Steuben Fair Tab, August 15, 2011

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STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

FAIRS OF STEUBEN COUNTY The first fair for the exhibition of stock and development of speed was held at Bath, N.Y., under the auspices of Col. Williamson, September 21, 1795, and was a grand affair. It was advertised in the Oneida County paper as well as in other papers in the State.

Races were held, attended by the High Blades of Virginia and Maryland, The East Boys of Jersey, The Wise Jockeys of Long Island, and men from Ontario, Penn. and Canada. These Annual Fairs were kept up for a number of years under private organizations.

Elkanah Watson, of Albany, a prosperous m e rchant, purchased a farm near that city and became deeply interested in thorough and practical farming. He was successful and became an enthusiastic cultivator of the soil and stock-breeder. Through his influence our State Legislature appropriated $10,000 to be apportioned among the several counties of the State, which should raise an equal amount and organize an Agricultural Society, our first allotment being $100.00.

On June 3, 1819, Mr. Watson started out in his little wagon from Albany on a visit to the western counties of the State to urge upon the farmers the organization of Societies. He reached Bath on the 9th. A meeting was called at the Court House, and a County Agricultural Fair was organized, with Col. John Whiting as secretary. Col. Whiting was the grandfather of Mrs. Mary R. Kingsley and J. Lyon Robie, and the great grandfather of Mrs. Sarah L.

Davenport, Harriet N. Lyon and Clarence Willis. This was the first Society organized under the State authority. We copy from the Steuben and Allegany Patriot of 1820 an account of the fair held at Bath, October 1,

1820.

“STEUBEN CATTLE SHOW AND FAIR” “Yesterday the Agricultural Fair of Steuben took place. At noon a large procession, composed chiefly of our most practical and exemplary farm-

ers, marched to the Court House, when after the Throne of Grace was eloquently and favorably addressed by the Rev. David Higgins, Col. John Whiting delivered to an audience, which could scarcely find room in the building to accommodate them, an address which contained many sensible admonitions and pertinent illustrations of the various topics embraced by it.

“The officers elected for the ensuing year were Dugald Cameron, President, with four Vice Presidents, and Col. John Whiting, Secretary. In 1841 further legislation was had, under which a new organization was formed, which has been kept up ever since, and which is the progenitor of this Society.”

We should all take pride in this old Established Fair. Come and see us in its Modern Dress.

JOHN M. FARR. Secretary.

1935 Reprinted from 1935 Premium Book

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STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

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Fayre is an archaic spelling of fair, used mostly from the 15th to the 17th century. This spelling is now confusingly used for both fair and fare, the latter in the sense of “food and drink�. In itself, the word means a gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment. The alternate spelling is an old-fashioned affectation and is used in order to remind revellers and participants of medieval fayres and markets. It is mainly used for fairs that are essentially leisure rather than business events like trade fairs.

The fair is an ancient tradition, and many communities have long had dedicated fairgrounds; others hold them in a variety of public places, including streets and town squares, or even in large private gardens. Fairs are often held in conjunction with a significant event, such as the anniversary of a local historical event, a seasonal event such as harvest time, or with a holiday such as Christmas.

In Roman times, fairs were holidays on which there was

an intermission of labour and pleadings. In the Middle Ages many fairs developed as temporary markets, and were especially important for longdistance and international trade, as wholesale traders travelled, sometimes for many days, for pre-arranged fairs where they could be sure to meet those they needed to buy from or sell to. They were usually tied to a special Christian religious occasion (particularly the anniversary dedication of a church).

Tradesmen would bring and sell their wares, even in the churchyards. Such fairs might then continue annually, usual-

The Horse Exhibit Hall at The Great Allentown Fair, Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the early 1900s.

ly on the feast day of the patron saint to whom the church was dedicated. This custom was kept up until the reign of Henry VI, by which time there were a great many fairs kept on these patronal festivals, for example at Westminster on St. Peter's day, at Smithfield on St. Bartholomew's (the famous Bartholomew Fair, celebrated in Ben Jonson's play of the same name) and at Durham on St. Cuthbert's day. The Kumbh Mela, held every twelve years, at Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain is one of the largest fairs in India, where over 60 million people gathered in January 2001, making it the largest gathering anywhere in the world. In the United States, fairs draw in as many as 150 million people each summer. One example of the American county fair being featured in a famous piece of literature is in E. B. White's Charlotte's Web.[4] Children's competitions at an American fair range from breeding small animals to robotics, while the organiza-

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The famous Nottingham Goose Fair, England, in 1983

tion 4-H has become a traditional association.

