Photo by Tom Rivers: The sun sets on Lake Ontario on Sunday at Hamlin Beach State Park.

 Orleans County is facing two 90-degree days, today and Tuesday, before the temperature dips to more comfortable levels.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo said it will be sunny with a high of 91 today followed by sunny and a high of 90 on Tuesday.

Then the highs are forecast to be 84 on Wednesday, 77 on Thursday, 78 on Friday and 80 on Saturday.

$139,852 more than doubles last year’s record of $64,128

Photos by Tom Rivers: Lane Miller, 9, of Lyndonville has the grand champion steer in the ring during Saturday’s Market Auction. Lane raised the 1,465-pound beef animal, one of 12 beef cattle in the auction, up from four last year. Todd Jantzi, auctioneer with Bontrager Real Estate & Auction Service in Batavia, gets the bids going up for Lane’s steer. Western New York Energy paid $7 per pound, well above the market price. Jantzi is owner and president of Bontrager and serves as auctioneer at four market auctions at county fairs.

KNOWLESVILLE – Saturday’s Market Auction to cap the Orleans County 4-H Fair was a record-breaker.

4-Hers sold animals, fiber and even cookies that brought in $139,852. That obliterated the previous record high set last year at $64,128. The auction typically was bringing in $20,000 to $28,000 until the recent jump.

There were many more 4-Hers they entered animals and their fiber creations for the auction, and those kids brought more energy and bidders to the event, committee members said.

The big crowd of budders was a relief to the 4-Hers and their parents. Some of the them were worried that so many more animals in the auction could lead to smaller prices. But the 4-Hers were able to recruit more bidders, and many of the mainstays in recent years were back with open wallets.

Carissa Klossner of Holley made this shawl out of 100 percent alpaca yarn. Matt Hughson of the Redtail Cattle Company paid $260 for it. The fiber products where introduced to the auction for the first time last year.

“I 100 percent support 4-H,” Hughson said. “Every 4-Her is important and they all deserve it.”

Zack Welker, one of the callers, maintained high energy during the 2 ½-hour auction. Here he signals the bids are going up for a pig by Jacob Forte, 18, of Hamlin. There were 27 pigs in the auction, up from 19 last year.

Hugh Gabalski, 18, of Byron leads the grand champion lamb in the ring. It was bought by Joe Sidonio for $570. Hugh said he was happy to see the high bids for the animals at the auction. He said in some years, especially the online auction during Covid in 2020, he lost money or barely broke even.

“In 2020, the prices were dirt cheap,” Gabalski said.

Hugh said he has used the profits to buy and raise other animals over the years, and has been able to save some of the money for college.

Natalie Miller, 11, of Lyndonville keeps her 1,300-pound steer steady in the show ring.

It was purchased by Jed Torrey of Torrey at $6.75 a pound. Torrey said Natalie visited Torrey Farms in Elba, asking Torrey’s to consider bidding on her steer. Torrey said the personal visit made a big difference.

“It’s good to support the kids because they really do work hard,” Torrey said.

Travis Walton, owner of Walton Manure Management based in Linwood, holds up his number after being the winning bidder, paying $13 per pound for a pig raised by Natalie Miller.

Walton does manure work for Chaffee Farms, where Natalie’s dad is a partner. Natalie met Walton at the farm and asked him to come to the market auction.

Walton was a 4-Her as a kid in Genesee County. Saturday was his first time at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

He said Natalie’s personal request to attend the fair made the difference in him going and spending over $3,000 for her pig.

“She reached out,” he said. “It’s hard to say no to a young kid.”

There were eight lots of rabbits up for bid, plus four lots of turkeys, and five lots of chickens.

Dana Watson of Watson Enterprises smiles after paying over $6,000 for a pig raised by Lane Miller, 9, of Lyndonville. Watson paid $24.50 per pound for the pig, the biggest bid of the night among the pigs in the auction.

Watson Enterprises has built buildings for Chaffee Farms in Barker, where Lane’s dad Corey Miller is a co-owner.

