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.

Photos by Sue Cook – Senior showman Janie Schutz talks to the beef show judge Andrew Hoelscher about her animal.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair’s evening events are really starting to pick up with more to do and see on the county fairgrounds.

The show arena had full bleachers for the beef showmanship competition this evening. Many of the animals will become part of Saturday’s meat auction at 4 p.m.

The novice class received one-on-one advice to help them prep for next year’s beef show.

The rabbit costume contest also took place Tuesday evening. Children were given the opportunity to dress their rabbits up in humorous ways to win awards.

Zach Albright and his rabbit dressed as a pair of Albion soccer players. Zach’s rabbit won Most Athletic.

Meagan Hardner dressed her rabbit as a dish of ice cream with a cone. She won Most Original. Behind her, Brian Shaw’s tango dancer rabbit was awarded Funniest in Show.

Adia Wachob’s rabbit wore a cute little watermelon dress and received Fruitiest in Show.

Owen Shaw costumed his rabbit as a bumblebee and won Best Insect.

Angela Wachob dressed herself as a bee and her rabbit as a flower. She received Best Owner/Animal (costumed pair).

Nate Shaw’s tuxedo and top hat rabbit received Best Dressed.

Farmer Zak tells a corny joke.

On the lawn near the Knights Building where goats and sheep are located, there is the nightly performance of the Barnyard Review.

Farmer Zak is joined by his friends as they perform a comedy, music and magic act that kids and adults will love. The group also teaches farm safety and education during the performance and asks for audience participation.

Farmer Zak and Miss Amanda dance a square dance together after she magically pops out of a box that appeared empty moments before.

Another nightly event is the Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull. It takes place in front of the fair office on a 45-foot course.

Sophie Kroening, 4, from Knowlesville was a successful contestant making it all the way to the end.

Pedal tractors pull a sled that becomes harder to drag the farther it is moved, just like a full-size tractor pull sled. Children received water and participation ribbons for finishing the course.

Three-year-old Jacob Duffina of Medina also championed the course and went the distance.

Orleans Hub will continue to post a daily schedule of fair events, so check back to see what’s on the day’s agenda.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Emma Rose Mathes, 12, of Barre brushes out a sheep at about noon today. Emma will be showing three sheep during Thursday’s sheep show at 6 p.m.

The sheep lets out a “bah” while Emma Rose Mathes brushes it out today. Emma also is showing a beef cattle, dairy cow, chicken and goat during this week’s fair at the 4-H fairgrounds.

Emma Ambrose of Medina clears a hurdle with her horse during this morning’s horse show at the fairgrounds.

Jessica Suttera of Rochester competes in the hunter over fences junior competition at the fair. She finished third and fourth in this morning’s competitions.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Whether showing pigs or performing dance, the Orleans County 4-H Fair provided a venue for displaying talent on Monday evening.

In the top photo, Justine Laverty performs to “Monster High” with other members from the Dance Theater in Medina. The group finished second in the 12 and under category at the Talent Show and advanced the State Fair.

The Swine Show drew a crowd on Monday evening. Rylie Lear, 14, of Waterport won the junior showman and then was reserve champ in the master showman event.

This trio from Lisa’s Dance Boutique in Holley dances to “Rollover Beethoven.” The dancers include, from left: Olivia Amoroso, Kamryn Berner and Emilie Weinbeck.

This group from the Dance Theater in Medina finished second in the 13 and over category during Monday’s Talent Show at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. Dominique Hughes, left, is joined by Abby Jones and Danielle Metz in performing “Ultimate Grand Supreme.” They qualified for the State Fair.

Jayne Bannister of Point Breeze won the master showman title after taking the award a year ago at the fair.

Jayden Neal of Albion competes in the junior showman event.

Photos by Tom Rivers – A boy walks across an airborne maze, one of the carnival rides at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on Monday. Midway Rides of Utica is providing the entertainment. 

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

10 am: $5 Admission per car starts

10 am: All Buildings Open

10 am: Horticulture I.D. Contest – Center Stage

12 pm: Leader’s Pie Stand Opens

12 pm to 4 pm: Rabbit and Cavy Showmanship – Wachob Pavilion

1 pm: Story Time: Sponsored by Albion Community Library – Trolley Building

2 pm: Rabbit and Cavy Knowledge Contest – Wachob Pavilion

Don Stirk, center, of Albion joins other veterans at the opening ceremony Monday for the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