Pie-powder courts: Because of the great numbers of people attracted by fairs they were often the scenes of riots and disturbances, so the privilege of holding a fair was granted by royal charter. At first they were only allowed in towns and places of strength, or where there was some bishop, sheriff or governor who could keep order. In time, various benefits became attached to certain fairs, such as granting people the protection of a holiday, and allowing them freedom from arrests in certain circumstances. The officials were authorised to do justice to those that came to their fair; eventually even the smallest fair would have had a court to adjudicate on offences and disputes arising within the fairground, which was called a pye powder court (from Old French pieds pouldrĂŠs, literally "dusty feet",

meaning an itinerant trader, from Medieval Latin pedes pulverosi).

Some fairs were free; others charged tolls and impositions.

At free fairs, traders, whether natives of the kingdom or foreigners, were allowed to enter the kingdom, and were under royal protection while travelling to and returning from the fair. The traders, their agents, and their goods were exempt from all duties and impositions, tolls and servitudes; merchants going to or coming from the fair could not be arrested, or have their goods stopped.

Article courtesy of wikipedia.org

Fair in Amsterdam

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

Plate Toss

How to Win Carnival Games Carnival games are notorious for being rigged to be in the carnival's favor. While you can occasionally win simply by trying to beat the game the way the operator explains it to you, this can often just lead to empty pockets. If you want to take home that big, fuzzy bear for your girlfriend, remember these tips on how to win those tricky carnival games.

1

Know that the milk bottles are made with leaded glass and won't fall over easily.

2

Realize that plates with extremely smooth surfaces are intentionally used in the Plate Toss carnival game. The smoothness of the surfaces make tossing coins onto the plates and keeping them there very difficult.

1

Know that in this game, the basketballs are often larger than regulation size, while the hoops are smaller than regulation size.

2

2

Never bank the basketball off of the backboard to try to make a basket.

3

Ring Toss

Throw the basketball in

basket that does not touch anything but the net.

1

Remember that the bottles are placed so close together that it is virtually impossible for the ring to grip around the mouth of the bottle.

Aim the ball so that you are coming at the stack of milk bottles at about a 45degree angle. Don't try and throw the ball straight at the stack.

2

3

3

Aim the ball at the bottom of the stack of glasses, rather than the center. Throw as fast and as hard as you can.

1

Free Throw Game

Milk Bottle Throw a very high arc and aim for a

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Aim for the front of the rows of bottles so that you have less chance of the ring bouncing off of bottles and not reaching its target.

Flick your wrist while throwing the ring to achieve better backspin so that the ring effectively wraps around the mouth of the bottle.

Get in position to toss the coin. Stand in front of the slew of plates. You may choose any position as long as you can see the plates and can toss comfortably.

5

Use more advanced tactics to win the Plate Toss.

One of these methods is to break a coin's trajectory while it's being tossed. Increase your coin's chances of landing on a plate by aiming to hit an initial plate. Bounce the coin off the initial plate's rim so that it can land on a plate near it.

It looks easy. All a player has

3

Add saliva to your coin.

Lick your fingers and coat the coin's sides and edges with the liquid. The saliva helps the coin stick to the plate as it lands.

4

Toss the coin. Instead of tossing the coin forward, toss the coin up into the air so that it will have a better chance at landing directly onto a plate. Coins that are tossed forward tend to slip off the intended plate, bounce off another and fall to the ground.

to do is toss a basketball through a hoop, throw a ping pong ball into a shallow dish or toss a dime onto a plate.

The games are usually built and run by an individual so it's difficult to make generalizations; however, the owner of the game or the carnival isn't a charity. They wouldn't offer the game if they didn't take more money in than they give.

Article courtesy of ehow.com

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

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The History of Stoney Roberts Many people say that you often have events in your lives that create life-altering changes. For Keith Roberts, one of those events occurred at the age of 15. The year was 1936. His cousin Pete Grant was working for the B Ward Beam World Champion Daredevils. The automobile thrill show was playing Proctorville, Ohio, across the

river from Keith’s home in Huntington, West Vi r g i n i a .

Pete talked Keith into attending the show as his guest.

Little did he know that they were short of show personnel.

Once he was track-side, the crew convinced him that he would make a good ramp hand and candidate for the Human Battering Ram (this is where a man lies on a junk

Bath demolition derby photo by Eric Wensel

car’s hood and is rammed through a flaming board wall).