Ruth Kuipers, 15, of Byron has her pig in the arena while Andy Beach and Zack Welker call out the bids. The Market Auction culminates several months of work with the animals by 4-Hers.

Madeleine Farrell of Holley holds a sign for a pen of two chickens that were auctioned off for $250. Auctioneer Todd Jantzi is in back with Janie (Schutz) Ledbetter, left, and Nicole Mrzywka. Andy Beach, in front, served as one of the ring men to track bids from the crowd.

Jantzi said the hard work by kids over many months paid off. They need to do a good job raising the animals and making their products for the auction. But they also need salesmanship – as well as showmanship.

“It’s how the kids get out and knock on doors,” Jantzi said. “That’s what makes the difference.”

Susan Hanson, right, paid $150 for a loom knit hat made by 4-Her Ginny Schofield.

Lena Grillo, 13, of Albion had a blue-ribbon lamb that was the top seller in the auction, getting over $8 per pound.

Kate Bennett of Brockport had two pigs in the auction and both were purchased by her grandfather, Tony Piedimonte of Piedimonte Farms in Holley. The ring men eyeing the crowd for bids include Chris Flansburg in front, and Zack Welker and Andy Beach in back.

Isabel Nesbitt, 12, of Lyndonville leads her beef animal into the barn for the market auction.

Megan Hartway made a successful bid at $3.75 per pound for a 1,120-pound beef steer raised by Isabel Nesbitt of Lyndonville. Hartway bid for her husband Nate, who is a crop consultant with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Fancher.

Mrs. Hartway said her kids weighed in on which animal to buy at the auction. They liked Isabel’s steer, a white animal she named Marvin.

“We want to support 4-H, and our kids thought it was just the prettiest white cow,” Mrs. Hartway said.

Helen Schofield of Holley holds up a wreath she made with a festive fall theme. The wreath sold for $110 at the auction.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Elijah “The Bull” Starr pushes an 800-pound haybale through a course on Saturday night at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. He won the title despite not having a partner to help with the challenge. Jeremy Neal, the event chairman and judge, is in back.

KNOWLESVILLE – In the four years of the haybale rolling challenge at the Orleans County 4-H Fair, Elijah “The Bull” Starr has emerged as the crowd favorite.

The competition invites two-person teams to roll a haybale and push it end over end through an obstacle course. Starr, 35, has been one of the fastest at the event, despite not having a partner.

On Saturday, he won the competition – all by himself. Starr set a new personal record by completing the task in 1 minute, 6 seconds. The judge and event chairman, Jeremy Neal, assesses 5-second penalties if cones are knocked over and if teams go off course. Starr has one five-second penalty giving him a final time of 1:11. That bested the fastest teams that all qualified for the finals on Saturday night.

Starr runs a beef farm in Lyndonville. He is used to mowing heavy bales.

“This is how I feed my cows,” he said.

The competitors in the event also have to throw smaller 50-pound bales over a 6-foot-high beam at the beginning and end of the competition.

Starr also works at Tractor Supply. He said he has a growing reputation for his skills in the haybale rolling competition. The Orleans County 4-H Fair added the haybale rolling in 2021 after the grease pole was discontinued over objections from the fair’s insurance provider.

Fair officials acknowledge the haybale rolling doesn’t draw the huge crowds like the grease pole, but it does provide a fun way to cap off the day’s events at the fair.

The Phonie E’s – Ian Kingdollar, left, and Immanuel Cornell – compete in haybale rolling on Friday night at the fair. Both are 4-H members. They finished second out of seven and didn’t advance to the finals. They tried again at preliminaries on Saturday.

The team of “Kaitlin Squared” – Kaitlynn Basinait and Kaitlin Bennett – made a valiant effort to get the haybale around the course, and then toss the smaller bales over a beam. They got the big bale to the finish line on Friday night.

Team Frog came in first on Friday and advanced to the finals on Saturday. Seth McCracken and Nathanael Hemmerick finished in 1:24 – 1:09 with 15 seconds of violations.

The Double B’s – Becky and Brandon – won the preliminaries on Saturday to advance to the finals where they finished in 1:35, 1:30 plus a 5-second penalty. This team includes Elijah Starr’s brother, Brandon Skellon.

