Mp082014fair

The Great Geauga County Fair Middlefield Post Aug. 20, 2014

the great geauga county fair

2014 Junior Fair King Court Berkley Chadwick Berkley Chadwick is the son of Michelle and Ken Chadwick of Chagrin Falls. Berkley has been very actively involved in Junior Fair for nine years. Berkley has been a member of the Totally Dogs 4-H Club and the County Coyotes Shooting Sport Club, earning numerous awards at the county and state level. He has also been a Geauga County 4-H Camp counselor and is a member of the Junior Leaders 4-H Club. Berkley has been a member of the Junior Fairboard for four years where he has served as the superintendent for the horse shows. In his free time Berkley is an avid photographer, photographing everything from real estate to special events. Berkley is also involved in the Student Impact group at Parkside Church.

Kevin Borsi

Josh Loveland Josh Loveland is the son of Rick and Maria Loveland of Montville. Josh is a recent graduate of Ledgemont High School where he held the positions of class president, student council president, Relay for Life captain, Project Love president, talent show host, and Teen Institute member. He also played baseball, football and basketball.

He is a member of the United Way Youth Fund Distribution Committee, Leadership Geauga, and is a counselor at Camp Sue Osborn. Josh has been active in Junior Fair for 11 years. He has been a member and officer of Little Porkers 4-H club and is also a member of Junior Leader’s 4-H Club and the Junior Fairboard. Josh attends Akron University where he is working towards a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

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Douglas Naylor III Douglas Naylor III is the son of Douglas and Ellen Naylor of Novelty. Douglas graduated high school in June and has been taking PSEO classes in preparation for his college education. During high school he played AYSO soccer and basketball for the Geauga Grizzlies in the Lake Effect League and served as a delegate to Buckeye Boy’s State. Douglas worked at Case Western Reserve University in the Macromolecular Science and Engineering department as a high school lab assistant, presenting numerous research poster presentations.

Douglas earned his Eagle Scout Award in 2013 and continues to stay active in his Boy Scout Troop 504 as an assistant scout master. He is also a member of Parkside Church and is active in men’s Bible study and a leader for the children’s Bible study program. Douglas is a four-year member of the Pygmy Connection 4-H Club where he shows pygmy goats and market lambs.

Through 4-H he has grown in his love and knowledge of animals and enjoys being able to share that at the fair.

Max Wolf Max Wolf is the son of Jennifer and Michael Wolf of Chardon where they live with their four goats, 40 chickens, two hogs, five sheep and eight turkeys. As a homeschooled junior, Max also plays football and runs track with the Chardon Hilltoppers. Max volunteers with the Feed My Sheep program in Geauga County and donates his time at the St. Helen’s Fish Fry in the spring. Max has been a member and officer in Feathers and Fleece and Flockmasters 4-H Club. Max is also a two-year member of Junior Fairboard.

Travis Hamilton

Josh Loveland

Max Wolf

the great geauga county fair

2014 Junior Fair Queen Court

Kelli Briggs

Danielle Sweet

Graycen Wood

Kelli Briggs Kelli Briggs is the daughter of Rick and Lisa Briggs of Troy Township. Kelli is a senior at Berkshire High School where she is a majorette and is also a member of the Care Team, Interact Club, AC4P, and was a sixth-grade camp counselor. Kelli has also attended the HOBY Leadership seminar, participated in Leadership Geauga receiving the United States Achievement Academy National Leadership Award, and serves on the United Way YFDC Board.

Her 4-H and Junior Fair activities include being a member of Auburn Swine, Breeders and Feeders, Sew Sew Sweet, and Junior Leader’s 4-H Clubs, where she has held numerous officer positions. Kelli also serves on the Style Review Fashion Board, is a Geauga County Camp Counselor and is a member of Junior Fair board.

Danielle Sweet Danielle Sweet is the daughter of Cathy and Randy Sweet of Huntsburg. As a recent graduate of Cardinal High School, Danielle was a member of Marching Band, Flag line, Basketball Cheerleading, Choir, and Musical Crew. Danielle has volunteered for the Geauga County Public Library’s summer reading program and is currently working with the village of Burton through the Geauga Growth Partnership Internship Program. Danielle has been a member of 4-H for 12 years with the Bunny Bunch, Geauga Junior Genealogist and Memory Keepers, and Geauga County Coyote Shooting Sports 4-H Clubs. She is also a member of the Junior Fairboard. Last summer Danielle volunteered as a camp counselor for the State of Maryland’s “Operation: Military Kids” 4-H Camp. Danielle is enrolled at Lakeland Community College where she plans to earn an associate’s degree before going to Ohio State University.

Graycen Wood Graycen Wood is the daughter of Julia and Alan Wood of Auburn Township. Graycen is a senior at Kenston High School, where she maintains a 4.2 GPA while participating in Dance Team, Principal’s Leadership Council, National Honor Society and Spanish Club.

She also coaches the Sparklette Dance Team. Graycen has been involved in 4-H for seven years as a member of Giggles ‘n Stitches and the Pygmy Connection 4-H Clubs. She is currently the president of the Geauga County Youth Fashion Board as well as a member of the Junior Fairboard.

After high school, Graycen plans to attend college to study English and continue her education into law school.

Kelsey Zimperman Kelsey Zimperman is the daughter of Doug and Krista Zimperman of Newbury. Kelsey is a graduate of Newbury High School, where she was an officer in Student Council and National Honor Society. Kelsey currently attends Lake Erie College where she is pursuing a degree in biology. Kelsey has been a member of 4-H for 13 years showing steers and hogs with Breeders and Feeders 4-H Club. Currently Kelsey is president of Junior Leaders, and vice president of Junior Fairboard where she coordinates the Junior Fairboard Auxiliary members. In her spare time, Kelsey is a volunteer firefighter with the Newbury Volunteer Fire Department.

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more new than long standing members, Robert Phillips has been Geauga’s which means lots of fresh ideas and energy.

Fair Board director since last November, Phillips points out that sometimes it’s hard putting the responsibility of running The when people on the Board don’t want Great Geauga County Fair in his hands. anything to change, but there are now The position of president can be held for members from different generations, which three years only and his job is to assign helps to generate needed change and send fair committees like entertainment, things in novel and exciting directions. grounds, grounds rental, campground It costs about $1,100,000 to run the and sponsorship. Phillips was one of 21 Geauga County Fair, which spends $120,000 directors of the fair for six years; there is one on entertainment yearly. Much of the director from each township. He got the entertainment is offered free to the public position by being elected as president by so it does not generate funds and actually his fellow directors. He grew up in Jefferson usually loses money. Whenever possible, and has lived in Geauga County for 41 they like to get local acts like the Chardon years. His background makes him perfect Polka Band, which will play the Friday of the for the job. He worked as Geauga County fair because Friday is senior and veteran’s engineer for 24 years as a fiduciary deputy day and the polka band is popular with engineer. He had worked at A.J. Ronyak Inc. them. for 10 years as general manager, which was The Fair’s goal each year is to break great experience for being county engineer. even financially. There is a lot of necessary Since he ran operations for the company, he maintenance understands for the 68 how contracts buildings, work and 150 acres of the art of grounds and coordinating many acres of p e o p l e , fe n c i n g a n d weather, driveways. equipment One big issue and supplies. is to maintain He first got buildings and involved with that takes the fair when up a lot of Ronyak was money. They across the are actively street from the pursuing fairgrounds getting metal by working on roofs on all sponsorships the buildings. a n d t h e Many have livestock sale. a s p h a l t At that time, shingle roofs Howard Bates that don’t from Arms last and there Trucking asked him if he was Robert Phillips, president of The Great Geauga County Fair are hopes to reside wooden interested in Board. b u i l d i n g s serving and he with metal or vinyl siding. Two buildings are got in as a director when Dick Moss passed on the historical register: the Domestic Arts away. His family was and still are active fair and Flower buildings. The Flower building’s goers. entire floor was recently replaced. Domestic In the administrative structure of Arts is a four-legged building that had fair, a secretary and treasurer are hired. to be pulled back together because of a The president and vice president were leak. This is one example of where Phillips’ elected. Three directors and two employees engineering experience comes in handy. compose the Executive Committee which He can see what should be done and give the other committees (21 in all) who should do it, such as fixing the back direction. There are 19 auxiliary members road by Gate 8 and the small grandstand, for each director who all have an assigned and upgrading the bathrooms. Money position during the fair. It falls on the sometimes comes from their community directors to find additional volunteers to development fund for such projects. Other cover everything that needs to be done. sources of income are fair admissions, For example, the director in charge of beef revenue from the bi-annual flea markets, barn is now Doug Logan so he has to find rents from the racehorse and riding barns, sufficient volunteers to attend to everything and occasional rental of grounds. The fair that will need to be done to keep the barn buildings are actually mortgaged and the and animals in good order. About 150 school building was recently paid off. The volunteers and 150 paid employees work Sunshine Shop of Job and Family Services is for the Geauga County Fair each year. All given free space year round, except during of the 4-H advisors for the 18 clubs are the fair, so they can offer affordable gently volunteers. These advisors and many 4-H used clothing and household items to the parents are on the livestock sale committee, community. and it’s the 4-H parents especially who do a The Junior Fair Committee meets tremendous amount of work on a voluntary regularly with the Board. On the top of basis. Phillips stresses that the 4-H kids need Phillips’ list is 4-H Junior Fair operations. to realize that part of their job is to market Ninety percent of fair animals are 4-H their club and the auctions. The 4-H kids projects; others are open classes like the help around the fairgrounds with painting horses and dairy cattle. The directors and other maintenance.

The Fair Board of Directors now has Continued on page 5

the great geauga county fair

Running a Great Fair

Continued from page 4 impact 4-H greatly by having a Junior Fair Coordinator, who is paid a very small stipend. The Livestock Sale Committee is independent and takes and passes out the money made from 4-H sales.