The car used for his first stunt was driven by none other than his cousin, Pete Grant. He did the stunt and the crowd gave him a round of applause. He was hooked! Much the same thing happens to many demolition derby drivers. During that year, in 1936, he was dubbed "Stoney" by Pete.

After all, most stuntmen end up with fancy show names. In the years that followed, he became one of the most experienced crash & precision drivers in the nation. He worked his way from being a ramp hand to performing motorcycle stunts, to precision driving, and to performing stunts like the Transcontinental Bus Jump, with Rollovers, T-Bones, Dive Bombers, Flying Head-

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ons, Side Winders, Head-ons, Solid Wall Crashes (both Brick & Ice) and all the flaming stunts in between. He learned many skills on his way to becoming Ward Beam’s Show Foreman.

In 1949, another life-altering change occurred. On a strip of highway between Providence, RI and Fall River, MA, an oncoming tractor-trailer sideswiped Stoney’s Hell Driving car. The truck caused a blowout of the car’s left front tire and tore his arm off just above the elbow. Two Navy Ensigns came upon the wreck and administered lifesaving tactics, but not limb-saving.

Upon waking up in the hospital, the first person he recognized was Mr. Beam.

He often credited Ward for making him so mad at that moment that he was given an incentive to battle to recover

his way of life. Ward informed him he was finished as a stuntman, and at the same time confirmed to him the loss of his arm. He told Ward that he would prove him wrong. In less than nine months, Stoney was back on the racetrack doing stunts. He became one of the first, if not the first, handicapped stuntman in the nation. Others have followed since then. Stoney never believed in the term "Handicapped", and was very

Stoney Roberts

Ed Congden Business Mgr. Vermont St. Fair

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

Bath demolition derby photo by Eric Wensel

pleased at the use of the term "Physically Challenged".

In the spring of 1955, another stuntman by the name of Jim Curry (Thunder Bolt Curry), talked Stoney into producing a thrill show of their own called "The All American Thrill Show". By years end, Stoney went off into business on his own. In the years that followed, Stoney, using his one arm, performed in and produced his thrill show. He based the show on the strength of 28 Stunts & Crashes, not just precision driving, although that was a part of the show, right down to the reverse spin in a convertible, all accomplished

using his one arm. He became known for training and producing crashmen along with stuntmen. He believed in teaching his men to have the ability to perform any and all of the stunts required, eliminating the loss of a stunt during the show, if someone was hurt. He trained some of the best; Guy Arthur, Emerson (Buzz) Davis, Ernie Hamilton, Wayne King, Calvin King (the first black thrill show stuntman billed as the Cuban Wonder), Butch Whitehead, and Kenny Winters, just to name a few of the many.

It was in 1963 at Kenton, Ohio, that the first Demolition Derby heat was produced in

front of the grandstand in the format that is so well known today. It all had to do with a blown motor in the bus that we used for the final jump of the show. The bus never made it to Kenton. The bus jump required eight cars. One car leaped the bus, and seven cars caught the leaping car.

Needing a finale for the show Stoney recalled seeing a racetrack promoter on Long Island, NY staging an event at his track where drivers using old cars did a tough man contest smashing into each other.

That event had proven to be successful for the track and had even gained interest and coverage from TV media. For Kenton’s finale, Stoney staged a heat using his own crashmen as drivers. The crowd went wild! He knew right then that he was onto something that really pleased the crowd.

After the show, a good many people came down to the track. He overheard one man say that he would pay to smash a car like that. Over the next five years, Stoney slowly

converted his show over to nothing but Demolition Derbies. The show is now called the "STONEY ROBERTS DEMOLITION DERBY". He could see the handwriting on the wall for thrill shows. Cars used for stunts were harder to get and sponsors were decreasing. The difference between then and now is that the common person can be a Daredevil for a day. All they have to do is pay an entry fee, provide their own car, and take the wildest ride of their lives. It sometimes is a lifechanging experience.

Stoney passed away in July of 1992 due to complications from a surgical procedure he underwent. He passed the reins of the company to his son, Frank Roberts. Frank had

PAGE 7 promised his father to take the Demolition experience into the 21st Century. He did so by producing the first Demolition Derby at Bushnell, Florida, in February of 2000 for the Discovery Channel’s documentary "The History of Demolition Derby". It was the first Derby of the 21st Century and the documentary continues to be shown occasionally on cable stations today. Frank and his crew continue to produce the Highest Quality of Demolition Derbies in the Nation. In the last 41 years, the company has produced derbies in more than twentythree states east of the Mississippi River.