By Craig Lacy, member of Medina Historical Society

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 27

Carl Fischer starred as a left-handed pitcher in a professional career for two decades.

“Fischer Fans the Great Bambino.” So read the headlines of The Daily Journal on May 30th, 1931. The day before, 26-year-old Medina native Charlie “Carl” Fischer, relief pitching for the Washington Senators in the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, retired three New York Yankees in order, including striking out Babe Ruth and forcing a pop up by Lou Gehrig to save the 3-2 win for the Senators.  A 10-minute standing ovation followed by the Washington fans.

Back when baseball was still more of the national pastime and young boys followed their favorite teams and players while dreaming of making it in the Big League, one Medina boy succeeded.

Charlie began his baseball career playing for Medina High School and left school the spring of his senior year in 1925, forgoing his diploma for a chance to play major league baseball.  He signed with the Rochester Red Wings and was sent to Scranton, Pa. to play in the New York-Penn League helping his team to win the pennant in 1926. It was there that his manager Jack Eagon gave Charlie his nickname of  “Carl” for reason now lost to time but for whatever reason it stuck with him for the rest of his life. He would go on to play organized baseball for over 20 years.

Carl’s major league career spanned seven years from 1930-1937 where he racked up a record of 46 wins, 50 losses with 376 strikeouts in 822 innings while playing in 191 games for the Washington Senators, 1930-’32 and part of the 1937 season; St. Louis, 1932; Detroit Tigers, 1933-’35; Chicago White Sox, 1935-’36; and the Cleveland Indians, part of the 1937 season.

Getting to the big leagues is often a slow, grinding process of making your way through the farm clubs and for Carl it was no different. From Scranton, Carl spent the next three years with the Newark Bears, part of the Eastern Shore League entering spring training in Pensacola, Florida in 1927, as a 5’ 11’, 160 lb. strapping 21-year-old “Southpaw.”

He had speed, curves, hooks and wildness, plenty of wildness. In 1930, after spending time also in the PONY and International Leagues, he was called up to the Washington Senators, thus beginning his career in the majors.

It was in 1931, while with Washington, that Carl gained fame retiring both Ruth and Gehrig in the bottom of ninth with bases loaded to save the 3-2 win with Manager Walter Johnson telling the young pitcher as he took the mound, “Show ’em your real stuff, Charley.” The 1932 season saw Carl pitching for the St. Louis Americans and then on to Detroit in ’33.  While with Detroit in ’34 he pitched in the game that won them the pennant for the first time in 25 years and earned his share of World Series money.

His next brush with fame came on July 20, 1935, while pitching for the Chicago White Sox.  Carl held the Washington Senators hitless for 8 innings when the lead batter in the ninth belting a short hit over second base for a single. He then retired the next three batters in order.

He started the 1936 season with Kansas City but in June was sent down to play with the Buffalo Bisons. It was during his time in Buffalo that he was honored as the International League Pitcher of the Year

Like his major league career, Carl’s minor league time was spent with many farm teams across the country.  In his first full year in the International League playing with Baltimore and Toronto, Carl led the league with 196 strikeouts, winning 18 games. 1939-‘41, found Carl pitching for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He would go on to spend 5 years after the war with the Pacific Coast League pitching for Portland and Seattle while also spending time in Kansas City, St. Louis and Buffalo. While with Portland, Carl set a league record with four playoff victories.

This plaque in honor of Carl Fischer at Medina’s Veterans Memorial Park.

At an Elk’s benefit held in Medina honoring Carl in 1936, WGR radio announcer Roger Baker, during his speech recounting the 1936 Bison’s season stated, “I have broadcast many exciting games during my six years of experience as a radio announcer, but never, even in World’s Series games have I seen so many thrills rolled into one season of pitching as those furnished by Carl Fischer.”

While pitching for the Bisons in 1937, Buffalo Times sportswriter Francis Dunn wrote that “(He) has a fast ball that mows down batters and wears out catchers.”

