday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Jenny McKenna leads the showmen in the ring Friday with goats. Jenny took the grand master reserve title.
KNOWLESVILLE – The new grand master showman of the Orleans County 4-H Fair is a veteran in the show ring.
Janie Schutz, 17, of Waterport has showing animals at the fair since she was 8. She has experience with horses, beef cattle, pigs, meat goats and lambs.
On Friday she used her knowledge of all those animals, plus a steady composure, to win one of the fair’s most prestigious titles.
Janie is busy at the fair and for weeks and months leading up to annual event, tending to the animals and practicing with them. She has enjoyed working with different livestock mainly because it expanded her connections with so many 4-H’ers.
“You get more friends that way,” she said. “You meet more people.”
The grand master showman contest took the top showman from each of the larger animals, and pitted them all together, requiring the nine master showman to show all nine animals. (There were eight master showman in the competition because Jayne Bannister won two titles: swine and beef.)
Judge Steve Ledoux told the crowd he was impressed by the master showmen – all girls.
“They stepped out of their comfort zones,” he said. “They deserve a lot of credit for guts and determination.”
Schutz qualified by winning the sheep showman title. Other master showman include Bailey Flint, llama; Elise Slayton, Horses – English; Mandy Armer, dairy goat; Megan Blackburn, meat goat; Jayne Bannister, beef and swine; Jenny McKenna, dairy; and Haley Watkins, Horse – Western.
The master showmen ham it up for the cameras Friday after the competition to determine the grand master showman. Each person qualified for Friday’s event by winning the master showman for an animal. The group includes, from left: Bailey Flint, llama; Elise Slayton, Horses – English; Mandy Armer, dairy goat; Megan Blackburn, meat goat; Janie Schutz, sheep; Jayne Bannister, beef and swine; Jenny McKenna, dairy; and Haley Watkins, Horse – Western.
McKenna was the grand master showman reserve champion.
Schutz has one more year to show animals at the fair. She is planning to major in sociology in college with the goal to become a school guidance counselor.
“I still want to own my own farm at home,” she said.
The small animal grand master showman competition begins at noon today at the Wachob Pavilion.
Elise Slayton competes in the grand master showman competition on Friday, an event that took the top showman from nine animals. Elise qualified after winning the English horse showmanship title.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Midway lights up the fairgrounds on Thursday night.
Daily Feature: Midway Rides of Utica $18 unlimited ride wristband 3 pm to 10 pmDaily Feature: Orleans County 4-H Fair Dunk Tank, located across from the Senior Council stand
Daily Feature: Produced in Orleans County Display, Lartz Commercial Exhibit Building
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
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 – Knights Building
1 pm: Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building
1:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
3 pm to 10 pm: Midway Rides of Utica $18 Unlimited Ride wristband
The Chainsaw Chix will be in action several times today.
3 pm: Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building3 pm: Horse Judging Contest – Education Center
3:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – 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: Fearless Flores – 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: Classic Car Cruise-In - Education Center Parking Lot
5:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
6 pm: Set Up for Band – OrleansHub.com Stage
6 pm: Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull at Fair Office
6 pm: Grand Master Showman – Livestock Areas
Chelsea Bowen, 5, of Holley rides the mechanical bull on Thursday.
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
6:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
6:30 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Pedal Tractor Course near Fair Office
7 pm: Julie Dunlap & High Maintenance Country Band at OrleansHub.com Stage
7 pm: Quadrille Horse Demonstration – Carlos Marcello Arena
7 pm: Spanish/English Story Hour sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – Trolley Building
8 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
8:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The grain storage facility in Knowlesville along Route 31 is shown during a sunset earlier this week. The county is seeing an increased demand in farmland.
ALBION – Farmers in Orleans County have formally requested that nearly 1,500 acres of land be put in certified agricultural districts, which provide legal protections for farmers to do normal farm practices.
The County Legislature had a public hearing on the land inclusions on Wednesday. The Legislature endorsed the additions, which will now go to the state for its approval.
The county and state provide an opportunity every year for land to be added to an ag district. This year is the biggest increase on an annual basis in many years, county officials said.
They credit an increased demand and value for farmland, driven partly by a big rise in corn and grain prices. The county has the added benefit of an ethanol plant in Medina, which has proven to have an insatiable appetite for corn, using about 20 million bushels a year.
Farmers want to add 1,452 acres to ag districts in Barre, Clarendon, Carlton, Gaines, Murray and Ridgeway.
The size of acreage varies from 0.57 acre owned by Susan Machamer on North State Street Road in Murray to 298.8 acres owned by Gary and Sue Ellen Davy on Ridge Road in Gaines.