“It has been an honor to be the advisor for the Junior Fair Livestock Sale Ambassadors Program,” said Todd Montazzoli, head of the Livestock Sale promotional effort. “Now in our second year, we have a great group of over 30 kids from a variety of clubs. They have become true ‘ambassadors’ in our community, whose mission is to attract new buyers to the sale.

This year, they made presentations to over 16 civic groups and exposed hundreds of potential buyers to the great things that 4-H and Junior Fair represents. This benefits everyone - the Ambassadors themselves, JuniorFair, 4-H and The Great Geauga County Fair.”

The Fair office is open every Wednesday year round because of paperwork, lining up contracts for entertainment, taking concession deposits and other duties. The board members attend a fair managers convention in Columbus the first week of January where 92 reps from Ohio fairs meet. There are a few independent fairs in the state and not all 88 counties have fairs.

Possible topics addressed at the convention are how to maintain grounds and dealing with security, safety and other fair issues.

Phillips feels Geauga is in top 10 percent of how well fairs are managed and at the higher end as far as size.

The Great Geauga County Fair’s 200-year anniversary will be in 2022 and planning is already in progress. Money

is being set aside each year to build up the pot for this extravaganza. It will take place on the actual fair dates and is certainly something to look forward to.

“We put on good show here and we draw people,” Phillips pointed out. He hopes the community recognizes the hard work that goes into producing something like this.

About 200,000 people attend the fiveday fair each year to see the 13,000 exhibits.

On Sunday, Band O Rama draws the biggest crowd since entire families turn out to see their kids perform. About 35,000 attend on senior and veteran Friday. Phillips stated that Friday used to be tough for a paid act, but Chris Higbee changed all that and will be at the fair for a third time this year.

Shotgun Red, a Hee Haw celebrity, will also entertain Friday with singing and comedy.

Shotgun Red will have one show at noon and another Friday night at 6 p.m. in the small grandstand. Last year Higbee had a tough time when his bus broke down and he came in with a pickup truck and only one trailer. They got a replacement belt to fix the bus, but it was the wrong one so they had to work with only the equipment from one trailer. But his show went on without a hitch and he exhibited his usual great energy for almost two hours. “If he likes the crowd, he keeps going and doesn’t stop,” Phillips said with a chuckle. Geauga likes Higbee so much they enlarged the stage for him since he has more equipment and lights than ever before. During your 2014 Fair visits, be sure to catch Chris Higbee, Friday Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. in the small grandstand for a free rip-roaring country music show courtesy of the Great Geauga County Fair.

Eating Too Much Fair Food

By A Very Happy Fair-goer Who is Embarrassed to Give her Name About 20 years ago or so, my dearest friend, Pat left Burton for Colorado, never thinking she’d be back for another Great Geauga County Fair. We had gone to this event together for 30 years and never missed one in all that time. We enjoyed putting our kids on the rides and watching them laugh and giggle in delight; we enjoyed walking the midway absorbing the smells and sounds of the fair with music coming from the rides and the aroma of diesel and rubber; youngsters calling out from those rides for their parents to watch them go round and round or fly through the air; the many animals and kids with their 4-H projects so proudly showing them off at the horse shows, cattle judging, and other animal judging, and watching the tears roll down a 4-Her’s cheeks when an animal was sold at auction.

So, because this was to be our last fair, we decided to enjoy one of the other big parts of the fair—the food! With our pockets loaded with cash, we started at the Kiwanis Swiss-Cheese-on-a-Stick booth and literally ate our way through the fairgrounds. We stopped at every stand and bought a treat.

Swiss cheese followed by cotton candy,

followed by ice cream sundaes, followed by the most delicious fried waffles by the Grandstand, followed by grilled Italian sausages smothered in peppers and onions.

Then came the “Fair Fries,” lemon shakes, something else on a stick, hamburgers at the Grange booth, a piece of apple pie at the Eastern Star stand, and all this capped off with a piece of sweet fudge. By now, we were back at the beginning of our “Fair Binge” and none the worse for wear. Oh, I forgot one other thing—we each had a milkshake at the Junior Fair concession.

Well, we both went home feeling kind of queasy. Pat went off to Colorado, and I have not thought about eating a thing at the fair since. Oops! I lied! I did have a craving for one of those delicious fried waffles. I stood in an elephant ear line for about 10 minutes once, but when I got to the ordering stage, I just had to turn around and leave. Just couldn’t do it. My stomach even started with that “queasy” feeling again from all those years ago!

I still love the fair, but now enjoy walking around looking at exhibits and visiting at the senior center.

August 20, 2014

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the great geauga county fair

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The Geauga County Fair has certainly The air is filled with that familiar smell been a tradition for one resident of Geauga of cotton candy, funnel cakes, and corn dogs County. Rich Bradshaw has been running frying in their food trailers. Your stomach a horse training grumbles to stable and itself as your putting on events taste buds crave during the Fair for the delicious fair forty years. This food you only year marks the indulge yourself 40th Anniversary with once a year. of Rich Bradshaw A mother pushes Training Stables past you chasing in Burton. Rich after her overly started riding excited toddler horses at a while you wait in very young age line to get your and has spent hand stamped. his whole life The sound of riding, training, screeching rides, competing, and screams from selling horses. He the Tilt-a-Whirl, has a diversified animal sounds background and echoing thru the experience with barns, and an horses, which announcement has continued to f o r t o n i g h t ’s grow his business entertainment over the years. crackles thru the l o u d s p e a k e r. Rich Bradshaw riding in the 2013 Thompson, Fourth He is known as the “go-to guy” It’s Labor Day of July Parade. for starting colts or working with problem weekend and you have escaped the horses and helping a timid rider get over busy work week to follow the tradition of their fears. He has developed a resistance attending the Great Geauga County Fair. free method for starting young horses and For most of you, this is a tradition your guiding them through their training. He is family has continued for as long as you can always watching, listening, and learning remember. Some of you may be visiting for about his equine partners and his students. the first time. As any resident of Geauga County knows, you can’t miss out on Continued on page 7 The Fair.

the great geauga county fair

Rich Bradshaw Training Stables

Continued from page 6

many for his love of horses, teaching, and Rich is known for having a unique way training his students.” of teaching both horses and riders with Rich has been involved with the his non-traditional methods. Rather than Geauga County Fair for 40 years. Every repetitive by-the-book techniques, he takes year he participates or hosts numerous a different approach. Often, his lessons events during the fair. This year he will focus on his students having fun and be hosting the “Ranch Horse Sorting challenging both horse and rider. It is rare Challenge Championship” and “Horse and to see a student without a smile on their Rider Obstacle Challenge”. The Ranch face. Through various exercises his students Horse Sorting Challenge involves can learn practical riding skills without even numerous teams realizing it. For challenging example, he may each other by have his students sor ting cattle split up into in a numerical different groups, order while each riding being timed. This in a different event tends to d i r e c t i o n really get people around the ring on their feet and at a different e xc i t e d w h i l e pace. For Rich’s rooting on their students, they favorite riders. quickly find You never know themselves which direction laughing and a cow is going enjoying the to go, posing a new challenge new challenge while they ever y second. unknowingly are The “Ranch learning how Horse Sorting to better their Challenge communication Championship” between their will take place horse and other Friday Aug. riders, their riding skills, and Rich Bradshaw’s early years at the Geauga County Fair. 29 at 7 p.m. in the East Side Show Ring. The “Horse and perhaps even going out of their comfort Rider Challenge” is a crowd favorite. This zone. Those who know Rich, know he often event involves an obstacle course setting uses stories to teach his riders important that challenges both horse and rider to life lessons. He can make the link between the task of navigating difficult obstacles everyday life and a specific challenge a while competing against other riders in a rider may be facing, allowing his student timed fashion. Last year, riders had to ride to better understand how they can move their horses up onto a moving platform forward. that was being dragged by a tractor and Rich’s training stable always has race the course with horses running loose several horses for sale and many horses in around them. The “Horse and Rider training. It is not uncommon to find various Challenge” is exciting for the whole family. breeds besides your assumed Quarter This event takes place Sunday Aug. 31 at Horse occupying a stall in his stable. Rich 7 p.m. in the Small Grandstand Arena. has worked with everything from wild Rich loves supporting the community Mustangs, ponies, jumping horses, English and seeing families come out and enjoy horses, and everything in between. Rich’s quality time together. You will most likely main focus nowadays is on quality equine see more than one man walking around the partners for every level of rider. Many of his fair with a cowboy hat, but if you happen to sales horses make wonderful partners for see Mr. Bradshaw he loves to talk, especially riders looking for ranch horses, pleasure if it is about horses. He enjoys having new horses, and trail horses. Over the past 40 students and reminds everyone that it is years, Rich has matched hundreds of horses never too early or too late to start riding. He and riders. He is a true expert at finding the has safe and calm horses for those new to perfect fit or improving on the match you riding to gain experience. already have.

For those interested in learning more Rich encourages anyone with an about Rich or taking a leap and learning interest to ride to just get on and do it. He how to ride, give Rich a call anytime at encourages riders to just go out and have 440-834-1201. You can keep up with fun, ride their horses, and enjoy life. Rich the latest by becoming a fan on his volunteers much of his time into the local Facebook™ Page at: www.Facebook.com/ community, especially for kids. He hosts RichBradshawTraining. Rich Bradshaw various events each year to raise funds Training Stable is located at the Geauga for some of his favorite organizations County Fairgrounds (except the week of the such as The St. Jude Children’s Research fair) 14373 N. Cheshire St. in Burton (44021) Hospital. Rich raised $1,983 this year in a in the old Beef Barn directly across from the Ride-a-Thon event for St. Jude. Rich has Indoor Arena and main show rings. also received numerous recognitions and awards throughout the community for his Amanda Boggs is an avid equestrian who was service. He has received the “Outstanding born and raised in Geauga County. She has a Community Service Award” from Fieldstone marketing and graphic design business and Farm Therapeutic Riding Center. They stated is a freelance writer in her spare time. She has that “Rich is a long time supporter and numerous horses and two Great Danes. fellow horse professional. He is admired by “My horse’s feet are as swift as rolling thunder. He carries me away from all my fears.