1937 would be Carl’s last year in the major leagues splitting the season for both Washington and Cleveland.

Carl married the former Grace Reynolds from Middleport in 1929 and they made their home at 137 State Street in Medina. Upon retiring from baseball, Carl operated Fischer’s Newsroom in Albion until his death in 1963. While in Albion, baseball was never too far from his mind with displays of memorabilia decorating his business and always a willingness to offer advice and guidance to young ball players while being the founder and president of the Central Orleans Little League for over a decade where he supplied the Carl Fischer trophy to the pennant winner each season.

In September 1964, a year after Carl’s death of a heart attack, a bronze plaque was erected behind home plate at Medina’s Veterans Memorial Park to honor the legacy of Charles “Carl” Fischer.  On the plaque are memorialized Carl’s two big league achievements, his retiring of both Ruth and Gehrig and his one-hitter. Funds for the memorial were donated by baseball fans from Medina, Lyndonville and Albion. A fitting tribute to a local boy who made good.

Note from Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper: We welcome Craig Lacy as a guest columnist this week. An active member of the Medina Historical Society, Craig was inspired to write this article by the display of Fischer items at the Museum. The Museum is open to the public on the first Saturday of the summer months or by appointment, contact https://historicmedina.org/contact-us/.  This article is published courtesy of the Medina Historical  Society.

Photo by Natalie Baron: Royalty this year  at the Orleans County 4-H Fair are front row, left to right: Tommy Dresser, 10, Medina (Fair Prince Alternate); Caleb Fisher, 11, Albion (Fair Prince); and Sadie Pask, 11, Albion (Fair Princess). Back row: Immanuel Cornell, 15, Holley (Fair Duke Alternate); Jackson Fraiser, 12, Kent (Fair Duke); Sophia Albone, 14, Medina (Fair Duchess Alternate); Alyssa Murray, 15, Albion (Fair Duchess); Gary Donofrio, 16, Bergen (Fair King); Bailey Gonzalez, 17, Albion (Fair Queen Alternate); and Makenzie McGrath, 17, Medina (Fair Queen). Not pictured is Bailey Elliott, 11, Albion (Fair Princess Alternate). There is no King Alternate.

By Natalie Baron, Orleans Hub intern

KNOWLESVILLE—The royalty of the Orleans County Fair were crowned Saturday evening, concluding the Fair Awards ceremony.

Makenzie McGrath, 17, was named Fair Queen. She is grateful for a decade of experiences and learning in the 4-H program.

“I enjoyed it a lot!” she exclaimed. “I showed goats this year. I only did it a few times. It was fun! I participated in the Trolley Building and all sorts of activities.”

She expressed about being crowned Queen, “It was really surprising and exciting and I’m really grateful.”

Gary Donofrio, 16, Bergen was chosen as Fair King. He also won the grand master showman competition on Friday evening.

There are many reasons to become involved with the 4-H program. “4-H offers kids a variety of hands-on learning opportunities,” said Peggy Gabalski, one of the organizers for the event. “All the skills you’re learning, you’re gonna also be practicing and be able to apply. It also gives 4-Hers a variety of different ages to work with, peers who are the same age and peers who are younger. You learn working with adults and learning responsibility with a variety of tasks.”

“I think 4-H is still strong as a community youth organization,” said organizer Kayla Dengler, “and I think here in Orleans County, we continue to grow strong youth leaders and animal caretakers.”

The award announcers were the crowned king and queen from last year. They shared their journeys of how they became heavily involved in the county fair.

“I grew up doing horses,” explained Lea Donofrio of Bergen. “We got a bigger farm, expanded a bit. Now, I show swine. It was sort of a domino effect to do fair. We had a bunch of family friends who did it.”

Luke Gregoire shared, “I’m technically tied for youngest in my family. My siblings did 4-H. It was a natural process with animals. I started showing guinea pigs, maybe rabbits, then chickens.”