3 pm: Story Time Sponsored by Albion Community Library – Trolley Building

3 pm to 10 pm: Midway Rides of Utica $20 unlimited ride – wristbands – Midway

4 pm to 8:30 pm: Master Gardener – Lawn of Education Center

4:30 pm: Airplay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage

5 pm: Beef Showmanship and Show – Show Arena

5 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building

6 pm: Registration Ends for Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Fair Office

6 pm: AirPlay Jugglers – Orleanshub.com Stage

6 pm: Rabbit and Cavy Costume Class and Cloverbud Show – Wachob Pavilion

6:15 pm: Rabbit and Cavy Show – Wachob Pavilion

6:30 pm: Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull – Pedal Tractor Course: Fair Office

6:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building

Jack Cecchini, 8, of Medina competes as a Clover Bud in the Swine Show. His grandmother Maureen Beach is at right.

7 pm to 8:30 pm: Local Entertainment Variety Acts – Orleanshub.com Stage

7 pm: Spanish/English Story Time: Sponsored by Albion Community Library – Trolley Building

8:30 pm: The Barnyard Review: Entertainment for your whole family – Lawn South of Knights Building

9 pm: $1,000 Karaoke Challenge – Orleanshub.com Stage

10 pm: Buildings Close

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – The 4-H’ers have arrived at the fairgrounds in Knowlesville with a menagerie of animals: horses, rabbits, cows, poultry, pigs, goats and many other creatures.

It’s not all fun and games. This morning the animals had their cages and stalls cleaned, while bigger livestock were washed.

In the top photo, Faith Woody, 11, of Albion dumps dirty sawdust from her horse’s stall. Faith will be competing in some of the horse shows this week. “I’m happy it’s fair week because I get to hang out with my friends.”

Jenny McKenna, 19, of Barre cleans a dairy animal this morning, giving Jack Cecchini, 8, and his sister Jenna, 3, of Medina some tips. This is Jenny’s last time showing at 4-H and Jack’s debut. “It’s bittersweet, being my last year,” Jenny said. “Being able to teach them the ropes makes it fun and worthwhile.”

Amelia Sidonio, 12, of Holley cleans out a cage for one of the three rabbits she is showing at the fair this week.

Kaitlin Zwifka, 14, of Albion cleans Sundance’s stall, one of two horses she will be riding at the fair. She will be competing four days this week.

Janie Schutz, 18, of Waterport blow dries a heifer, one of three she and her sister Rylie Lear, 14, brought to the fair. They also brought a calf. The sisters slept on hay bales in the barn last night.

Photos by Tom Rivers – A cow bellows this morning at the wash rack at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.

Opening Day
Special Event: $2 Paid per car admission beginning 4 pm

Special Event: Midway Rides of Utica $10 unlimited ride wristband – 6 pm to 10 pm

By 12 pm: Dairy cattle received, must be in by noon – Dairy Cattle Barn

8 am: Senior Council Stand opens

8 am to 3 pm: Commercial Exhibits in Place

9:30 am: Walk/ Trot Horse Show and Cloverbud Horse Show – Carlos Marcello Arena

10 am: Market Auction Weigh-In

10 am: Llama and Alpaca Show (classes 1-42) – Show Arena

10 am to 12 pm: Common Garden Vegetables, Market Packages, Cut Flowers, Indoor Gardening, Fruits and Nuts, Plant Collection (Preserved and Scrapbook), Landscape Pictures and Plants, Experiments, Horticulture Methods judged – Trolley Building

11 am: Field crops judged – Trolley Building

1 pm to 3 pm: Group Exhibits, Food Preservation, Baked Goods and Visual Arts judged – Trolley Building

2:30 pm: Goat Fitting Contest – Knights Building

4 pm: Paid per car admission begins: Special Opening Day – $2 price

4 pm – 7 pm: 89.1 The Point Radio Remote – Fair Office Portico

Kaitlin Zwifka of Albion is pictured with Sundance this morning while doing her chores.

5:45 pm: Opening Ceremony, Presentation of Colors by Orleans – County Veterans – Flag Pole Garden

6 pm: Dog Show Grooming and Handling /Showmanship, Classes 1 -4 and C1 – Show Arena

6 pm: Leader’s Pie Stand Opens

6 pm: 2014 4-H Clothing Revue: Amaze Yourself in 4-H – Orleanshub.com Stage

6 pm: Orleans County 4-H Fair Bucket of Junk Contest Judging – Lartz Building

6:30 pm: 4-H Bake Sale. Blue ribbon baked goods available for a limited time. – Trolley Building

6:30 pm: Trolley Building Youth Exhibits Open – Trolley Building

6:30 – 8:30 pm: Master Gardener – Lawn of Education Center

7 pm: Talent Show – Orleanshub.com Stage

7 pm: Swine Show – Swine Pavilion

9 pm: $1000 Karaoke Contest – Orleanshub.com Stage

9 pm: 4-H Exhibitor Only Event – Show Arena

10 pm: Buildings Close

Photos by Sue Cook – Antonio Farruggia washes Lady for showing by wetting her down and then scrubbing her with a brush.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

KNOWLESVILLE – Judging at the 4-H Fair is already under way and most animals are already prepared for the week ahead.