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By Jenny Hershberger

I knew I would be on the mailing list to receive the “The Great Geauga County Fair” book, because I had entered my peach pie in the fair last year. My mind, anticipating the catalog’s arrival, had already been sorting out what vegetables, jars of canned fruit and flowers I would enter in the upcoming exhibits. I walked to my mailbox, opened it, spotted the prized booklet for fair-entry veterans and eagerly thumbed through it before I even returned to my front door.

Sitting down at the kitchen table, writing utensil in hand, page by page, I hungrily investigated categories and classes of fair exhibit opportunities.

Gently, I folded the corners of paper that held even the remotest of my interest.

Daydreaming about blue ribbons, weighing the entry options and considering what garden items would be ready just in time for the fair, I made my choices and completed The Great Geauga County Fair Entry Form.

There are so many wonderful things you can do as a fair participant. Years of experience have yet to teach me that I cannot manage all I would like to. I just want to try everything. If you have any hobby, you will find a niche in the fair. The list of possibilities is long and detailed, allowing everyone to share their talents and prowess for timing and preparation.

After submitting an ambitious Fair Entry Form, an individual considers how he or she will masterfully orchestrate the delivery of all entries at the right time and to the right place; with rules and regulations followed to the letter, so not to be disqualified. Once the entries are safely in the hands of The Great Geauga County Fair, left to be examined with other entries, there is a sigh of relief. An insatiable curiosity immediately follows. “How will my entry compare? Will I get a blue ribbon?”

As an onlooker, the exhibits may not change much from year to year. As an exhibitor, showing off one’s skills, the beloved fair remains fresh every year.

Going to The Great Geauga County Fair

“The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you had to give.”

~ Howard Cosell

is wonderful fun. Who does not indulge, at least a little, in the rich cuisine served through brightly lit trailered windows? Or strolls the fairway taking in the noisy bustle of crowd and vendors? As a visitor, the sights and sounds of the fair are dependable. As a participant, contributing one’s talents for display, a level of uncertainty and suspense is added to the experience.

Oh, the suspense. For me, it really is like Christmas morning. As a kid, especially, I could hardly wait to see if my baked good, painting and vegetables wore a ribbon.

Before I even crossed the threshold of those beautiful old buildings, my eyes began to scan the shelves or walls for confirmation.

What joy would leap into my young heart when I spotted a ribbon attached to a paper tag with my name on it.

A little bit of pride and pleasure crept in too.

On the occasions that others were blessed to experience that joy, and not me, I was simply prodded to press on with a better plan for next year.

To participate as an exhibitor one must submit their entry form by early August.

Keep that in mind for next year. If you would like to peruse a fair book, you can pick one up at the office in the fairgrounds or visit the www.GeaugaFair.com to view the electronic version of the book.

Jenny Hershberger is the author and photographer of the book “Single and Content: a Journey from Despair to Delight.” www.SingleAndContent.com / www.JHersh. com.

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Geauga Fair Entries

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the great geauga county fair

junior fair band The Junior Fair Band

By Patrick Landstrum

By Greg Hillis The Junior Fair Band will perform two concerts at the upcoming Great Geauga County Fair. The band is made up of middle and high school musicians from Lake and Geauga counties. The goal of the group is to give young musicians a chance to play a wide variety of music in a professional type experience. This year’s band has 78 young musicians. Featured soloists will be flutist Kaitlin Krueger from Chesterland and vocalist Samantha Tayek from Newbury.

The band rehearses weekly on the five Monday evenings prior to the fair. It’s a pretty intense experience for the kids.

Some of them won’t perform this much music all year at school. And with only five rehearsals, they have to do a lot of practicing on their own. I really enjoy the energy and enthusiasm that they bring to rehearsals.

Planning for the concerts goes for months prior to the fair. A rough draft of the program is usually done in February, registration forms are sent out in April, final music selection is done in May, music folders are assembled in June and rehearsals begin at the end of July.

A lot of thought goes into the music selection. I try to pick a variety of

Why I Like Junior Fair Band

music for the band to perform that will be entertaining for the audience, work well with the musicians we have, and be something that they haven’t probably played at school. Some of the selections for this year include: “Brazilian Folk Dance Suite; The Last Full Measure”, a medley of Civil War songs; “Slim Trombone” to feature the trombone section; and selections from the Broadway hit, “Mamma Mia!”. The concerts will conclude with members of the Great Geauga County Fair Band joining in on Karl King’s “Gallant Marines March”.

The Junior Fair Band concerts are at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 and noon on Monday, Sept. 1 in the Vernon Howard Band Pavilion at the south end of the fairgrounds.

Greg Hillis is in his 11th year as the director of the Geauga County Junior Fair Band. He brings a wealth of musical experiences to the band. As a performer, he plays regularly with the Firelands and Lima symphony orchestras, the Heritage and Olympic brass quintets and the orchestra at Rabbit Run Theater as well as other freelance work. He is also the conductor of the Great Geauga County Fair Band and is a published composer.

Why do I like being a part of the Geauga County Junior Fair Band? Well, there are several reasons. I really enjoy making new friends with other kids from around the area. I also get a chance to catch up with some of my school friends before school starts. Mr. Hillis really challenges us with the music he selects. He encourages us to be better musicians and I thank him for that. Junior Fair Band also gives me the opportunity to learn about what other school’s music programs are like. I love being able to perform at the fair. I have been in the Geauga County Junior Fair Band for the past three years and look forward to being a part of it every year.

Jr. Fair Band practicing at Geauga County Fairgrounds on Aug. 4.

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the great geauga county fair

By Christina Grand Porter I confess. I was a carnie. For two years during college my summer job was traveling through Ohio and West Virginia running a game at county fairs and events like cherry, pumpkin and strawberry festivals. We also played “still dates”, those little carnivals in shopping center parking lots. Still dates yielded little money and not much to do when business was slow, but were played as filler events before and after the fair season was in full bloom.

Carnies have a bad reputation, and there were a few I came across who I wouldn’t trust as far as I could kick a Ferris wheel, but most of the people who worked in the same company as I did were college students like me and we were a close-knit group who looked out for each other. Many of the others who popped up at the same spots we did throughout the summer were carnie families and most had grown up on the midway and were pretty interesting characters. One of my favorite families was a group of Gypsies consisting of the parents, grandparents, two sons and three daughters. The youngest daughter was my age and my size so we swapped clothes and became fast friends. The oldest daughter told fortunes and informed me that I would make a distinct mark on the world and live to be 88 years old. The middle sister could only be described as mean and I heard tales that she was made that way through the heartbreak and bitterness caused by a tragic love affair. She once put a curse on me for refusing to give her a pair of earrings I was wearing. I never saw any results of that curse and honestly don’t expect to. The parents and kids actively ran the games and the grandparents spent their days sitting beside their trailer, under the shade of the

Confessions of a Carnie

trees in antique rocking chairs waiting for stolen. Carnies have to pay for their someone to come along and listen to one prizes, and the bigger the prize, the more of their amazing and dramatic stories. I did expensive they are. There are strict rules of every chance I got and often got ridiculed legitimacy in festival and fair games, but the by the kids in the family for believing them. bigger the prizes, the harder the game is to One example is when the grandfather beat. The prizes in my six-foot basketball told me the game called the scar on his one Mini Ball were granddaughter’s small, but the face had been prizes in the made purposely Spot Pitch game because she was that I ran a few too beautiful times were for this world really big. I gave without it. tons of prizes When I repeated away in the Mini this to the Ball game, but girl’s youngest never gave even brother, he was one away in in hysterics the Spot Pitch. while informing The Spot Pitch me that she was set high up actually fell on in a trailer and a broken pop I had to use a bottle on the microphone midway when that would she was 5 years shock me old. several times a The job day whenever was far from it rained to call glamorous. out, “Ride ‘em There were flies, Christina Grand Porter back in her carnie days running on, slide ‘em on, ticks, humidity the Spot Pitch. glide ‘em on. Ten and other cents to play, weather induced tortures to contend with 10 cents to win one of the biggest prizes during the day and ravenous mosquitoes on the midway!” It actually cost $1 for 15 at night. The work days were very long and washers, but people expecting to get one it was necessary to find someone to watch try for a dime felt they were getting a deal your joint (game) anytime a bathroom or when they received 15 washers for their $1 food break was needed so prizes weren’t investment. The tossed washers had to land exactly in the center of a red circle. I often had people cry out that they had won, but when I directed them around to the other side for a peek from a different angle, they saw the washer wasn’t in all the way. That usually meant they had to try again.

While employed at this dubious profession, I lived in a 1962 Chevy panel van with my college boyfriend and his dog, and at the beginning of our first year we also had an orphaned crow named Orpheus who woke us every morning cawing for breakfast. When we had time, we ran through the fields with him, tossing him in the air to teach him how to fly. In Gallipolis, Ohio there were a lot of crows in a huge wooded area across from the fairgrounds and one day Orpheus flew off to join them and didn’t return. I worried about him for years until I read an article in “National Geographic” that flocks of crows will accept rogue crows that show up as one of their own. After Orpheus I still had New Homes • Additions/Remodeling the cage, but it wasn’t empty for long. Mini Pole Brick & Block Buildings • Site Preparation Ball was kid-sized, and everywhere we went the kids loved it and came to play every day.