Photos and article courtesy of Kristina Gabalski

KNOWLESVILLE – The participants in the 2025 Orleans County 4-H Fair Small Animal Grand Master Competition which was held on Saturday include, from left: Bailey Gonzalez, age 17, of Albion, Dog Master Showman; Celes Paratore, 17, of Corfu,  Small Animal Reserve Master Showman and Poultry Master Showman; Evelyn Paratore, 13, of Corfu, Small Animal Grand Master Showman, Rabbit Master Showman; Haleigh Pollock, 17, of Waterport, Reserve Dog Showman; Monica Thomas, 14, of Albion, Mini Horse Reserve Showman; and Grace Goodrich, 16 of Medina, Mini Horse Master Showman.

The Small Animal Grand Master competition includes Dog, Rabbit, Poultry and Mini Horse. All master and reserve showman in those four species compete for the Small Animal Grand Master title.  Here, Evelyn Paratore shows a mini horse.  She went on to take the Small Animal Grand Master Showman title.

Monica Thomas shows a dog to judge Anne Moyer. Monica was the Mini Horse Reserve Showman.

Bailey Gonzalez shows a mini-horse to judge Nicole Dabney.  Bailey was the Master Dog Showman.

Celes Paratore shows a chicken to judge David Gerling. Celes took to Reserve Small Animal Master Showman title.  She was the Poultry Master Showman and Rabbit Reserve Master Showman.

Haleigh Pollock shows a dog to judge Anne Moyer. Haleigh was the Dog Reserve Master Showman.

Grace Goodrich shows a dog during the Small Animal Grand Master Competition.  She was the Mini Horse Master Showman.

Evelyn Paratore shows a rabbit to judge Sue Gerling.  Evelyn won Small Animal Grand Master Showman at the competition held Saturday.  Evelyn was Rabbit Master Showman and Poultry Reserve Showman.

Participants in the Small Animal Grand Master Competition provide advice and support to each other while they wait for scores to be tallied.  From left include Celes Paratore, Haleigh Pollock, Grace Goodrich and Monica Thomas.

Nicole Dabney, Mini Horse Judge for the Small Animal Grand Master Competition, provides feedback to participants as they wait for the winners to be announced.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Gary Donofrio holds the trophy after winning the grand master showman title on Friday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. He is congratulated by, from left: Henry Dresser, Isabel Nesbitt, Kyler Bennett and Ian Kingdollar.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fair held one of its most prestigious competitions on Friday, with the master showmen from several different breeds of animals all vying for the title of grand master showman.

When it was all over, after about 2 ½ hours, Gary Donofrio was the champion.

The competition features the master showman in nine different animals: horse Western, horse English, dairy goat, meat goat, sheep, swine, llama, dairy cattle and beef cattle.

Donofrio, 16, of Bergen qualified by winning the showman title for sheep. He also shows pigs and beef cattle.

He remembers watching the competition as a young 4-Her and aspiring to be in the competition. But in recent years he couldn’t quite win the showman title for beef or with pigs. This year he decided to add sheep showing to his repertoire, hoping it would increase his chance to get in the grand master event. That paid off for him on Friday.

“I like that it takes the best people at showing animals and puts everyone together,” Gary said after he won the title.

The participants had to show all of the different animals, and they couldn’t show their own.

Gary said he enjoys raising and training animals from soon after they are born. The animals imprint of the humans that first work with them. During the grand master event, Gary said his beef animal seemed confused that it wasn’t Gary leading it in the show ring.

Gary and his family live in Bergen in Genesee County. They have been active in the Orleans County 4-H program, where they said they feel welcome and many of the participants strive for excellence, pushing each other to be their best.

Donofrio will be a senior at Byron-Bergen this year. He is hoping to get into the HVAC business, while also continuing to work with animals.

He was praised by Nick Kron, one of the grand master judges, for his versatility and intensity through the competition on a hot summer day.

“He was the most consistent,” Kron said. “He maintained good eye contact. He was the most alert and had a good feel for showing each species.”

Bree Clark, judge for horses and llamas, keeps an eye on the grand master showmen participants as they lead llamas and alpacas. From left in back include Gary Donofrio, Kyler Bennett and Allison Merle.

Ella Christ of Kendall holds an alpaca’s head up high. Behind her is Ian Kingdollar of Lyndonville.