Article courtesy of stoneyroberts.com

Bath demolition derby photo by Eric Wensel

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STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

Has Milk Become Obsolete?

Most men and women can vividly remember those childhood moments when their parents insisted they drink their milk. Kids are often told milk helps create strong bones and healthy teeth and therefore should be an integral part of a healthy diet.

But does drinking milk offer such great benefits? While the consensus opinion toward milk and dairy products remains similar enough to that of yesteryear to keep milk and dairy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's official food pyramid, alternative pyramids not produced by USADA are beginning to suggest that dairy is perhaps not as essential to human health as people have been led to believe.

In their food pyramid, r e s e a rchers at the Harvard

School of Public Health suggest that milk is not an essential part of a healthy diet. In fact, Walter Willett, MD, PhD, a professor of epidemiology and the head of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health, feels the USADA recommendation to drink low-fat milk was misguided in that it inferred doing so could reduce the risk of bone fractures. However, Willett notes there is little evidence supporting that milk consumption reduces fractures.

So is milk a wolf in sheep's clothing? Not exactly. In fact, milk remains a great source of a handful of important nutrients, including calcium, potassium and vitamin D. Each of these nutrients is considered important to bone health, and

deficiency in these nutrients is common among those who do not drink milk. Since milk is also a good source of potassium, it can also help fight high blood pressure. For example, if men and women consume lots of salt and don't get enough potassium, then their risk for high blood pressure is likely to increase. Of course, an alternative solution in such a case is simply to reduce salt consumption.

But the problem with relying on milk and dairy products in general as the primary source for calcium, vitamin D and potassium is the quantity of milk that must be consumed to get the recommended daily value of these nutrients. For instance, to get the recommended daily value of vitamin D solely from milk

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would require the consumption of roughly 10 glasses of milk per day. Because milk is relatively high in calories (one cup of 2 percent milk has 138 calories), it can be unhealthy to drink 10 glasses of milk per day. What's more, men, women and children can get calcium and potassium from things other than dairy products. Many fruits and vegetables, for example, are a great source of potassium and don't pack the caloric punch of dairy products.

The Harvard School of Public Health pyramid also notes the value of supplements to a daily diet. For those who don't like dairy or those who are trying to lose weight and don't want to worry about the extra calories that come with dairy products, supplements of vitamin D and calcium are an easy way

to get the recommended daily value without having to count calories.

As much as men and women might remember parents insisting they drink their milk, it's not the milk itself that offered the health benefits.

Instead, it was nutrients like vitamin D, calcium and potassium that made Mom and Dad insist their kids drink milk.

These nutrients can be found in a host of low calorie foods and supplements that haven't necessarily made milk obsolete but have made it easier for men and women to stay healthy even if they never have another glass of milk.

For those who continue to enjoy a tall glass of milk, choose low- or nonfat varieties to get the benefits of milk without the fat, cholesterol and calories.

Metro News Service

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR band for a short time in 2001 Sandy joined the band when Steve quit in 2001 and Mary joined a few weeks later.

Members of The White River Band include:

Sandy Higgins Lead Guitar Lead Vocals

White River was formed in a garage in Presho NY in the fall of 1992.

The Original members of the band were: Jack Stone from Presho NY- Lead Guitar and Vocals Lee Rankin from Addison NY - Rhythm Guitar and Vocals Chris Mangione from Corning NY - Bass Guitar and Vocals Jim Sampson From Covington PA - Drums and Vocals.

White River's named was picked by Jack Stone from a one of his favorite hunting spots in Montana The First Gig White River had was at Corey Creek Golf club for their New Years Eve Party in 1992. When Chris left the band we hired Jerry Calkins our current Bass

Player Chris rejoined the band as the Lead Guitar player when Jack quit the band in 1997 Linda Lee from Bath NY joined the band for a while in the early nineties and again in 2001 for a short period of time.

White River added a Steel Guitar Player in 1995 Bob Schlick from Bath NY which was a member till his death in 2004. After Bob's Death we had a sit in Steel Player Jimmy Ingram till his death in the fall of 2004. Lee quit the band and retired to Florida in 1998.

My Daughter Nikkole Sampson sang Joni with me in 1997.

Steve Monroe joined the

Sandy Higgins from Blossburg Pa is the Lead Guitar Player of the Band and does Lead Vocals along with singing Backup (Harmonies).

He has played Professionally for 42 years.

What Sandy likes most about playing is seeing a Full dance floor of people!

Mary Higgins Keyboards/Vocals Mary Higgins from Blossburg Pa. She is Sandy Higgins wife and plays Keyboards in White River.