Any Size & Any Style • Land Clearing They also stuck around to chat if I wasn’t Horse Barns & Dairy Barns • Demolition busy. When one boy told me his father was a chicken farmer, I mentioned that I had Riding Arenas • Driveways & Complete always wanted a chicken for a pet. The last Garages Concrete Work day of the fair he brought me four baby chicks and said more had hatched than his father expected so he had been permitted to give me some. One died soon after, but Emmet, Oscar and Blanche stayed with Financing Available • Free Estimates us the entire season. It was a little tough during the Ohio State Fair because animals were only allowed inside the fair buildings so we had to keep them in the van all the time instead of letting them peck around in a fenced area under the van. That meant parking way off in heavily wooded areas so References Available • Bonded/Insured the van stayed cool, and the walk to and from our joints was killer. Nighttime was

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the worst, though, because those chicks peeped all night long and took up a lot of room in the van. When I returned to Kent in the fall, I couldn’t keep them and they wound up on a farm in Chesterland. The owners said they were a delight; they were friendly and always ran up to greet any person who entered the yard. By the time we took off to carnie the second summer I had adopted a dog and our two dogs soon turned into three when we found an abandoned puppy on the fairgrounds in Circleville, Ohio. I don’t think that puppy enjoyed the carnie circuit. For the rest of her life whenever I said, “Come on, get in the van,” she would run behind the couch and hide.

One huge disadvantage to living in that van was the bathing arrangements. I had to get up really early to try to beat the 4-H kids to the hot water, but was always just a little too late so usually wound up with an extremely cold shower. A carnie gets a percentage of the money they take in at their game but also has to buy their prizes, an occasional hotel room that offered a warm bath and a soft bed, food, and sometimes a new shirt if there was no time for laundry. I also had my weakness for jewelry even back then so was constantly tempted to buy because I got a carnie discount from the vendors. So we usually had just enough money to keep us going until we got paid again, especially since the van was old and things kept going wrong with it that had to be fixed. Some of the other carnies lived in RVs, though, and they let us use their showers now and then and gave us some space in their refrigerators so we could buy a few groceries and didn’t have to live only on fair food. The bosses and families had really nice vehicles that had all the latest conveniences, including greatly coveted air conditioning.

Needless to say, my parents were not pleased with my choice of summer jobs.

Decades after my carnie adventures my father was still scolding me for, “Running off with the carnival like a damn Gypsy.”

No, I had never told him about the Gypsies we travelled with, but I remember his mother also often complained regularly about Gypsies for whatever reason. I didn’t understand why he was so upset that I had chosen to go on the road because I didn’t recognize the dangers - I only saw the excitement of having an unusual summer job where I got to travel and be outside all day. I wasn’t even nervous after I had my handbag stolen in Hillsboro, Ohio by a townie (local resident). It was a handbag I brought to my joint with me, so unfortunately for the thief, the only thing not in it was money. It was just loaded with things I would need during the day like sunglasses, bug spray, hand cream, items for makeup and nail polish touch ups, aspirin, tissues and wet wipes. My greatest loss was my camera with a nearly full roll of film and my notebook in which I journaled and wrote down my thoughts. I did find out what happened to it all - he went through it in a Porta Potty and threw everything he didn’t want into the toilet. Someone discovered and recognized my hair clip on the floor and a quick dig with a long stick proved my possessions were buried in the smelly sludge. In two years that was the only negative experience I had, so although comforts on the carnie circuit were few, it was a blast. It was an amazing experience and if I had my life to live over, I’d do it again at that age. But I certainly wouldn’t do it now. Then again, I might if I was able to live in one of those luxurious RVs instead of a rattletrap van.

the great geauga county fair

Attention RoofeRs & HomeowneRs! AJ & J ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL Dennis and Samantha Bergansky

4-H and The Great Geauga County Fair

By Samantha Bergansky My name is Samantha Bergansky. I am 9 years old and going into the fourth grade.

I have been a 4-H member for three years.

The first two years I was a “Cloverbud”, that is what you are when you are under 9 years old. 4-H is a group that teaches kids to be the best they can be. Their motto is to “Make the Best Better!” You work with bigger kids and adults to learn how to do projects. There are many things to do and many different clubs to join. Some of the different things you can do are sewing, archery, baking, raising animals, growing food and much, much more. We also do community service projects like food drives and other things that help the community.

My brother Dennis and I belong to the “Greener Fields” 4-H group. Most of the people in our group have rabbits for showing or raising poultry as market projects. As a Cloverbud, I had a pet rabbit named “Marshmallow” and I practiced showing him the first two years. Now that I am 9 years old I can show for ribbons and prizes but my rabbit died and I am sad about that. I might get another rabbit someday but I miss Marshmallow and am not ready yet.

My brother Dennis is 11 years old and has been raising market projects. This is his third year doing market projects and my first year now that I am 9. Market projects are animals you raise for food. You pick your best ones and bring them to the fair to be judged. After that, they go to the Junior Fair Livestock Auction and people and businesses buy them. They go to be processed when the fair is over and then the kids that sold them deliver them to the buyers so they can cook them and eat them.

Doing market projects is a great way to learn about raising animals for food. It teaches you responsibility because you have to take care of the animals by giving them shelter, food and water. You also have to clean up their pens to make sure they don’t get eaten by raccoons and other animals. Our parents also take us to seminars each year on how to raise poultry so we can learn as much as possible about raising the best food to eat. We also dissect a chicken at the Ohio State University Extension poultry clinic. It teaches us the body parts and how chickens and other poultry live.

I am a Junior Fair Livestock Auction Ambassador. That means myself and other 4-H members from different clubs go to meetings to speak to business groups, social groups and other clubs to make them aware of how the Junior Fair Livestock

Auction works and why it is important to everybody. We tell them about 4-H and the auction and then we answer questions they have for us. The auction is a way for businesses and people to show their support for what we do. We are the future and we are worth it. Some people think they get a live animal to take home from the auction and we tell them it is already cleaned and ready to eat when they get it.

The auction helps us pay for the animals, the pens and the feed we buy for them to eat. My brother and I put the rest of the auction money in our accounts to use for next year’s projects and to save for college. I want to be a veterinarian.

I helped my brother his first two years and now we both are raising Market Turkeys, Market Chickens and Market Ducks. Dennis won Grand Champion Hen Turkey his first year. Last year he won Grand Champion Chicken Pen and Reserve Champion Tom Turkey. It was awesome! He got trophies and ribbons and saved money for college. There were over 50 turkeys and over 70 chicken pens last year. I can’t wait to have my own market projects this year. I hope to do well and someday win a Grand Champion Trophy too, like my brother!

There are many other fun things to do at The Great Geauga County Fair. You get to see all kinds of animals like horses, cows, goats, and at the wildlife area you can see an eagle, owl and other wild animals.

You can fish (my favorite), shoot bow and arrow, and BB guns. You can watch cows get milked and then support 4-H by buying one of the yummy milkshakes the 4-H members sell to raise money for our clubs. The Smash Up Derby is really fun too! There is so much to do and see you have to be there.

When you go, stop by the poultry barn and I can show you my turkey, duck, and chickens. Hopefully you can make it to the auction and support a 4-H member by bidding on one of their market projects.

You will be supporting a great cause and also have a yummy meal!

The Junior Fair Livestock Auction is Saturday, Sept. 30 at 2:30 p.m. in the Small Animal Auction tent by the Goat Barn and the Large Animal Auction starts at 5 p.m. You have to get there early to register as a buyer if you plan on bidding on a project animal.

My mom helped us make a Youtube video to help tell people about the Junior Fair Livestock Auction. Go to youtube and search “Bergansky Kids”. See you at the fair!

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the great geauga county fair

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014 Youth Day - All kids 18 and under Admitted Free.

Geauga Learn – a cooperative day of learning at The Great Geauga County Fair Demolition Derby at 8:30 p.m. in the Main Grandstand Chicken Flying Contest at 12 p.m. in the Small Grandstand with Beth McCloud of WOIO Channel 19 as Host.

8 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

9 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

11 a.m.

12 p.m.

1 p.m.

1:15 p.m.

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

4 p.m.

5 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:45 p.m.

8 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

Jr. Fair Market Poultry Show (Pen of 4 chickens) - Poultry Barn Jr. Fair Pack Goat Show - Natural Resources Area Jr. Fair Horse Show - East Show Ring Jr. Fair Sheep Show - Small Area Jr. Fair Swine Show - Arena Jr. Fair Harness/Hitch Show - Small Grandstand Jr. Fair Dairy Goat Show - Auction Tent Chicken Flying Contest - Small Grandstand Jr. Fair Market Poultry Show, Duck & Turkeys - Small Arena Jr. Fair Garden Produce Judging - Jr. Fair Building Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Open Miniature Horse Show - Small Grandstand Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Jr. Fair Rabbit Breed Show - Rabbit Barn Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Jr. Fair Pygmy Goat Show - Small Arena Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Rae DeBevits - Jr. Fair Pavilion Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Joe Lexsco – Country - Midway Stage 4-H Horse Club Awards - Jr. Fair Building Jr. Fair King and Queen Coronation - Jr. Fair Pavilion Hot Air Balloon Ascension - Main Grandstand Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Flag Drop - Main Grandstand Racing Pigs - Troy Trail The Players (Variety) - Midway Stage Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Demolition Derby - Main Grandstand

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Friday, Aug. 29, 2014

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SENIOR CITIZEN AND VETERANS’ DAY Age 65 and older and all Veterans Admitted Free Horse Pulls – Main Grandstand at 6 p.m.

8:30 a.m.

9 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

Noon

Jr. Fair Horse Show - East Show Ring Open Haflinger Halter Show - Small Grandstand Jr. Fair Poultry Showmanship - Auction Tent Jr. Fair Rabbit Showmanship - Rabbit Barn Jr. Fair Beef Show – Arena Jr. Fair Dairy Show - Arena Open Draft Horse Halter Show - Small Grandstand Open Dairy Goat Show - Small Arena Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Open Beef Show - Arena Shot Gun Red - Midway Stage

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the great geauga county fair

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$2

$2.50

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

Certain restrictions apply. Discounts will be loaded directly to your

That’s My

Advantage.

15400 West High St. • Middlefield • 440.632.1200 Store Hours: Monday–Saturday 7am-11pm • Sunday 7am-10pm

Friday, Aug. 29, 2014 Cont’d Noon

1:15 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

5 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

6 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:45 p.m.

8 p.m.