Christ was the reserve grand master showman. She qualified after winning the Western horse showmanship. Kingdollar qualified by winning the meat goat competition.

Kyler Bennett, 12, of Barre shows a horse during the opening event of the grand master showmen competition. Kyler qualified for the grand master by winning the dairy cow showmanship.

Allison Merle, 18, of Holley stoops to show a sheep. The showmen had to lead this animal with their bare hands and no halter. Allison qualified by winning the llama showmanship.

Isabel Nesbitt, 12, of Lyndonville is asked a question by judge Nick Kron. Isabel won the pig showmanship competition to qualify for the grand master. She was among several younger 4-Hers in the grand master event. Kyler Bennett is at left.

Amelia Paratore, 15, of Corfu leads a llama in front of judge Bree Clark. Amelia qualified by winning the meat goat showmanship.

Henry Dresser, 11, of Medina keeps his eyes on the judge while trying to get a sheep set up in the show arena. Henry won the beef cow showmanship.

Emily Smith-Flatley, 12, of Medina and Ian Kingdollar, 16, of Lyndonville get their sheep in position during the grand master showmen event. Emily qualified by winning the English horses competition while Ian was the top showman for dairy goats.

Ian said showing all the different animals was a great experience.

“You get to meet the other showmen who are the top of their class,” he said.

Showing a beef cow, the biggest of the all the livestock in the event, was the toughest.

“They are very heavy and head strong,” Kingdollar said.

Donofrio, the grand master champ, said sheep and goats are taxing on the body because the 4-Hers often are stooped over to show them.

The cows and llamas take a toll on the shoulders, Donofrio said.

The master showmen try to get their pigs under control. From left include Ian Kingdollar, Henry Dresser, Allison Merle, Kyler Bennett, Gary Donofrio, Ella Christ and Emily Smith-Flatley.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Fireworks added to the colorful scene at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on Friday.

Final day of the fair with $5 admission, free for kids 6 & under

All day – Main Event Amusements $35 unlimited ride wristband with rides open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with scheduled closure 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Midway

9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – 4-H Senior Council stand breakfast hours at 4-H Senior Council stand

8 a.m. – Open class llama and alpaca show at Livestock show arena

9 a.m.  – 4-H Gymkhana horse show at Carlos Marcello arena

Ellie Keem, 11, of Strykersville is inside a giant bubble at the Amazing Bubble Factory. Matias Martinez of the Bubble Factory creates the big bubble. Matias performs at the Bubble Factory with his wife Jamie and their son, Charlie.

10 a.m. – Small animal grandmaster showmanship competition at Knights building

10 a.m. – Paid public admission begins, buildings open to the public midway opens at Taylor Hill Road parking lots

10 a.m. – Ve testing for ham radio at Education Center

10:30 a.m. – 4-H cat show at Curtis classroom in Education Center

11 a.m. – Senior Council 4-H food booth hamburgers, hots, and cold drinks. Proceeds support teen award trips and programs. 4-H Senior Council stand

It was busy at the grill Friday evening at the 4-H Senior Council stand. About 15 firefighters volunteered to help 4-Hers in the stand. Pictured in front from left include Nick Boyle from East Shelby Fire Company and 4-Her Sadie Gregoire. In back at grill from left include Fred Piano and Rob Tolman of the Albion Fire Department, with Luke Gregoire.

11 a.m. – “Iron Chef” 4-H youth cooking contest starts at Orleans Hub stage

11 a.m. – Dairy decathlon at Orleans Hub stage

12 p.m. – “Iron Chef” 4-h youth contest judging at Orleans hub stage

12 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Blacksmith demo at Beadle Building

2 to 10 p.m. – Agrigolf. Miniature golf with an agriculture twist. Trolley building lawn

4 p.m. – 4-H leaders’ homemade pie stand opens at Davis Building

These kids ride the Flying Dragon at the Midway.

