Kenton County Fair
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Contact
Pageants a crowd favorite . . . . . . . . . . .3
The Kenton County Fair program is published yearly by the Specialty Publications Department of The Community Press/The Community Recorder.
Tractor & Semi-truck Pull a must-see . .4
Barn yard night a hoot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Questions and comments can be sent to Editor Melissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/394 Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail mhayden@communitypress.com. Or call 513-591-6166.
Horse show popular fair attraction . . . .9
For advertising call 578-5501.
Enhance your fair experience . . . . . . . . .6
4-H youth prepare animals for livestock show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Children’s Pet Parade fun for all . . . . 12
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July 20-25, 2009
Pageants a crowd favorite at fair By Tonya Borgatti Contributor The Kenton County Fair will continue its tradition of holding pageants in several age categories this year. The pageants include the Miss Kenton County, Miss Teen Kenton County, Miss Pre-Teen, Little Miss/Master, and the Baby Show. Sindy Rodrigues has been directing the pageants for eight years and is happy to see this staple of the fair continue year after year. “It’s an important tradition that has gone on for years and years - we have people come watch from all areas of Kenton County,” says Rodriguez. The pageants are a forum for girls to display interviewing skills, poise, appearance and presentation. “It isn’t just about beauty,” says Rodriguez. “It’s about character and well-being of the girls.” Yvonene Burkart has been assisting with the pageants for three years and feels that the pageant is a great stepping stone for girls who want to participate in pageants on a
For more information and a schedule of events visit
www.kentoncountyfair.com/09/
state level. “It gives girls an opportunity to participate without a high cost factor, and some will go onto state level.” Registration for Miss Kenton County and Miss Teen Kenton County will be on Sunday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. Both pageants will be held the following evening at the fair where the girls will go through an interview with judges. “We have great judges lined up who are involved in the community,” says Burkart. Miss Pre-Teen registration will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening with the pageant following at 7:30 p.m and Little Miss/Master will be held on Wednesday night with registration at 6:30 p.m.
and the event held at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the popular baby shows will be held throughout the day. Children should be registered one hour prior to their age category showtimes, which can be found at the fair’s Web site. No costumes or makeup are permitted on children participating in the Baby Show. “You wouldn’t believe how many babies come through - parents are proud of their children,” says Burkart. For more information about the Kenton County Fair pageants and the Baby Show times, visit www.kentoncountyfair.co m/09/.
Kenton County Fair
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Tractor, Semi-truck Pull, a must see at the fair of 300 feet. Some make it, some don’t, and that is the game. “People come to watch, There are several mustto see who will win,” says see events at the Kenton Gary Spegal, co-chair for County Fair this year, and the event. “I have been one of them is the annual Tractor and Semi-truck Pull, coming to the pull at the county fair since I was lithappening on both Friday tle and my dad brought and Saturday at 7 p.m. me. It’s fun, and exciting, For those who have and we have food, since lived in the city all their most people like to eat at lives, a tractor pull is spectator events. It is a when a specially family event, and it draws equipped tractor pulls a a nice mix of men, women sled to which an increasand children.” ing amount of weight is The tractor pull has added for the goal length By Patricia A. Scheyer Contributor
been held every year since the beginning of the fair, but the semi-truck pull was added about five years ago. While the tractors have to be weighed so that a weight class can be determined, the semis are not weighed. Also, the tractors might have started out as a working farm vehicle, but tractor pulling events are so popular now that most competitors
have one tractor that is dedicated only to pulling events, with high performance parts. The semis are working vehicles. “These are sanctioned events, and we have clubs that participate,” explains Spegal. “We have four
classes on Friday night, and five on Saturday night, and while we will have diesel trucks both nights, the semis will only be there on Saturday night. We draw a crowd of about 1,000 to 1,500 each night.” Cap Kiser, who cochairs the event, enjoys it, too. “Everbody has their own taste in events,“ he says. “But we put on a good show.”
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Kenton County Fair
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July 20-25, 2009
For pure excitement, nothing beats the county fair – an annual summertime tradition jam-packed with food, fun, family and friends. It’s definitely an enjoyable experience, but with just a little pre-planning and some skillful organizing, you can take it from run-of-the-mill ordinary to absolutely awesome! Here, the 15 top things to bring along:
Appetite Sure, the regulars will be there – hot dogs, curly fries, popcorn. But if you listen real hard, you’ll hear your name being called by the homemade pies, cakes and cookies peeking out from all those exhibit booths. Do you think those gals win blue ribbons for nothing?