Chardon Polka Band - Jr. Fair Pavilion Hammitt & Kovich Puppets - Bill Plants Pavilion B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Jr. Fair Fancy Poultry Show - Auction Tent Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Just for Fun of It (Variety) - Midway Stage Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Windharps Harmonicas - Bill Plants Pavilion Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Tom Todd (Variety) - Midway Stage Center Stage Band (Variety) - Jr. Fair Pavilion Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Firehouse Harmonicas - Bill Plants Pavilion B & B Magic Show - Chester court Flag Drop - Main Grandstand Horse Pull - Main Grandstand Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Shot Gun Red - Small Grandstand Veterans Mock Military Burial Ceremony - Veterans Tent Hot Air Balloon Ascension - Main Grandstand Championship Ranch Sorting - East Show Ring Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Chris Higbee Country Music Show - Small Grandstand

Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 Apple Pie Day, Apple Pie Auction at 1 p.m.

Jr. Fair Livestock Sales – Small Animal – 2:30 p.m. in Auction Tent and Large Animal – 5 p.m. in Arena 8 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

9 a.m.

10 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

Noon

12:30 p.m.

1 p.m.

1:15 p.m.

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

3 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

5 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

6 p.m.

14 www.middlefieldpost.com

August 20, 2014

Donkey and Mule Show - Small Grandstand Jr. Fair Horse Show - East Show Ring Open Rabbit Show - Rabbit Barn Open Dairy Show – Arena Open Sheep Show - Small Arena Open Poultry Show - Poultry Barn Jr. Fair Small Animal Show - Jr. Fair Building Jr. Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Madi Lee (Variety) - Midway Stage Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Harness Horse Racing - Main Grandstand Apple Pie Auction - Vernon Howard Pavilion Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Livestock Buyers Registration - Arena Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Take II (Variety) - Midway Stage The X-Chromotones (Variety) - Bill Plants Pavilion Small Animal Livestock Sale - Auction Tent Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Fort Huntsburg Band (Country) - Jr. Fair Stage Large Animal Livestock Sale - Arena The Hobos (Old Time Polka) - Midway Stage Walnut Hill Cloggers - Jr. Fair Pavilion Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Firemen’s Water Battle - Main Grandstand Racing Pigs - Troy Trail

the great geauga county fair

Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 7 p.m.

Hot Air Balloon Ascension - Main Grandstand

Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion

Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail 7:30 p.m.

Pony Pull - Small Grandstand 7:45 p.m.

B & B Magic Show - Chester Court 8 p.m.

Flag Drop - Main Grandstand

Racing Pigs - Troy Trail

Fort Huntsburg (Country) - Jr. Fair Stage Peter Niro (Rock-N-Roll) - Midway Stage 8:30 p.m.

Demolition Derby - Main Grandstand

Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 Band-O-Rama: High School Marching Bands perform, Main Grandstand at 1:30 p.m.

Rooster Crowing Contest 4 p.m. Small Arena hosted by Mark Nolan of WMJI Truck and Tractor Pulls at the Main Grandstand at 6:30 p.m.

8:30 a.m.

10 a.m.

Noon

1 p.m.

1:15 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

3 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

5 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:45 p.m.

8 p.m.

Pony Show, Draft Horse & Pony Hitch Show - Small Grandstand Open Western Horse Show - East Show Ring Worship Service - Jr. Fair Pavilion Entries for the Anyone Can Bake Contest - Jr. Fair Building Geauga K-9 - West side of Floral Hall Boys Are Back (Classic Rock) - Midway Stage Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Rae DeBevits (Variety) - Jr. Fair Pavilion Federal Rebels - Main Grandstand Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Results from the Anyone Can Bake Contest - Jr. Fair Building B & B Magic Show - Chester CourtFlag Drop/ Anthem by Samantha Tayek - Main Grandstand Band-O-Rama - Main Grandstand Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Rosemary Heredos (Irish Folk music) - Midway Stage Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Federal Rebels - Domestic Arts Building Diaper Dash - Jr. Fair Building Rooster Crowing Contest - Small Arena Firemen’s Water Battle - Main Grandstand Jr. Fair Dog Show - Arena Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Swamp Rattlers (Variety) - Midway Stage The Usual Suspects - Jr. Fair Pavilion Walnut Hill Cloggers - Jr. Fair Building Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Federal Rebels - Domestic Arts Building Flag Drop/Anthem by Samantha Tayek - Main Grandstand Truck and Tractor Pull - Main Grandstand Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Hot Air Balloon Ascension - Main Grandstand Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Geauga County Fair Horse Challenge - Small Grandstand B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Triple Play (Variety) - Midway Stage The Switch Band - Jr. Fair Pavilion

August 20, 2014

www.middlefieldpost.com 15

the great geauga county fair

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Monday, Sept. 1, 2014

LABOR DAY – FAMILY DAY Frog Jumping: 3 p.m. in the Arena hosted by Chris van Vliet of WOIO Truck and Tractor Pull at 3:30 p.m. at the Main Grandstand 8:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

Noon

12:15 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

1 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

3:15 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

5 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

8 p.m.

Pony Show, Draft Horse and Pony Hitch Show - Small Grandstand Open English Horse Show - East Show Ring Jr Fair Showmanship Sweepstakes - Arena Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Karsyn Ribic - Midway Stage Jr. Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Racing Pigs - Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court All Animal Costume Class B - Jr. Fair Building Kids Tractor Pull - Bill Plants Pavilion Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion All Animal Costume Class A - Arena Puppets of Peace - Midway Stage Jr. Fair Style Show - Jr. Fair Building Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Frog Jumping Contest - Arena Walnut Hill Cloggers - Jr. Fair Building Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Flag Drop - Main Grandstand Truck Pull - Main Grandstand Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Great Geauga Fair Band - Vernon Howard Pavilion Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail B & B Magic Show - Chester Court Racing Pigs - Troy Trail Woodcarving Demonstration - Huntsburg Trace at Troy Trail Livestock Released Jr. Fair Exhibits Released – Open Show Exhibits Released

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Michaela McNish with her rabbits.

My Experience in 4-H at the Fair

By Michaela McNish I’ve been going to the Great Geauga County Fair since I was 3 months old, or so I’ve been told. I don’t remember that far back, but I do know that I look forward to the fair every year. When I was 8, I started 4-H with my rabbits, and now at 18, this is my last year in 4-H. I’ve been in The Bunny Bunch 4-H Club for 10 years and have loved it every year. I raise Holland Lop Rabbits. I started with two and now I have six. All of them have been to the fair at least once.

There are two shows that I participate in at the fair, the Rabbit Breed Show and Rabbit Showmanship. The breed show is when the rabbits are judged against other rabbits of the same breed. Showmanship is where I have to practice and memorize facts about my rabbit, mostly about diseases a rabbit can get, and present it to a judge. Then you get judged on how well you did throughout your class. It’s always exciting winning ribbons at the fair. The thing about 4-H that I enjoy the most, though, is just letting the visitors at the fair pet my rabbits. The kids get so excited when they walk into the rabbit barn and see that there are rabbits out that they can pet. People have their favorite parts of the fair, whether it is the food, rides, games, etc., but mine will always be the animals, especially the rabbits.

Breeders and Feeders

By Mike Fenstermaker At our last meeting before the fair, we had a wonderful picnic at Memory Lake.

There was good food, an egg toss game and lots of swimming. Aug. 16 at 8 a.m. the barn was set up for pigs and poultry.

Aug. 24 the barn will be set up for beef and rabbits. Barn tear down will be Sept. 6 at 8 a.m. All market animals members must bring four cookies in a plastic bag for the sale. Pens are to be cleaned before 9 a.m. and between 6 and 8 p.m. during fair week.

We are wearing our green 4-H shirts this year with new, clean dark jeans and boots.

Poultry discussed showmanship, beef talked about barn set up and pigs talked about what to bring to fair (three or four bags of shavings, 50 pounds of feed, spray bottle, feed pan, brush, brush for your pocket, show stick, small box, shampoo).

Pig are to weigh between 215 and 290 pounds - no over or under weights will be allowed.

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www.middlefieldpost.com 17

the great geauga county fair

Cement and Concrete

By Joe Novak

Fall Leagues Now Forming For information or to sign up call (330) 527-9999 or visit www.skylanebowling.com 8311 Windham St. Garrettsville 44231

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18 www.middlefieldpost.com

2. The weather: see above 3. Wire or rebar: concrete without wire or rebar is JUNK! Insist on wire and if you can afford it, 1/2 inch rebar at a 12-inch spacing with chairs; chairs lift the rebar so it is in the middle not laying on the ground.

Fiberglass is not a substitute for wire.

4. Calcium chloride (salt) Never in hot weather and not over 8 percent.

5. Thickness? At least 4 inches; a 2 by 4 is actually 1.5 by 3.5 inches and if your contractor frames a pour with 2 by 4s you’re getting 3.5 inch thick concrete, not the 4 inches that you paid for.

6. Concrete will crack. You control the cracks with cuts.

7. If you plan on putting epoxy or some other coating down, do not allow the contractor to seal the concrete. Water cure the concrete for 14 days.

To find out what Joe would do, e-mail questions to editor@middlefieldpost. com. Joe has 20-some years experience in manufacturing and says that as a small business owner, he found that you either learn how to solve a problem yourself or pay to have it done. Joe’s articles are his opinion and are only intended as a guide. Please consult an expert when in doubt.

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We are a

I often hear people talk about putting in a “cement” driveway and this has prompted this article. Cement is what holds the sand and or aggregate together forming “concrete” and concrete is what a driveway is made of.

The “cement”, Normally Portland Cement, is approximately 1/3 of the mix and this will vary greatly depending on the desired PSI or strength of the concrete desired.

When contractors talk about concrete mix, if they think about it at all, they talk “sacks” of concrete. In the old days, when concrete was mixed on site, cement was purchased in bags. A bag is 94 pounds of cement, about 1 cubic foot. But if you order a 6-sack mix, that only tells you how much Portland cement is in 1 cubic yard of mix.

That mix could be completely wrong for your application and could even be inferior concrete. What slump do you need? What strength? Do you need air entrainment?