She has played Professionally for 32 years. Mary Sings some Lead and also sings Backup (Harmonies).

What Mary likes most about playing is Entertaining People!

Cindy Bastian

PAGE 9 Lead Vocals / Extra Percussion

Cindy Bastian of Mansfield PA is our Female Lead Singer in White River. Cindy is always full of energy and likes to keep the crowd involved during the shows. She has played Professionally for 41 years.

Cindy also sing Backup (Harmonies) along with helping the drummer with fill in percussion.

What Cindy likes most about playing is The Harmonies and Variation of Music that we play!

Jerry Calkins Bass Guitar/ Harmonies Jerry Calkins from Woodhull NY is our Bass Guitar Player in White River and does Harmony singing with the band. He is the Backbone to the sound of White River. He

has played Professionally for 47 years.

What Jerry likes most about playing is the band does not drink (alcohol) and we're professionals in how we play.

Jim Sampson Drums / Lead Vocals Jim Sampson from Covington PA and is the only original member of White River when the band started in 1992. He plays Drums for White River and is the designer of this website. He has played Professionally for 36 yrs. Jim also does Lead and Harmony singing.

What Jim likes most about playing is the band is his "2nd Family" all the members you read about are like my brothers and sisters and wouldn't trade them for the world !

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STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR Lorrie Morgan was barely a teenager when she made her first major appearance in 1975 singing "Paper Roses" with her dad, country star George Morgan on the Grand Ole Opry. Since that fateful night, Lorrie has never looked back. Her whirlwind life and career has engrained in her a confident sense of self that shines through on her latest recordings like the late afternoon sun glows through the stained-glass windows of the Ryman Auditorium.

When her father passed away in 1975 Lorrie didn't miss a beat in carrying on his legacy. She took to the road with her dad's band and toured the country, keeping his memory alive and winning countless fans along the way.

The music industry soon recognized that Lorrie's star was on the rise and in 1984 she made history when at age twenty-five she was the youngest person ever to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

It wasn't long before she was offered a recording contract with RCA and later with sister label BNA, and a string of hits began. Timeless country standards like "Five Minutes,"

Lorrie Morgan

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"Something in Red," "Watch Me" and "What Part of No" established Lorrie as a bona fide country star. Lorrie has built a reputation as an artist who knows a great song when she hears one. The proof is in her legacy of mining Nashville's songwriting community throughout her career and finding hits. Her latest offering, I Walk Alone, is a labor of love that has been a lifetime in the making. The twelve songs she co-wrote and co-produced for I Walk Alone find Lorrie in a particularly introspective and vulnerable place in her life. Cuts including "Mirror, Mirror, " "Woman Thing," and the title cut offer Lorrie's fans a rare look into the life of the woman whose life has quite literally been lived out on stage.

Always an over-achiever, Lorrie has also completed an album of "evergreen" classics, complete with an all-star cast of musicians and guests.

Recorded entirely live in the studio with producer Wally Wilson at the controls, A Moment In Time captures the essence of Lorrie's sultry, flawless vocals as she delivers timeless classics including "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "After

the Fire is Gone" (duet with Tracy Lawrence, and "Easy Lovin'" (duet with Raul Malo).

Larry King once asked Lorrie about her turbulent lifestyle and she told him "drama is something that lets you know you're alive." Although she's had her share of drama in both music and her personal life, Lorrie has taken it all in stride.

Lorrie Morgan's trophy room is adorned with reminders of milestones that include fourteen top-ten hits, twelve albums, seven of which have gone gold and platinum, and four Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Her duet partners have included the likes of Frank Sinatra and The Beach Boys. With all these accomplishments it would be easy for her to rest on her laurels.

But that's just not Lorrie.

Lorrie Morgan has a lot left to do. In addition to her new recording projects, she maintains a rigorous touring schedule is currently at work on several new business endeavors.

She's living up to her reputation as one of country music's premiere singers, and she'll be entertaining us all for a long time to come.

Article courtesy of www.thebroadwaytheatre.org

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

Pam Tillis Take a look at Pam Tillis' mantel and it's lined with three CMA awards, two Grammy awards, and a shiny new IBMA award. But look a little closer and you will see snapshots of Pam's life, memories captured with family and friends. Pictures of Pam with Dolly Parton, Tony Bennett, Clive Davis and many others who Pam once may have idolized but now consider friends.

"Those relationships nurture my music, says Pam. "They're more important than any awards."

Recording Artist Pam Tillis has been a formidable force in country music since her first single hit the charts in 1990.

