Fair pays tribute to Byron Neal, young 4-H’er who brought spunk despite fighting cancer

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – The Cattle Barn at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds includes a tribute to Byron Neal, who passed away at age 8 on April 14 after a brave battle with cancer.

Byron is the son of Jeremy and Tina Neal, and brother of Lyla. His cousins, uncles and other family members have been heavily involved with the fair for decades.

Byron made his own mark at the fair. He showed rabbits and displayed an exuberance for climbing into tractors, sounding the horn at the greased pole climbing contest and walking alongside his father in the haybale-rolling competitions. Jeremy Neal has been chairman of the haybale rolling contest since its debut in 2021. Jeremy designs the course, serves as the official if teams go off course or topple a traffic cone. Byron was quick to point out if the bale strayed across the line or crushed a cone.

This photo from July 28, 2022 shows Elijah “The Bull” Starr of Lyndonville pushing a heavy hay bale along the course at the former greased pole site. Jeremy Neal and his son Byron keep a close eye to make sure Starr keeps the bale on course. If the bale goes outside the lines there is a penalty.

The haybale-rolling course has been named in honor of Byron Neal.

“It’s nice to see people know who Byron is,” Jeremy said on Thursday night after the haybale-rolling contest.

Natalie Mrzywka, 4-H administrative assistant, designed the tribute to Byron on the Cattle Barn. She said the Fair Board approved the memorials for Byron, who she said remains a much loved 4-H’er.

The Fair Board approved “a more serious” tribute for Byron on the Cattle Barn and also wanted one more light-hearted at the haybale-rolling course.

Jeremy Neal meets with the four haybale-rolling teams on Thursday night to go over the rules. A sign is mounted on the greased pole declaring the site “Byron’s Bale-Rolling Barnyard!”

A collection was taken in support of research for childhood cancer last night and $365 was given by the crowd at the haybale-rolling site. The winning team, brothers Alden and Alwyn Cayea, donated the $50 in winnings to the cause and that was matched by another person.

The Orleans County Farm Bureau also named its milkshake booth in honor of Byron Neal. Byron loved eating milkshakes, and making and serving them during the fair.

Tina Neal said she appreciates all the support for her son.

“It is absolutely amazing,” she said about the displays.

She said fair week was Byron’s favorite time of the year.

When he was receiving treatments for cancer, Byron would show his nurses and doctors YouTube videos from the greased pole and haybale rolling. Byron was in the videos next to his father, keeping a close eye on the action.

“He loved to show the YouTube videos,” his mother said. “He would say, ‘Look at me – I’m famous!’”