What happens if the day is particularly cold or hot? What size of aggregate is best?

You can see that this can get very complicated and although I sold concrete pumping services and built parts for concrete pumps in my “early days”, I am far from being an expert. I can however give you some tips on what to discuss with your contractor.

NOTE: try to avoid pouring on sunny days above 85 degrees and below 35 degrees if you are pouring outside without cover or shade. Concrete should be water cured to keep it wet for as long as possible.

Concrete forms by growing interlocking crystals that stop growing when it dries. The longer they grow the tougher the concrete.

Wet it immediately after it sets and keep it wet for at least 14 day.!

Talking points with your contractor: 1. The Mix: For a good quality driveway here in the northeast, this is a suggested mix: 6.5 sack, 44 percent sand, 41 percent #57 stone, 15 percent #8 stone and 6 percent air intrainment.

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Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9-6; Wed 9-12; Sat 9-5; Sun 1-4 Closed daily 12-1 for lunch

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LOTS OF CLOSeOuTS • Tons of Spring Fishing equipment, nOW in STOCk Semi Load of name Brand Sporting Goods Marvin & Mary Yoder, Owners • 17309 Madison Road • Middlefield• 440.548.2071 Monday & Tues 8-5 • Thurs & Fri 8-5 • Sat 8-2 • Closed Wednesday & Sunday

The Cardinal Marching Band practiced at the Cardinal High School for Band-O-Rama on Aug.14.

Cardinal Huskies Marching Band

By Anna Futty “Who are we? The Cardinal Huskies Marching Band!” To many this may just be a routine saying that they hear the kids chant before a game. But to us, it’s a sign of pride. This is the time - our time - to shine and show all what we have worked so hard for. Getting in front of a crowd and hearing them cheer loudly is a feeling you can’t really explain. The biggest crowd we see is at the Great Geauga County Fair.

There, at the Band-O-Rama, we perform our show that we have practiced for hours and hours throughout the summer, including a week at band camp, plus practices starting in July. We work hard to give it our all. Mr. Florjancik the band director, Mrs. Caprez the flag line advisor and Mr. Williams, all put their expectations high and we work hard to meet them. Although this is only Mr. Florjancik’s first year here as the band director at Cardinal High School, he has added so much life and spirit to our band and is so enthusiastic. He has a love for music that really shines through and is positively influencing us all.

I began flagline after my freshman year. I had watched the band and flagline all year and I wanted so badly to be a part of it. I would see them marching in to the field with their chins up and smiling. They

had so much pride. That is what drove me to try out for flag line. And thankfully I made it and have the opportunity to be a part of something great! I have loved the experience of it all. It has taught me so much more than marching and twirling. It has given me a determination and a dedication that I didn’t know I had. Mrs. Caprez works us hard but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

She can see what we are capable of before any of us do. Every lap on the track, and every hour of practice is worth it in the end to hear the applause at a performance.

Not only has band been a learning experience these past 3 years, but I have also met so many friends. There is a bond that we share whether it be recalling crazy band camp memories or sharing that we all had to wake up way too early many days in summer. We stick together as a line and a band. We work hard to make each other and ourselves proud. We have been looking forward to showing Geauga County what we have accomplished.

At the Band-O-Rama, bands from the surrounding area meet and show the crowd what they can do. It is a great addition to the well-known fair. We hope that the community will come out to support us. We promise to put on a show you’ll remember.

Upcoming Classes:         

Evaluation for CGC and C.L.A.S.S. ● September 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Chill Work Session for Chill! Grads ● September 13 at 4:00 p.m.

Mind Your Manners 1: Foundations ● September 14 at 3:30 p.m. (6 weeks) Chill! for Reactive Dogs ● September 20 at 4:00 p.m. (6 weeks) Leash Manners ● September 23 at 7:30 p.m. (4 weeks) Chill! Work Session for Chill! Grads ● October 4 at 2:00 p.m.

Mind Your Manners 1: Foundations ● October 9 at 7:30 p.m. (6 weeks) Evaluation for CGC and C.L.A.S.S. ● October 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Visitor Greetings ● October 21 at 6:00 p.m. (4 weeks)  Introduction to K9 Nose Work® Workshop: November 8 & 9 ● Space is Limited  Call or visit our website for more information.

“A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” ~ Leopold Stokowski

August 20, 2014

www.middlefieldpost.com 19

the great geauga county fair

By Eileen Epling

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Family Style 4-H

for many years and this brought Jim more The 4-H program has inspired and experience in working educated youth since its with alpacas and also inception over 100 years adventure in traveling ago. The truth is that it has to other states. One year also inspired the parents Jim and his friends’ son, of these youth. Jim who had a shearing web Petkosek is one such story. site, were compelled to His daughters joined go and work at four farms the 4-H Flock Masters from Arkansas, Oklahoma sheep club and showed and Missouri. These at The Geauga County families were in dire Fair. The Petkosek family straits because the New learned about the specific Zealanders, who normally shearing needed for their sheared, were being meat lambs at fair time. kept away due to a work The sheep required a slick visa problem. They also shear or show cut, special have traveled to Indiana, for the meat breed, and Kentucky, Pennsylvania, shorn 6 or 7 days before New Jersey, Delaware, showing. When a local Maryland, Virginia and shearing service became Vermont. Jim is now unavailable, Jim’s wife retired from his linesman Linda encouraged him to job, but continues to learn how. Jim trained in work shearing sheep and Wooster at the Ohio State alpacas. Jim said, “For me University Agricultural it has been interesting, Technical Institute. The the different people I class was hands on and have met and now that students were grouped in I am retired, I go out and pairs to watch and instruct meet people I would have each other using visuals. never met before.” He is The knowledge and still involved with the technique of how to hold local 4-H families needing the sheep to control them show cuts. If, in the last and how to fold their skin five years, you have been so not to wound them to the small arena by the impressed Jim. Since that time he has been shearing Jim Petkosek knows how to hold ‘em sheep barn at The Geauga County Fair, you may sheep for his children, and fold ‘em. have watched Jim’s sheep grandchildren and shearing demonstrations. neighbors. He and a friend worked together

Geauga Master Gardener Volunteers Science of Climate Change.....Better Gardens?

On Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon there will be winners and losers as humans continue to add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and cause global climate change. Because of the proximity of fresh water and anticipated mild changes compared to other areas of the world,

Our Booth at t i s i V e om C t y n u F o air C a g u e a h T at Ge Gre

Ohio may be one of those lucky winners.

This presentation will cover the science of climate change and how the majority of scientists believe the world will be affected. It will then focus on NE Ohio and experiments in process that will determine how these changes are expected to affect Ohio gardens, how we can mitigate climate change and how we can cope with changes that can not be mitigated. There is no fee for this class. Light refreshments will be provided. Call 440-834-4656 to register.

Programs are held at the OSU Extension Office, Patterson Building, 14269 Claridon Troy Road in Burton. Preregistration encouraged, walk-ins welcome. Visit geauga.osu.edu

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the great geauga county fair

By Lynda Nemeth Like most Yankee kids growing up in the country I waited anxiously for that ‘rite of passage’ when the tractor keys were handed over to me and I got to be the one to cut our acres of lawn. Of course the novelty soon wore off and I would spend hours trying to keep myself entertained.

In those hours I remember seeing many big tour buses that frequently traveled our road and wondering about the people who were on the bus. I wondered why they were interested in Middlefield, why would they want to tour our road? What’s interesting about our neighborhood? While I was trying to figure it out I always smiled and waved, because that’s what we do in the country… we’re just friendly that way.

Fast-forward a few years. I have figured it out; so much so that I spend my days promoting the fact that Geauga County is a pretty special place. As the Director of Geauga County Tourism, my job is to promote our county to visitors; bring them to our businesses, events, lodging, restaurants, and shops to spend their money and create a positive economic impact on our community. In some respects my job is very easy because Geauga County is full of wonderful people and places, and

visitors are always in awe of the beauty.

Why am I telling you this? Often as residents we forget how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful place. A place that others strive to get away to, a place where you go to the store and run into at least two people you know, a place where ‘honor jars’ are found at produce stands, a place where people know their neighbors, a place where people still wave.

I have been asked to use this space to help us all remember some of the great things to do in Geauga County and in each issue will share an idea or two. I know we are all busy, and it’s easy to run into a onestop-shopping venue, but I would like to challenge every one of you to make a point of stopping at one new to you locally owned store in the coming week, and take advantage of what we have available to us everyday. Stop at a local Amish bakery and pick up fresh bread, stop at one of our cheese factories for the freshest meats and cheeses, then stop at one of our farm markets for some fresh fruits and vegetables. Lastly, grab your family and head to one of our beautiful parks for an ‘unplugged’ night and enjoy the bounty of Geauga County!

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The world has gone through plenty of He didn’t like staying in the stall overnight dramatic changes since the 1950s, but as far so went home every night to sleep and as 4-H goes, it’s remarkable how much has returned the next day. Needless to say, he stayed the same. Barb Fontanelle, owner of did not show the next year. the Fontanelle Group/Middlefield Post, was Barb’s day consisted of crawling a 4-H member in the late 50s in horse group. out her sleeping bag and immediately She absolutely attending to her loved her horse, an horse; the animals, ex-Thoroughbred then as now, are the named Mama, and priority, so it was for about four years, important to keep starting when she Mama well fed and was in sixth grade, brushed to be sure she competed in she was happy and the horse show. That looked her best. meant she lived on Barb hauled fresh the fairgrounds with water to the stall her horse the entire and gave Mama her time the fair ran, just breakfast of hay or as kids still do today. oats. Then she hit The fair started the showers and on a Thursday, so went to breakfast Wednesday night Barb Fontanelle was a 4-H member of a horse at one of the Barb and the other club in the late 50s. community food 4-H horse kids would arrive and be assigned a stall for their horses. This was also the place where they slept. Barb’s good friend and nextdoor neighbor, Elaina, also participated in the horse show, but Elaina rode Western and Barb rode English so there was no competition between the two buddies.