She has racked up 14 Top Five hits including six that hit #1, and has sold over 6 million records. An accomplished songwriter, Pam has had her compositions recorded by artists as varied as Chaka Khan, Martina McBride, Highway 101, Juice Newton and Conway Twitty. She was one of the first women in Nashville to produce her own album, and she was awarded the coveted Female Vocalist of the Year by the CMA in 1994.

In 1999 Pam showed her

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

trademark versatility by being the first female country entertainer to ever star in a Broadway Musical when she appeared in Smokey Joe's CafĂŠ. After performances on Jay Leno, David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, Pam expanded her television credits with roles in Diagnosis Murder, Promised Land and LA Law. Pam was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2000 and recently did a highprofile ad campaign alongside Martina McBride, Chely Wright and Jamie O'Neal for Easy Spirit Shoes featured in Vogue, In Style and Redbook.

In addition to becoming an Opry Member at the turn of the century, Pam signed with Sony Records in 2000. Sony released the critically acclaimed Its All Relative allowing her to pay tribute to her beloved father, Mel Tillis.

"The Dad Album", as she affectionately calls it, landed her in the #4 spot of the top ten country recordings of 2002 according to the USA Today and some of the best critical reviews of her career.

In 2006, Pam launched her own record label, Stellar Cat Records as "an A & R freezone" for releasing her own albums away from the com-

mercial confines of Nashville's Music-Row. Stellar Cat Released Rhinestoned Pam's first studio album in 5 Years and just like the Mel Ti l l i s Tribute Record, it was met with glowing reviews from the critics including Critics Choice Azvard from People Magazine and the single Band in the Window held the #1 chart position for 6 weeks on the ECMA chart in Europe.

During the Christmas season of 2007, Stellar Cat released Pam's first holiday Album which is a mixed bag loaded with torch and twang. With influences as diverse as Willie Nelson and Nancy Wilson, Just in Time for Christmas, walked the a fine line between down home country and uptown torch. "I just wanted to make a Christmas album as comfortable and familiar as your favorite winter sweater."

Pam Tillis can tell you what it is like to win big awards, run a record label, sing on Broadway, and sell platinum records, but she'd much rather change the subject to the future. "I've traveled a million miles in my career," says Tillis. "The next million don't scare me a bit."

Article courtesy of www.thebroadwaytheatre.org

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STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

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Who Threw That Shoe?

The history of horseshoe pitching can be traced back to Roman soldiers. During their idle hours, the soldiers occupied themselves with games that consisted of tossing metal rings over stakes pounded into the ground. Whether these first metal rings were actually horseshoes is a matter of some debate.

Which Game First Horseshoes or Quoits?

There’s no doubt that the games of horseshoes and quoits are closely related. A quoit is a metal disk with a hole in the middle that may at one time have been a weapon. A game of quoits consists of attempting to throw the disk over a hob or pin embedded in soft clay.

Some historians speculate that Roman officers played quoits while their underlings improvised by pitching horseshoes.

Others believe it happened the other way around.

Soldiers began by pitching horseshoes and someone began forming the shoes into rings.

War Games Either way, we know that quoits was being played in England in the 14th Century, much to the chagrin of the

English rulers who felt the games distracted men from military training, particularly archery. The game was outlawed in 1388. By the 16th century, English peasants were playing both horseshoes and quoits and would later export both games to North America.

Like the Roman soldiers, North American soldiers found horseshoes to be good wartime recreation. During the Revolutionary war, US soldiers evidently played horseshoes causing the Duke of Wellington to write, “the war was won by the pitchers of horse hardware.” Union soldiers pitched mule shoes in Civil War camps.

From the Military Camp to the Back Yard Soldiers took the game home with them after the wars and horseshoe courts sprang up in communities across the US and Canada.

The game became a family sport that was enjoyed by men, women, boys and girls.

There is some evidence that the first horseshoe club was founded in Pennsylvania in 1899. The first “world championship” horseshoe tournament took place in Bronson, Kansas at a 1909 horse show.

The rules of this first tourna-

ment called for two-inch tall stakes to be placed 38 feet apart. Ringers were worth five points and leaners counted three. Shoes that were close to the stake were worth one point. Games were played to 21 points. Thirty-four men entered the tournament and the winner, Frank Jackson, was appropriately awarded a belt with a horseshoe buckle.

Jackson would go on to win six more world championships. He still ranks fourth on the all-time horseshoe world championship list.

