Photos by Kristina Gabalski

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair ended its annual six-day run on Saturday, with the fair drawing thousands of people each day to the hamlet of Knowlesville.

Krsitina Gabalski was at the fair each day. Her two children, John and Peggy-Jo, are active in the 4-H program.

The top photo shows Naomi Haberger, Emma Mathes and Saleya Williams – all members of the Adventurers 4-H club – wearing their matching outfits as “mannequin models” in the Trolley Building on Saturday afternoon.

Fair Royalty were selected Saturday afternoon. Left to right: Princess alternate Olivia Kroening, Princess Lilly Mathes; Prince alternate Jack Cecchini, Prince Owen Shaw; Dutchess Alternate Emma Mathes, Dutchess Megan Blackburn; Duke Brian Shaw; Queen Alternate Peggy-Jo Gabalski, Queen Natalie Mrzywka, and Duke Alternate Justin Robinson.

Roman Brege, 8, takes a breather during the Pie Eating Contest on Friday evening. Brege came in second place in the Piglet Division (10 and under). First place in the division went to 9-year old Jillian Ray. In the Hog Division (11-17-year olds), first place went to 14-year old Dalton Moyer and second place went to 13-year old Haley Mayer. In the Old Boar Division (ages 18 and up) first place was taken by John Burgio and second place went to Sue Moyer.

Megan Bruning of Bruning Ware in Medina throws a pot during her pottery demonstration Friday afternoon in the Trolley Building.

4-H’ers work to pass hula hoops down a line all while continuing to hold hands during the Ag Olympics held Friday morning at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Three teams competed during the event.

Things got a little messy and very fun during the “Musical Chairs” game at the 4-H Ag Olympics on Friday morning at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Participants not only had to sit when the music stopped, they had to burst a balloon on the chair seat filled with shaving cream.

Elsa Bieliski, left, and Brigid Keller, both 15 and from Medina, prepare to share their yummy brownie sundae at the Leader’s Pie Stand.

The crew exits a Mercy Flight helicopter Saturday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. The helicopter landed on the south lawn of the fairgrounds as part of the “Kids Love Trucks Day.” Youngsters were able to get an up-close view of the helicopter and emergency trucks/vehicles from fire departments, law enforcement agencies and ambulance services around Orleans County.

Fire trucks and emergency response vehicles from across Orleans County were on display for fairgoers Saturday afternoon during the final day of the fair.

Theresa Jewell works on her loom in the Lartz Building. She is weaving a scarf. Jewell owns Stoney Meadows Alpacas and Fiber Boutique on Glidden Road in Clarendon and this was her first year as a vendor at the fair.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Sam Remley of Albion, the last climber for the BB Queens, propels himself over Taylor Soule and makes it to the top of the grease pole in 18.80 seconds, the fastest time of the week in the grease pole competition at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

That time was part of the qualifier on Saturday. The BB Queens then competed in the championship round and bested three other teams for the title.

The BB Queens are all smiles after winning the title. The team mostly consists of recent Albion graduates. The group includes, front row, from left: Halle Jurs, Cady Messmer, Sam Remley and Taylor Soule. Back row: Grease pole event chairman Jeremy Neal, Marco Lopez, Hannah Hapeman, Brooke Bensley and Jessica Grimes.

The BB Queens race to the pole in the championship round. They climbed the grease-covered pole in 23.13 seconds to win the title. They won $100 for first place.

The team competed in the contest for the first time in 2014. Brooke Bensley is the team captain.

“We have so much fun,” Bensely said. “It’s about getting all of the high school kids together.”

The BB Queens work their way up the pole. Sam Remley, the last climber for the team, was called the BB Queens “secret weapon.” He has the upper body strength and agility to climb up three stacked people.

A big crowd gathered to watch the competition on Saturday night.

Jackie Sponaugle of Holley serves as the base for a team called Lyntucky Hicks. Kevin Ginger of Albion is climbing on Sponaugle, trying to be the second person on the pole.

Jackie Sponaugle holds up two people on the pole. He got more grease on his face as the team tried to work its way up the pole. The Lyntucky Hicks didn’t quite get to the top in the qualifying round on Saturday.

The Udder Suckers compete in the finals on Saturday. Neal Kruger of Holley is nearly to top with his feet on the shoulder of Noah Preston of Albion.

Neal Kruger smiles after reaching the top of the grease pole for the Udder Suckers, which finished third overall in the finals with a time of 31.18 seconds. The Troll Diggers were second at 26.61 seconds. Lusciously Lube was fourth at 36.62 seconds.

Lusciously Lube’s top three climbers include Devan Freeman on top, followed by Ben Martin and Mike Murphy.

The A Team gets in position to climb the pole. The climbers include Devin Taylor at left, Jake Vick at center and Larry Vick at right. The team was wearing shirts in support of Tom Drennan for sheriff.

A full moon was out Saturday for the competition, which has been a tradition at the fair for about 40 years.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Buyers were out in force on Saturday evening, paying well above the market price for animals raised by 4-H’ers.

Jayden Neal, 12, of Albion is pictured with a pig that received the highest bid of seven swine. Bentley Brothers in Albion paid $6.75 per pound for the 264-pound pig or $1,782. Andy Beach, left, and Zach Welker keep an eye on the bidders.

The auction raised $18,888 for 4-H’ers, who sold a steer, pigs, lambs, meat goats, meat rabbits, and processed chickens and turkeys. (The live chickens and turkeys were banned from county fairs this year due to avian influenza.)

Robert Bannister, right, serves as auctioneer for the 4-H Market Meat Auction. His sister Jayne Bannister is in the ring with the lone steer in the auction. Panek Farms paid $4.50 a pound or $5,378 for the 1,195-pound animal.