Barb packed for her fair adventure just as she would have for any weekend getaway, living in jeans or shorts, sleeveless blouses and boots. Everything she and the other 4-H kids had brought for the weekend was kept in their stalls and none of them ever had to worry about anything being stolen.

Of course, not every 4-H kid opted to camp out at the fair. During Barb’s years in 4-H, her brother Frank decided he wanted to show beef so his father bought him a cow. That’s when he learned he wasn’t a farm person.

tents that offered great home-style food. This was where she ate most of her meals, but her between meal snacks were always selections of delicious fair food at the concession stands.

After, she might return to her stall to work on keeping her saddle and bridle clean and polished.

So once the chores were finished and she wasn’t practicing with Mama, what did she do? The same thing kids do today.

She walked the midway, rode the rides, played the games, admired entries in the merchant halls, ate way too much fair food and, basically, just hung out looking for boys. Sadly, her friend Elaina died recently, but she lives on in Barb’s fond memories of those delightful summer days staying on the fairgrounds.

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the great geauga county fair

By Jenny Hershberger

Georgia Luoma shows off her win.

Hooked on the Fair

By Georgia Luoma

I never attended the fair until

never worked so much that I couldn’t enjoy the fair. I even camped up at the fairgrounds marrying into the Wayne Luoma family. for some years literally living up there. And I They are famous here in Geauga County for only live two miles away! winning at horseshoe pitching and even Later, I acquired a goat and put her up have the horseshoe courts named in their there, now I have a honor. pony that I show her W i t h t h e in the GHPA classes. suggestion from My newest fame is friends of entering my winning first place wedding dress that I in the pony costume made, I was hooked. class three years in a I started with the row. Molly, my pony, sewing that I did for is pretty unperturbed the kids, then canning, by being dressed up baking, crocheting and humiliated. This and various crafts. year we are trying for As time went on the first again. Wait until kids started entering. she finds out what I During the teen years have in store for her they also started Georgia with her pony Molly this year. showing in the open Hope to see you there this year and horse shows. look for the fun at the small grandstand Tired of always spending at the fair, I Monday around 3 p.m. Meanwhile enjoy figured a way to start recouping some of my the 2014 Great Geauga County Fair. expenses at fair time and applied to work Now I have to get busy on this year’s at the fair along with other family members costume! who had been working for years prior. But I

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It’s Fair Time

Have you ever been to Burton’s fairgrounds on the eve of The Great Geauga County Fair? Vendors have flocked to set up displays. 4H-ers lead their bewildered critters to stalls. Farmers and gardeners are depositing colorful and fragrant produce.

Artists gingerly carry masterpieces to designated barns. Meanwhile, vehicles, large and small, with and without trailers, are circling the grounds desperately looking for avenues and parking spots to quickly execute their business; avoiding pedestrians as they go. People conscientiously make their deposits as efficiently as possible, keeping the flow of traffic moving steadily.

Preparing for the fair is streamlined chaos. Delicate and perishable items must be submitted at the last minute to remain in prime condition.

No one comes early and no one comes late. Baked goods arrive fresh out of the oven. Cut flowers are swiftly plunged into their official vases of fresh water.

Livestock are calmed with gentle brushing and soothing speech.

Young and old are excited to be on the brink of reliving this annual tradition, anticipating long days and late nights at the fair.

This is The Great Geauga County Fair.

A piece of living history that has been repeated for nearly 200 years.

Generations of Geauga County residents and their neighbors have descended upon these grounds to compete, show off, teach, learn, give, eat, sell, buy, see and experience some homespun, community fun, on a grand and gorgeous scale.

Once the madness of mass preparation has subsided, the smooth spectating mode is engaged. Visitors arrive early on Thursday morning, the first day of The Great Geauga County Fair, greeted by friendly and faithful volunteers taking their admission tickets.

Substantial footwear steps on familiar ground with children in little red wagons trailing behind. (Children 18 years and younger are admitted for free on Thursday, affectionately labeled “Youth Day”. From that day forward, there is a continuous

stream of visitors. Friday is Senior Citizen and Veterans’ Day, inviting all veterans and people 65 years and older to walk into the fair for free.)

After admittance to The Great Geauga County Fair, one can commence indulgence. Sample decadent sweets and savories like cotton candy, elephant ears, steak on a stick and Italian sausage. Stuff giveaway bags with advertising freebies like rulers, fans, frisbees, etc. Enjoy carnival rides until your head is feeling dizzy. When you have had your fill of the thoroughfare’s vending, mosey on over to the tranquility of the barns. Observe the detailed patchwork quilts. Smell the roses. Pet the sheep. Taste the honey.

Intermittently, find distraction in the pockets of entertainment throughout the fairgrounds. Listen to a variety of live music. Watch weaving, milking and dog retrieving demonstrations. Rest a spell in one of the grandstands for hot air balloon launches, fire department competitions, horse races and shows of various sorts. There is something to intrigue everyone.

You could go to the fair every day and not get bored. From the heat of the day to the cool of the night, there is plenty to see and do. It is a great way to wear kids out! The Great Geauga County Fair only happens once a year, so savor it and store up memories for years to come.

When evening arrives, on the final day of the fair, vendors and exhibitors begin their packing up and heading home. A tired silence sweeps the grounds. Stray papers meander at the slightest breeze, like tumbleweed in a forlorn landscape. One by one, livestock stalls are emptied, barns are shut and brilliant flashing lights are turned off, not to be seen again . . . until next year.

Jenny Hershberger is the author and photographer of the book “Single and Content: a Journey from Despair to Delight”. www.

SingleAndContent.com / www.JHersh.com.

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Raelynn DeBevits

Raelynn DeBevits is employed at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital as a dietitian for their Healthy Kids, Healthy Weight program and she really loves her job! Other hobbies of hers include fitnessshe ran her first half marathon in June of this year. She has sung every year at the fair since 2003 and is very excited to be welcomed back. She has been keeping busy with various talent contests in the area and hopes to keep performing in the futureit’s a hobby she truly loves. Raelynn will be performing at the Great Geauga County Fair on Aug. 31 at noon in the Junior Fair Pavilion.

the great geauga county fair

Apple Pie Contest and Auction August 30, 2014 (Open Competition) Sponsored By: Patterson Fruit Farm of Chesterland, Ohio And Auxiliary

Rules for Competition

1. Must be made with fresh apples - (only apples).

2. Two crust pie required.

3. No purchased, ready-made crusts.

4. Must be baked in a disposable, 8 or 9 inch, aluminum foil pan only. Aluminum foil pans require approximately 15 minutes longer cooking time.

5. Past Grand Champion winners are eligible for competiton after 3 years.

6. Brint to and enter at the Domestic Arts Hall 9 a.m. - noon on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

7. Winners will be announced on PA system.

8. Apple Pies will be sold during a public auction at 1 p.m. on August 30, 2014, held at the Vernon Howard Band Pavilion. All proceeds to benefit the Auxiliary Fund.

9. Winners will be given their awards during the public aution.

10. Pies judged and sold at judge’s direction of quality.

Class 1 - 24 years and under | Class 2 - 25 years to 50 years | Class 3 - 51 years+ Prizes in each class: 1st - $10.00, 2nd - $8.00, 3rd - $5.00

“The Realtors you can Trust” Richard Chambers REALTOR®, SFR 440-344-5261

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www.NEOhioRealEstateGroup.com NEOhioRealEstateGroup@gmail.com Come out to the Geauga County Fair and support our local bakers during the 2014 Apple Pie Auction.

Saturday August 30th 1 p.m. at the Vernon Howard Band Pavillion located next to the Antique Hall. All proceeds to benefit the Fair Auxillary.

See you at the fair!

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By Christina Grand Porter

Fair Footwear

When venturing off to the fair, we often consider what to wear to make sure we’ll be warm or cool enough for the day’s weather, but we don’t always stop to think about the best footwear. Going to the fair means a lot of walking, and happy feet means a more enjoyable fair experience.

Think ahead and realize you very well may walk for miles, and on a variety of different, possibly uneven, surfaces. You may walk on pavement, asphalt, grass, packed dirt, gravel, hay and more during just one trip to the fair, and you never know when you’re going to have to do a little running - maybe to beat someone else to the line for a ride or a corn dog. If you’re staying for the shows, you might want to do a little dancing, so be sure you were kind enough to your feet all day to feel like dancing when the time comes.

Reach for the tennis shoes, moccasins or sandals with toes and leave the flip flops behind. You want enough on your feet to protect them from all the stuff on the ground and in the barns. The midway is filled with all kinds of trash, from food to used band aids, and people aren’t always looking where they’re going so you could have your toes stepped on. You’re also at risk of stubbed toes, puncture wounds and glass cuts in flip flops. Exposed feet are also as prone to sunburn as any other part of your body, so if you’re exposing your feet, put sunscreen on them.

Flip flops are nearly barefoot, so think about it - would you really want to walk through the Beef Barn barefoot? And you

By Ellie Behman

probably will make at least one trip to the bathroom, which is another place you wouldn’t want to venture into without shoes. Flip flops are also bad for the feet.

Sandals that make you grip with your toes to keep them on may cause tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendons in the toes.

They also don’t support your arches, and podiatrists say that wearing flip flops too often may cause you foot pain later on down the road, even though your feet feel fine now.

Don’t wear new shoes, wear comfortable ones. The last thing you want is a blister nagging at you while you’re trying to enjoy yourself. But make sure your footwear has good soles for traction on those uneven surfaces and in case there is water or something else wet or slippery on the ground. If you have walking or workout shoes, they’re perfect for the hiking you’ll be doing from one end of the fair to the other. A trip to the fair may be the perfect time to invest in those new insoles so you’ll feel like you’re walking on clouds as you head from the Merchant Hall to the Junior Fair Building.

It just takes a little common sense to make sure your feet are protected, comfortable and able to get you from one end of the fair to the other as many times as you want. Come to think of it, the fair is a perfect excuse to go out and buy a brand new pair of great fair walking shoes.