The Orleans County Farmland Protection Board endorsed the additions on July 10.
Just because the land is in an ag district that doesn’t mean farmers can do whatever they want with the property.
“You still have to do it correctly and by the rules,” said Barry Flansburg, the Farmland Protection Board chairman.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Marisa Hanlon, 15, of Kendall workers with other 4-H’ers to clean a stall at the fair on Wednesday evening. Marisa is a member of the Wranglers 4-H Club.
Daily Feature: Orleans County 4-H Fair Motorcycle Cruise-In, located in the Education Center parking lot
Daily Feature: Orleans County 4-H Fair Dunk Tank, located across from the Senior Council stand
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: Leaders’ Pie Stand Opens
12pm – 1 pm: Dog Agility Demonstration with Della’s Agility Dream Dogs and Guests –
Show Arena
1 pm: Story Hour sponsored by Hoag Library – Trolley Building
1:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
2 pm to 4 pm: Home Ec Bowl – Trolley Building
2:15 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
3 pm: Llama/Alpaca Costume, Leaping Llama/Alpaca,
Llama/Alpaca Limbo – Show Arena
Dominic Wilder of Albion performs “U Got it bad” by Usher during karaoke on Wednesday. The $1,000 championship will be tonight at 8 p.m.
3 pm: Little Britches Llama/Alpaca, Open to Public – Show Arena
3 to 10 pm: Midway of Utica, $18 unlimited ride wristband
3 pm: Story Hour sponsored by Hoag Library – Trolley Building
3:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
4 to 8:30 pm: Master Gardener – Lawn of Education Center
4 pm to close: Orleans County 4-H Fair Motorcycle Cruise-In at Education Center Parking Lot
4 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
4:30 pm: Chicken BBQ Sponsored by Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension,
No Presale – Curtis Pavilion
4:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
5:30 pm: Magic of Cliff Hopkins & Kelly – OrleansHub.com Stage
6 pm: Sheep Show – Knight’s Building
6 pm: Small Animal Grand Master Information Session – Wachob Pavilion
6 pm: Registration for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull Ends at Fair Office
6 pm: Chainsaw Chix – Log Cabin
6:30 pm: Fearless Flores – South of Knights Building
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
James Trembley, 6, of Barre made his debut in the show ring this evening as a Cloverbud showing this sheep. James is too young to join 4-H. The Sheep Club gives Cloverbuds a chance to gain some experience in the show ring. Sheep show judge Mike Hargrave offers James a few pointers.
Amanda Armer, left, won the halter showmanship reserve champion tonight at the fair. Amanda, 18, of Albion is pictured with the Moore brothers from Albion – Zachary, 12; and Andrew, 13. Janie Schutz of Waterport won the contest.
Audrey Pask, 8, of Barre keeps her sheep under control during tonight’s show in the Knight’s Building.
KNOWLESVILLE – It’s a busy night at the fair. The Cornell Cooperative Extension has an army of volunteers serving up a chicken barbecue. Linda Kirby and her daughter Jamie Brennan are among the volunteers. They are doling out the strawberry desserts.
There is also a motorcycle cruise-in next to the Buzz Hill Education Center. Jason Jeffords of Carlton is pictured on a Harley Davidson Road King Classic.
The karaoke finals start at 8 p.m. and the grease pole is on tap for 10.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Rabbits, steer get their chance in limelight
Photos by Tom Rivers
Allison Mathes, 9, uses all her might to get her dairy steer to cooperate during today’s show at the Orleans County 4-H Fair in Knowlesville.
Judge John Stenson looks over the rabbits during today’s show at the fair. The three boys waiting for their rabbit inspections include, from left: John Gabalski of Byron, Ian Smith of Lyndonville and Brian Neal of Albion. There are 84 rabbits at this year’s fair. Club leader Neil Johnson, right, served as emcee for the show.
Jayne Bannister, 15, of Point Breeze won the grand market steer competition at the fair today.
Lauren Becht, 14, of Barre tries to keep her dairy steer calm during today’s show at the fair. Lauren won the dairy steer category.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Ferris Wheel, pictured at last night’s sunset, is among the attractions at the fairgrounds being provided by Midway Rides of Utica.
Daily Feature: Orleans County 4-H Fair Dunk Tank, located across from Senior Council stand
8 am: Senior Council Stand Opens
9:30 am: English Horse Show – Carlos Marcello Arena
9:30 am: Dog Show (Classes 5-22 and C3) – Show Arena