Binoculars There’s a great country band playing on stage, but you know the rule, right? If you’re even one inch less than 6 feet tall, you must stand behind a woman with the beehive hairdo or the dad with a kid on his shoulders.
Camera Kodak moments and county fairs are made for each other – from your little one’s first spin around the carousel to your husband’s glee at winning that giant teddy bear.
Clothing layers The days are real scorchers, but the nights can be cool. Unfortunately, birthday suits aren’t allowed, so plan accordingly.
Comfy shoes Thought you’d impress the boyfriend with that strappy pair of new sandals? Oh, you funny girl.
Fanny pack It’s definitely not a high-fashion statement, but who cares? When you’re chasing your four-year-old, while juggling a tired toddler, two blankies and a couple of sippy cups, you’ll be glad you know exactly where your car keys are.
Hand sanitizer It’s a dirty world, people. Think about that.
Money, money and more money Enough said.
Schedule You drove 50 miles especially for the country music show at 8 p.m. Too bad it started at 6.
Sense of humor There are 25,000 folks drag racing you for that last parking spot near the front entrance. Check your irritability and bad mood at the gate.
Snacks It’s a well-known mathematical equation: Kids + fairs = hunger. So, unless you actually ENJOY concession-stand lines in 100-degree heat, bring along some small bags of easy-to-eat treats for the little ones.
Stadium seat cushion You’re with your husband and two sons. Those tractor pulls and Monster truck races can go on forever. Do you really want to spend all night on that hard, wooden bleacher? Didn’t think so.
Sunglasses Movie-star glamour aside, these accessories are actually good for your health. Plus, Miss LaRue, the Fortune-Telling Gypsy, will appreciate your air of mystery.
Sunscreen Remember the song, “Burn, Baby, Burn?”
Water Close your eyes and imagine being lost in the desert for a week. Pretty thirsty, huh? There are probably just as many water fountains out in that country field, pal.
Kenton County Fair
Barnyard Night a hoot By Patricia A. Scheyer Contributor
from rooting under and escaping. We have lost a few pigs temporarily, but no one has ever gotten How many times in a lifetime is there a chance to hurt.” Besides getting down chase and catch a greased on the level of pigs, there pig? The Kenton County are other contests for Fair will provide that Barnyard night that folks chance for anyone brave think are hilarious. Teams enough to embarrass themselves on Friday, July of teens compete to drive metal fence posts, carry 5 24, beginning at 6 p.m. gallon buckets of water, There are two age catetote bales of hay, shell ears gories, starting at age 3. “We provide little pigs of corn, and milk a mechanical cow into a pop for the little children,” bottle to see who wins. says Art Darnell, who Children bring stick organized the night for about ten years. “In the 18 horses to compete in races, and over category, held on or dress them up for a costume contest, and there is Monday night, you get a chicken rodeo, where some pretty good-sized children double up to shoo hogs. We grease them up chickens from start to finwith livestock soap, and ish line, trying to keep then station volunteers them in the proper lane around the orange snow without touching them. fence to keep the pigs
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“The night ends up with the pedal pull, where children ride toy tractors and a sled while increasing weight is added, just like the big people’s pull,” says Larry Mains of Independence, who is organizing the event this year. “There is a nominal fee for each event which goes toward prize money, but that doesn’t deter people. We start signing people up about 5 p.m. Some of the events are pretty funny, so you should come and watch the fun.”
July 20-25, 2009
Horse show popular fair attraction By Patricia A. Scheyer Contributor Some of the biggest events at the Kenton County Fair are the horse shows. There are four separate nights of shows featuring horses and riders Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and each one specializes in a different range of requirements. Tina Snelling is in charge of the Saturday night show, because some of her own horses are being shown on the other nights. “There are 26 classes of horse events on Saturday night, and it all starts at 6 p.m.,” she explains. “We always draw a good crowd. People who love horses want to see horses.” Tuesday night is youth night. Thursday night is open classes, and Friday night consists of contests like barrel racing. “Saturday night is the
culmination of all the other nights,” says Snelling, who is also the president of the fair board. “Winners of the contests receive prize money, ribbons and trophies.” Snelling thinks the horse shows are so popular because of the beauty of the animals, and the versatility of the contests. “The horses are at the top of their form for these shows,” says Snelling, “They are washed and groomed, and the love and care we put into them shows through.” Rhonda McCardle, who is in charge of the horse shows on the three
other nights, also knows how much time is involved. “We always suggest that you train your horse at least five times a week,” said McCardle. “My four kids started riding as early as two years old, and they learned to take care of their horses and train them. It is good for them to learn the responsibility.” She says horses who perform in the horse shows train all year round. “You will come out of the contest with what you put in,” she says. “If you truly want to compete, you put your life into it.”