Wear them every year and start a new fair tradition.

A Grave Situation

Ron and I have loved attending county fairs for many years. There is a spark of excitement that seems to fill the air. The people are so friendly; pausing at times to nod and say hello and the food is to die for.

(Remember this last comment.)

There is music, laughter and little children skipping happily along, tufts of cotton stuck to their chins atop the melting ice cream.

Hundreds of young people are involved in various groups; the 4-H Club, FFA (Future Farmers of America), and many others.

There are also assortments of baked goods being judged along with crisp, colorful vegetables as well as hand-sewn quilts. The talents of the people that enter the contests are limitless and something to be extremely proud of.

Most of the fairs we have gone to were relatively similar except for one particular year that stood out from the rest. We had just enjoyed two hours of delightful toe tapping music and were still humming some of the tunes as we walked out of the grandstand. It was then I stopped “dead” in my tracks. (Excuse the pun, but it fits very nicely here.) I spotted a display of “grave stones” directly across from the “lively” entertainment. Yes, you read that right - “GRAVE STONES.” Allow me to pause here and say that I have the deepest respect for hard working people doing an honest days work. I just found it a bit disconcerting to see a mock up of a graveyard in the midst of such

happy festivities.

I tried not to stare, but somehow I was driven to that solemn display. One of the sales people (deciding my look was one of interest) waved me over. I shook my head vehemently, grabbed my husbands’ arm and rushed away. That must have been one of my bad hair and bad make up days.

While I totally realized this was not a laughing matter and should have been viewed as a “grave” situation, my nerves got the better of me and I couldn’t suppress a smile.

I didn’t witness any fair goers stop by to ooh and ahh at this display and I have to admit I felt a little sorry for the owners.

After all, they had families to support and a business to run but if I had one teensy weensy suggestion I would urge them to use a less “lively” platform to sell their product. I guess others felt as I did as they walked by without making eye contact.

It was a night filled with good food, great music and laughter and I felt fairgoers wanted to keep it that way and I am “dead” serious.

Ellie has been a freelance writer for more than 40 years and has written over 400 articles.

She and her husband spend as much time as possible at a cabin where they enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. This is where the majority of her writing is done as it is the perfect quiet setting for a writer.

“At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.” ~Jean Houston

the great geauga county fair

Four Years of Raising Ducks

By Sheila Roberts, vice president of All Cooped Up 4-H Club Imagine this: you walk into someone’s dining room. Seeing a large plastic tub on the floor, you walk over and look in. Curled up inside, under the warm glow of a heat lamp, is a fuzzy pile of ducklings. One of them lifts its yellow head and cheeps at you. Had you stepped into my home about six weeks ago, this is what you would have seen. Why, you ask, were there baby ducks in my dining room? These particular ducklings - or rather, the adolescent ducks they’ve since become - are part of my 4-H project.

My sister and I have raised the four of them from a few days old, first in a tub on the dining room floor, then in a pen in the garage, and finally, when they graduated to adult duck-hood, in an outdoor enclosure. They’ve grown from clumsy yellow fuzz balls with giant feet to creamy-white ducks with confident voices and downy wings. This is the fourth year I’ve raised ducks, but the metamorphosis never ceases to amaze me.

It’s fascinating to watch their various personalities develop: we have one who won’t stop quacking for anything and one who’s perpetually convinced the sky is falling. I’ve also heard their voices change from soft peeps and whistles to full-blown quacks. Actually, though, the females are the only ones who quack in a recognizable way. Male ducks (or drakes) make a sort of hoarse whispering sound.

We’ll take our ducks to The Great Geauga County Fair at the end of August. While the Fair runs from Thursday Aug.28 to Monday Sept.1, the highlight of many 4-H’s week is the Junior Fair Livestock Sale, held on Saturday Aug. 30. The large animal auction is at 5 p.m and the small animal auction is at 2:30 p.m. If you’re interested in buying, contact Todd Montazzoli at Todd.Montazzoli@us.nestle.com. We hope to see you at the Fair!

“Y’all Come Down Now, Ya Hear?”

By Ellie Behman After some gentle urging a few years back, we managed to encourage my sister Em and brother-in-law Ed to come down to our cabin for a visit. The local county fair was coming up and featuring a tractor pull, which would be the icing on the cake since Ed’s favorite piece of farm equipment was his antique John Deere tractor. I had no doubts he would have a great time. The morning they were to arrive was overcast and the rain began to fall. I was a bit concerned it would ruin our plans. Little did I know that was the least of our problems.

First of all, since their last visit was 10 years prior nothing looked familiar and they could not find our road. They traveled up and down the hills and finally called our cabin. Ironically, they were a stones throw away and I gave them the final directions.

Being good sports they laughed about it as the rain began to fall just a little harder.

Before we knew it the time came to leave for the fair. We decided to drive separately as they would leave for home afterwards. Ed was anxious to see the array of tractors and the rest of us couldn’t wait to sample the mouthwatering food whose teasing aromas gently swept through the air.

As we drew near the entrance of the fair we realized that finding a parking place was going to be difficult. It looked like there were few empty spots but we suspected the ground was pretty well water logged.

We had no time to call out a warning as we saw Ed drive onto the soggy spot near the river. We watched helplessly as his car sank into the rain soaked ground. He frantically tried to get out, only to sink in lower as the wheels spun relentlessly, the mud spitting out all over his car like an angry dragon. Ed began to ask passersby if they could help tow him out and finally a kind man did just that. Throughout the entire ordeal Ed maintained a pleasant attitude and initially found a parking spot on higher ground.

We put that unfortunate experience behind us as we entered the fair, excited to look forward to the tractor pull as well

as an antique tractor display. We toured the animal barns, stopping to enjoy the chickens and roosters (another personal favorite animal of Ed’s). In spite of our shaky start the day was improving steadily. We savored the wonderful assortment of food that only a county fair can supply. How do they get those French fries so crispy and perfect? Elephant Ears are another of my personal favorites. I’m too old for any rides but never too old to sample as many food choices as I possibly can.

As we were touring the antique tractor display we heard an announcement that seemed to be the “last straw” of the evening: “Ladies and gentlemen, we regret to announce that the tractor pull has been cancelled.” At this point most people would have called it a day and walked out but not Ed. He took it all in stride even though his car was camouflaged in mud, there was no tractor performance and he had gotten lost that morning. We laughed about the unfortunate chain of events for many months to come. What seemed like a disaster was actually a fond, happy memory we would treasure forever, especially since Ed has passed away. Being together at the fair was so much more important than the little pitfalls we faced. I’m sure Ed is smiling down on us too as he sits high atop his John Deere tractor.

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Ellie has been a freelance writer for more than 40 years and has written over 400 articles and stories for various publications including Guideposts, Reminisce, Over The Back Fence, Good Old Days, Mature Living and several others. She has also written three romance novels and several children’s books, which are yet unpublished. She has been married nearly 56 years and is mother of three, grandmother of seven, great-grandmother of four adorable little boys. She and her husband spend as much time as possible at a cabin where they enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. This is where the majority of her writing is done as it is the perfect quiet setting for a writer.

“We forget: In life, it doesn’t matter what happens to you or where you came from. It matters what you do with what happens and what you’ve been given.” ~ Ryan Holiday

August 20, 2014

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the great geauga county fair

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On July 15, the Geauga County Fashion Board held the annual project judging and Style Revue for the 4-H clothing and textile projects. Geauga County 4-H members worked on sewing a garment or accessory in one of the offered project categories. About 45 girls completed an interview judging in the afternoon where they were judged on their project’s construction, fit and design, as well as their knowledge and research of their project area.

At the evening’s Style Revue, members were able to model their projects and Outstanding of the Day, State Fair Qualifiers and State Fair Alternates were chosen. The Geauga County Fashion Board would like to thank the three Master Clothing Educators who traveled to our county to judge the projects. If you are interested in becoming involved in Clothing and Textile projects, call the Geauga County Extension Office at 440-834-4656.

the great geauga county fair

2013 Hometown Hoe-Down Line Dancing

Hometown Hoe-Down

On Sept. 27, back by overwhelming demand are two popular headliners at the 6th Annual Hometown Hoe-Down – the Whiskey Courage Band, and Blazin Bills amazing BBQ. On the 27th from 6 to 10 p.m., the Middlefield Market Pavilion (indoors) will transform into the perfect setting for some good ole’ fashion country fun! The evening starts with the BBQ blazing right outside as ribs and chicken are cooked for the buffet, which will be served from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will also be a best of the best of Geauga County restaurants buffet with salad, baked beans, veggies, Amish baked rolls, desserts and soft drinks. The ‘Brew Saloon’ will once again be open for those of you looking for a tall cold beer, or have some fun and head over to the Wine Wagon for a chance at the Wine Pull.

Dust off your dancing boots as Whiskey Courage plays a great variety of upbeat Country/‘Southern Rock.’ Get up for a fun interactive line dance lesson or just enjoy watching the fun. Get great deals in the silent and Chinese auctions and, of course, everyone gets into the excitement of the “Cow Plop Drop!” That’s right, this is one

contest nobody can rig because it’s all up to the cow.

Geauga County Tourism hosts this event annually as a fundraiser to marketing Geauga County to visitors, which in turn supports our local businesses, restaurants and lodging facilities. The Hoe-Down provides a great return on investment to benefit the county while having a fun night out, so round up your friends and join the fun. Thank you to presenting sponsor Great Lakes Cheese, the proud manufacture of the world gold medal winning Adams Reserve Cheddar.

Tickets are now on sale for $30 per person/$50 per couple ($10 for kids ages 4 through11) and can be purchased by phone with a credit card. If space allows walk-in tickets may be available at the door for $35.

Reservations are highly recommended. If you are interested in donating an auction item or becoming a sponsor, contact Geauga County Tourism at 440-632-1538 or 800-775-8687. You can also “Like” Geauga County Tourism on Facebook to keep up on all the details, or visit www.TourGeauga. com for more details.

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