Horseshoe Pitching Strategies Turning the Horseshoe Turns are the number of revolutions the shoe makes in flight. To get the horseshoe to turn properly in flight, it should be gripped by the fingers on one of the shanks or legs. Hold it between your fingers and thumb with the index and middle finger under the bottom of the horseshoe and curled up over its inner edge. Position the ring finger and the little finger to balance the horseshoe. Try throwing

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the horseshoe in such a way that it lands open at the pit.

To make the turn faster, swing the shoe up a little more vertically before leveling it into the release position. Conversely, to make it slower, level the shoe in a horizontal position a little more quickly before releasing. Holding the horseshoe a little up nearer the toe or a little down nearer the heel on the shank will also speed or slow the turn.

The Stance Ted Allen, one of the greatest champions in the history of horseshoe pitching, regards proper stance as vitally important. While throwing a horseshoe, never have a rigid or tense posture. Let the body be naturally erect with a slight crouch. A right-handed player should stand to the left of the stake and a left-hander should take his position on the righthand side of the stake so that the delivery-arm is always in line with the stakes. Always pitch from the same side of the stake at both ends of the court. So, if you are standing to the left of the stake at the south end of the court, then stand on the left at the north end. Also ensure you are wellbalanced before starting your delivery. With regular practice, the well-balanced stance will become a habit so that you are always well coordinated and in perfect alignment with the stake.

Concentration Before starting to pitch, concentrate on your distance and alignment with the stake.

Practice throwing the shoe for some time to get into the mood. Concentrate on your own pitching, alignment and on gaining the correct posture. Ignore your opponents and work on your own strategies. Perfect your grip and focus on getting the rhythm right before you start the actual game.

The Footwork The correct footwork in the delivery step makes it easier to swing the shoe and also to maintain balance for that perfect throw which will land a ringer (a throw where the horseshoe lands on the pit completely encircling the stake). A short and easy walk to the pit will provide enough propelling power to your shoe. A long walk will just disturb the balance of your body and result in a low trajectory.

The delivery step must be perfectly coordinated with the swing of the arm at the moment when arm reaches the height of its back swing. A right-handed player should step forward with his left foot and vice versa. Always step in alignment with the stake and never cross step.

Article courtesy of sportsknowhow.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

Friday August 19th 7:30PM

Show Info MONSTER TRUCKS: In attendance the King of the Monster Trucks Bigfoot, World Record Holder Bad Habit, and Viper

PAGE 13

Flatland Freestyle and a the legend Crash Moreau performing death defying Hollywood Stunts. These amazing entertainers will perform various Motorsports thrill show acts that are sure to amaze fans of all ages.

All Talent Subject To Change Without Notice

MOTORCYCLE & HOLLYWOOD THRILL SHOW: As seen on TV WORLD RECORD HOLDER Doug Danger,

MONSTER TRUCK RIDES: Begin approx 2 hrs before showtime For a nominal fee all fans can get the ride of a lifetime on the Mopar 1 Monster Ride Truck!!!

Don't Miss this one, you GOTTA BE THERE!!!

PAGE 14

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

How to Eat Watermelon.... ... And Win That Watermelon Eating Contest

What would summertime be without watermelon? You already know that it's a delicious food that can cool you off on a hot summer's day. But what you might not know is that it's filled with nutrients--

like citrulline, an amino acid that helps wounds to heal, and lycopene, an antioxidant that is known for fighting heart disease and prostate cancer. At only 48 calories per cup, watermelon is one of the

best food bargains around.

• Carve it. Carving isn't just for Halloween pumpkin; you can also put your skills to work on a watermelon. Make a basket to hold a fruit salad. The National Watermelon Promotion Board has many creative carving ideas along with directions.

• Make watermelon ice cubes. Cut watermelon into chunks, remove the seeds, and liquefy in the blender.

Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Watermelon ice cubes are great in a glass of grapefruit or orange juice.

• Make a watermelon citrus cooler. Mix seedless watermelon chunks with of limeade concentrate, fresh lemon juice

and crushed ice in a blender.

Blend the mixture, and then pour it into a pitcher. You can also freeze this mixture into ice pops--just pour the liquid into paper cups, freeze one hour, and insert wooden popsicle sticks into the slushy mixture, Then freeze for 3 more hours and tear away the paper to serve.

• Eat it the old-fashioned way. Just slide your watermelon in half lengthwise and then into slices. Enjoy!

How To Ace the Competition!

1. Develop a technique.

The easiest way is also the messiest, with no utensils, but there are still possibilities for

success using a fork or spoon.