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July 20-25, 2009
4-H youth prepare animals for livestock show “It takes a significant amount of time and practice in working with animals to present them optimally. They are responsible for the daily care, feeding, watering, health and well-being of their animal.” -Diane Kelly 4-H director of the Kenton County Cooperative Extension
By Tonya Borgatti Contributor After a year of preparation and hard work, several Kenton County area youth will be participating in the Livestock Show at the Kenton County Fair. These youth are members of the Kenton County Cooperative Extension 4H Club and have learned many valuable lessons through this livestock program. The youth are required to participate in six hours of training and raising livestock to prepare them for the program. Topics studied include feeding and care, animal husbandry, selecting a quality animal, animal training and veterinarian care. “It takes a significant amount of time and practice in working with animals to present them optimally”, says Diane Kelly, 4-H director of the Kenton County Cooperative Extension. “They are responsible for the daily care, feeding, watering, health and well-being of their animal.” Dustin Schmiade, 13, will be participating in the livestock event at the county fair and is
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looking forward to competing with his steer and hog. “It takes a lot of responsibility to go out and work with the animals. You’ve got to be willing to do whatever it takes to get the animal ready for the fair.” Dustin’s mother Roxanne Schmiade is proud of her son and
all of his hard work and is also grateful for the 4-H program. “It’s a good road for him to go down and he has met a lot of good friends. It has definitely taught him to be a good worker.” The entire family looks forward to watching Dustin compete for his third time this year.
“He has been working with the animals for several months and now this is his time to shine,” says Roxanne. Dustin’s cousin Kaylynn Jackson, 14, has also participated in the show in the last two years and looks forward to showing her steer this year. “The first year it was sad to sell my steer because I made it a pet, but last year and this year I’ve been setting myself up to sell my steer.” When asked if he is ever sad to have to sell his animals at the fair’s livestock show Dustin replied with a smile and chuckled, “Sometimes - but when you’re working with them and they are a pain, it’s not so bad.”
Kenton County Fair
Children’s Pet Parade fun for all By Patricia A, Scheyer Contributor
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Kenton County children ages 11 and under should get their pets ready for the annual Pet Parade at the Kenton County Fair. Held on Saturday, July 25, the registration for the parade starts at 2 p.m. and the actual event starts at 3 p.m. “We usually get about 20 to 30 children and their pets,” says Kara Adkins, who has spearheaded the event for the past seven years. “The only time we have to turn someone away is when they have a dog or a cat, but they don’t have proof of a rabies vaccine, which is necessary.” Contestants don’t walk from point A to point B, like in an actual parade, but instead each child takes their pet in front of judges who ask the child questions about their pet. “The judges ask questions that they think the child can answer, like what its name is, or how do they take care of the pet,” explains Adkins. “The pet parade was created because a child has to be 9 years old to show an animal at the county fair. Many of the younger siblings felt left out, so this event is a solution. And even though all the children receive a ribbon for participation, to get a winning ribbon they have to be responsible enough to know how to take care of their pet.” The categories for the parade are puppies, small dogs, large dogs, kittens, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodents, other pets, tricks and costumes.
Jessy Zimmer, of Edgewood, shows her aunt’s dog Jango.
Adkins says that over the years she has seen some really cute costumes, as well as tricks, and some children enter more than one pet. “One year we had a child dress like Colonel Sanders, and inside a bucket she carried her pet chicken,” she says. “Another time a child dressed like Crocodile Dundee, and his weiner dog was dressed like a crocodile. I think everyone has a good time with this.” Jennifer Zimmer of Edgewood helped her daughter Jessy enter the
parade last year in the categories of puppy, small dog, costume, animal tricks, and rabbit. “Jessy was dressed like a hula girl, and two dogs were the big Kahunas, for the costume contest,” says Zimmer. “She placed in several categories, and I think she loved it.” Jessy, who is now five is competing again this year. “I liked showing Jango (her aunt’s puppy) in his first show ever,” Jessy says. “I really liked dressing up, and riding my bike with my dog Nougat.”