4 p.m. – Presentation of 4-H herdsmanship and citizenship awards and crowning of the fair royalty  at Livestock show arena

4 p.m. – K9s in Flight: free entertainment! Knight’s building lawn

4:30 p.m. – Free entertainment: the Amazing Bubble Factory at Cattle barn lawn

5 to 6 p.m. – Midway closed for dinner break at Midway

5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Cruisin’ in Medina @ the Fair. Classic and show car cruise in. Enter off Route 31. Education Center parking lot

6 p.m. – K9s in Flight: free entertainment! Knight’s building lawn

6:30 p.m. – Free entertainment: the Amazing Bubble Factory at Cattle barn lawn

6:30 p.m. – Small fry pedal tractor pull – registration ends 15 minutes before event. JCH of Buffalo tent

This group from Lyndonville tossed ping pong balls to try to win a gold fish. From left include Ethan Bowie, Kennedy Clark and Isabella Carrasquillo. They won three gold fish.

6:30 p.m. – Market auction preview and reception at Livestock show arena

6:30 p.m. – Bossy bingo at Livestock show arena

7 to 10 p.m. – Live music with Vinyl Recovery at Orleans Hub stage

7 p.m.  – Orleans County 4-H Market Auction at Livestock show arena

8 p.m. – K9s in Flight: free entertainment! Knight’s building lawn

8 p.m. – Feuding Farmers at JCH of Buffalo food court

8:30 p.m. – Free entertainment: the Amazing Bubble Factory at Cattle barn lawn

10 p.m. – Hay bale rolling contest – teams of 1-2 ages 16 and up. Register at the fair office by 9:20 p.m. Hay bale rolling course (Immediately following qualifier, Hay bale rolling contest winners-only championship round. Hay bale rolling course)

10 p.m. – Buildings close – goodnight fair

A rider enjoys the Flying Elephants at the fair on Friday.

Photos by Tom Rivers

BATAVIA – The Batavia Concert Band and Cadet Band joined for a performance on Wednesday evening at Centennial Park in Batavia.

The top photo shows Albion student Charles Warren, left, in the Cadet Band performing with the saxophone next to Renee Hungerford of the Batavia Concert Band. Hungerford is executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. She also was a featured soloist on the alto saxophone.

The Batavia Concert Band is celebrating its 101^st season this year. The band has about 90 members.

Lindsay Almeter, an Albion music teacher, directs the Cadet Band which has grown to 60 members with most of the students from Genesee and Orleans counties.

The Cadet Band played “High Hopes,” “King of Pride Rock” and closed with “The Greatest Showman.”

Neveah Barnes of Albion plays the clarinet in a joint number with members of the Batavia Concert Band.

Carter Krull, center, of Albion plays the saxophone in the Cadet Band.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Pictured from left shows the top four finishers in the apple pie baking contest at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

The top four from left include Marian Fry in first, April Daniels in second, Becky Harris in third, and Amanda Mahle in fourth. Cherrie Ashbery in fifth isn’t in the photo.

The top pies received $200 for first, $100 for second, $75 for third, $50 for fourth and $25 for fifth. Honorable mentions in the kids’ division were for $10 each. (Valent sponsored the prize money.)

The pie-baking contest is one of several new competitions at this year’s fair. The judging was on Thursday and all 10 spots in both the adult and youth divisions were quickly claimed. (Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers was one of the four judges.)

Marian Fry said she has long been well regarded for her apple pies since she was in junior high. She mixed two varieties of apples, Granny Smith and Empire, for her pie. It not only tasted very good, but she had four cutouts in the top of the crust that resembled apples. Fry said the cutouts give her pies an extra-special look. When the Buffalo Bills are playing, she makes cutouts of the Bills logo on top of the pies.

The top five in the youth division include: 1. Addlynne Fox; 2. Fiona Oakes; 3. Kiera Zuch; 4. Olivia Mathes; and 5. Bailey Elliott.

Honorable mentions went to Ellie Oliver, Lily Hungerford, Kenslee Smoak, Morgenn Smoak and Kate Bennett.

Pictured from left in the youth division include Ellie Oliver with honorable mention, Kiera Zuch in third, Addlynne Fox in first, Fiona Oakes in second, and Bailey Elliott in fifth.