Jim Panek, co-owner of the farm, said the Panek family wants to support the 4-H program and the kids who raise livestock.

He said the meat from the animal would be split up among family and employees of the farm.

John Gabalski, 14, of Byron has a pen of rabbits for sale in the auction. They sold for $70 each.

Ian Smith, 17, of Lyndonville is pictured with his grand champion rabbit. Laura Bentley from Bentley Brothers paid $105 for the rabbit.

Smith said a meat rabbit usually commands about $20. He said he would use the extra money from Bentley to buy cages, bowls and hutches for his rabbits.

Zach Welker eyes a bidder for a turkey raised by Grace Sapienza of Hilton. The turkey was already processed. Grace held up a poster with pictures of the animal. The 18-pound bird sold for $55.

Zachary Neal, 10, of Albion gives his pig a final brush before heading into the show ring. Zachary’s brother Jayden, left, also raised a pig for the auction. The brothers were happy with the prices for their pigs. Jayden received $6.75 a pound and Zachary got $5.25 a pound for a 224-pound pig from Lee Shukhecht and Sons in Elba.

Anna Wagester, 12, of Batavia watches the bids for her rabbit, which sold for $87.50. She also had a meat goat in the auction. Her mother Jennifer Wagester is director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Friday at the fair once again included a fireworks show by Young Explosives.

These photos were taken near the livestock barns.

The fireworks went off at about 10 p.m. and helped keep a big crowd at the fairgrounds.

The Who Dats put on an entertaining show at the main stage. Ed Hilfiker, right, plays the guitar and Lonnie Froman is the leader singer. John Borello, center, is also a guitarist.

Ed Hilfiker is silhouetted on the main stage during the Who Dats concert.

Aaron Robinson plays the drums for the Who Dats. Another band member includes Marty Hobbs on bass.

A 1947 Cadillac is among about 100 classic cars in a cruise in on Friday evening at the fair.

The Troll Diggers Practice Squad race to the grease pole and begin their climb. The team made it to the top in 27 seconds. They had already qualified for today’s championships.

Andrew Jones touches the top of the grease pole while standing on Isaiah Jenks’ shoulders. These photos were taken from a lift.

The competition draws several hundred people, perhaps more, as a finale to the fair each night.

Craig Calliste of Lyndonville makes his way up the grease pole for the Udder Suckers, a team of mostly former 4-H’ers who showed dairy animals.

Craig Calliste and the Udder Suckers made it to the top in 1:12. That earned the team a spot in tonight’s championships. Calliste is climbing over Noah Preston, who stands on Theo Irwin. Jonathan Trembley is the base for the team.

Natalie Mrzywka, 16, of Holley wins the title

Photos by Tom Rivers

Nicole Mrzywka, left, and her sister Natalie hold their trophies after the Grand Master Showmen Competition at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on Friday. Nicole was the reserve champion and Natalie won the event. Their mother Annette (Lear) Mrzywka won the title in the early 1990s.

The event includes the top showman in nine different animal breeds and has them compete for the grand master showman, showing nine different types of animals. It is a grueling three-hour event.

Natalie Mrzywka, 16, of Holley leads a dairy cow in the show ring on Friday. She qualified for the competition after winning the showmanship award for meat goats.

Natalie shows sheep, goats, horses and dogs. That experience helped her show the range of animals in Friday’s competition.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” she said.

Natalie said showing the beef cattle are the most difficult because they are often unruly.

Her sister gave her a big hug after Natalie was declared the winner of one of the fair’s most prestigious titles. Natalie said the sisters push each other to learn about animals and excel in the show ring.

Nicole Mrzywka, 14, keeps a dairy animal under control during the Grand Master Showman Competition. Nicole qualified as the top showman for dairy goats.

Emily Harling, 11, of Barre tries to get a sheep set up during the Grand Master Showmen Competition. Emily qualified as the top showman for horse (western). Jayne Bannister is behind Emily and judge Tammi Kron listens to an answer about the breed from Janie Schutz. Both Jayne and Janie are past winners of the Grand Master Showmen.

Janie Schutz, left, of Waterport and Elizabeth Bentley of Albion show sheep in the competition.

Schutz qualified as the beef cattle showman and Elizabeth represented the llamas.

Elizabeth, 17, has shown llamas outside of 4-H for years. This year she joined the 4-H program and also showed in the dairy competition.

“I would definitely do it again,” she said. “The people in the barns, we’ve all worked together and taught each other how to show the animals.”

Judge Tammi Kron of Alden eyes the showmen as the lead dairy animals in the show ring.

Kron said the competition was very close. It came down to a tie-breaking question that Natalie Mrzywka answered. Kron wanted to know the best spot for a showman to be in the show ring. Natalie said it’s best to have the animal in the center of a show ring so it can be easily visible to the judge.

The master showmen included Janie Schutz, representing beef cattle; Justin Robinson, representing dairy cattle; Nicole Mrzywka, representing dairy goats; Natalie Mrzywka, representing meat goats; Kelsey Hilburger, representing horse – English; Emily Harling, representing horse – Western; Elizabeth Bentley, representing llamas; and Jayne Bannister, representing sheep and swine.

While waiting for the scores to be tallied, the participants each took turns introducing themselves to the crowd and sharing a highlight from the competition. Emily Harling told the crowd she learned to step outside her comfort zone. Other master showmen include, from left in back: Justin Robinson of Albion, Kelsey Hilburger of Elba, Janie Schutz of Waterport and Jayne Bannister of Point Breeze.