Marilyn Munzert warms up Wild Rose Bizarre. Behind her Riley Seielstad rides Edna. Munzert is a 4-H leader for the Bits and Pieces Club.

Wild Rose Bizarre needed to be acclimated to the fair situation. Munzert explained that horses are fight-or-flight animals, but often choose flight. The movements of the people in the judging booth and the fairgrounds were startling the horse. After a little while, Wild Rose Bizarre was able to stand right next to the judging booth without getting upset.

“You can’t simulate a fair situation without going to the actual fair,” Munzert explained.

These baby rabbits belonging to 4-H Leader Barb Kurzowski cuddle up for a nap while their mother sneaks away for a bite to eat.

The white goats, Princess and Bella, stood and shouted to American Honey, the dark brown goat laying down, until she stood up and talked back to them. The goats were brought by Natalie Mrzywka of Nic-Nat Farms for the Busy Bees Club.

Emily Fearby’s hens got to be neighbors and shared a conversation with each other.

Penny gets a good brushing from Jamie Scheiber, a member of the Wrangler 4-H club. Penny and the other Wrangler llamas will participate in an obstacle course event, a pack class and general showing.

Leader Kristin Flint brought three kids with five llamas. The llamas belong to her and the kids in her club meet regularly to care for the animals and help train them. Flint says that she personally uses the llamas on hikes to hold packs. This helps offer additional training for the pack class event.

Flint also explained that spitting isn’t as common as people think. “Llamas spit at each other for dominance,” she said. Llamas can be taught that spitting at humans doesn’t work the same way.

Trevor Bentley brushes Tanto in the cow barn. Tanto is a male that will be used for showing all week and then is being sold in Saturday’s meat auction.

Owen Shaw holds his black mini rex rabbit after clipping its nails.

Photos by Tom Rivers – The Cornell Cooperative extension in Orleans County is considering a 70-by-120-foot building in this green space south of the Trolley Building.

Courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension

KNOWLESVILLE – Next week’s Orleans County 4-H Fair will give fair-goers a chance to look into what the future could hold for the fairgrounds.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County is in the early stages of investigating the feasibility of a 70-by-120 foot commercial kitchen/conference center for the fairgrounds. It would be south of the Trolley Building on what is now a grass field.

Extension wants to hear from the public if they would use the building, and if they see it as an asset for the fairgrounds. Some initial renderings of the building will be on display. The building would be bigger than the Trolley Building.

“We want to start the conversation,” said Jennifer Wagester, Extension executive director. “Is this something we want? Is this something we need?”

She sees the site as a draw for many events and conferences, and also as a business incubator for chefs, restaurants and food businesses that could rent the commercial kitchen.

The Trolley Building’s kitchen isn’t big enough to be used as a commercial kitchen, and the building doesn’t quite seat enough for many potential conferences and events, she said. That building also is often used for 4-H events, including rabbit shows.

“It’s a good space and the kids use it,” she said. “But we don’t want to mix it with food.”

The new building would also have room for several organizations to move out of cramped food booths. The Senior Council Stand, pie stand, French fry stand and milkshake booth all need upgrades. They also are short on storage space, requiring daily deliveries during the fair.

The new building would replace the need for this series of food booths that lack storage space and need upgrades.

The new building would have more space to store food, and the site could be used year-round, Wagester said.

She would like the site to be energy efficient. That could help secure grant funding from NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority).
The building would be low profile and modest, and would blend in with the neighboring Education Center, Wagester said.

The Extension doesn’t have bids or quotes for the 8,400-square-foot building. She and other Extension leaders will pursue those numbers soon.

The Extension board asked Wagester to look for projects that would bring more resources into the county, and also position the organization for the future. She sees many potential partnerships if the project goes forward. The commercial kitchen could be linked with GCC’s food processing program. Chefs and food businesses could partner with the local ag community, which would produce the food that would be prepared in the kitchen.

“This would reposition us in our place with nutrition and food science,” Wagester said. “In Orleans County we’re an agricultural economy. It would make sense to capitalize on what we have here because food is our biggest resource.”