2. Swallow the seeds or chew them with your bite of watermelon. Spitting the seeds will cut into your eating time.

3. Make sure your hair is pulled back out of your face, if applicable. You don't want to be distracted from the task at hand.

4. Take lots of small bites you can swallow almost whole. Chewing is another factor that will hurt your eating time.

5. Eat fast and furious. At most contests, the competition is cutthroat.

6. Have fun and worry about the mess later.

Article courtesy of ehow.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

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STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

Rosaire’s Royal Racing Pigs Performance, particularly of the pig racing variety, is in Pamela Rosaire’s blood. “I’m eighth generation circ u s , ” the 18-year-old says proudly.

She and her father travel the country from their home base in Bostwick, Fla., 10 months of the year bringing their act, “Rosaire’s Royal Racers” to fans at county and state fairs, private parties and festivals.

Her parents started the business for themselves 23 years ago after working for another pig racing entity for a few years. Pamela and her brother and sister grew up in the family’s huge RV, lovingly called the “Porcine Palace.”

“It’s different, but it’s all I’ve done. I have friends all over the country,” Rosaire says. Her dad got his start in show business when he came to the U.S. from England with his father and their Pekingese dog act. She says she also has aunts and uncles who train bears, chimpanzees and tigers.

About three years ago the family bought their first property in Florida, which is where mom and the two younger Rosaires stay while Pamela and her dad hit the road for fair season up and down the East Coast.

The pigs — they travel with

24 pigs of different varieties —have living quarters in the lower section of the vehicle, complete with air conditioning. “It’s ridiculous, it’s very plush,” she says. Their human counterparts have living quarters upstairs.

Rosaire was also homeschooled aboard the “ P o rcine Palace.” She said that the traveling life of a performer is the life for her.

“Even if I don’t end up pig racing forever I’m definitely going to be in the entertainment industry,” she says.

The best part of her job is the fans who cheer wildly as the racing pigs make their way around the track. “They go hog wild. It’s all about the people,” she says. “It’s a true adrenaline rush.”

The pigs begin training to be racers when they’re about 1 month old. The Rosaires used cream-filled cookies, similar to Oreos, as bait. She says the pigs are very intelligent and could “blow a dog right out of the water” in terms of trainability. “A lot of people think they’re dumb and dirty, but they’re very intelligent,” Rosaire says.

Rosaire’s Racers are a free daily show sponsored by Five Star Bank.

Article courtesy of www.saratogian.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

What Is Harness Racing?

Harness racing is an offshoot of traditonal horseracing. In harness racing, the horses do not gallop with a rider on their back, but are tethered to a light cart, which a jockey guides around an oval racetrack. They are supposed to trot around the track without breaking stride, although doing so does not disqualify them. Breaking stride is called being "on a break." The driver must then try to get the horse back on the proper gait, get the horse out of the way of the others, and must not use the break to improve his position

in the field.

Horses used for this type of racing are called S-breds or S t a n d a r d b r e d s. This means they are "pure-blooded" thoroughbreds, specially bred for the demands of the sport and descended from other horses like themselevs. Harness-racing horses are sometimes called "trotters" or "pacers."

Every trotting horse has a "birthday" of January first, no matter what date it is actually born. Even if a horse is born on December 25, he officially turns one year old at that time and is called a "yearling." A

year later, he officially turns two.

This is the standard method of categorizing horses so that they run against others of their general grouping but it can be a disadvantage to late-born h o r s e s. For this reason, breeders try to arrange it so that foals (baby horses) are born in April or May, which gives them plenty of time to mature.

The horses race around a standard oval tra ck . Those with a history of breaking stride or who have been away from racing for a long time must race in a qualifying race before returning. A qualifying race is one without a

PAGE 17

New York Facts & Trivia

purse(winnings) or betting. It is used to determine the horse's manners, ability, and likelihood of being able to conform to racing rules.

Come see for yourself, Tu e s d ay at 12:00pm. NYS Sire Stake Colt Races and Overnight Races.

• The Woodstock Music and Arts Fair was actually held in Bethel.

• Dairying is New York's most important farming activity with over 18,000 cattle and or calves farms.

• Sam Schapiro began the Kosher wine industry on New York's Lower East side with their famous extra heavy original concord wine in 1899.

• Power Mill Park situated outside Rochester has a house on Park Road shaped like a group of mushrooms.

• Chittenago is the home of L. Frank Baum, author of the "Wizard of Oz". It features a yellow brick inlaid sidewalks leading to Aunti Em's and other Oz-themed businesses.

Chittenago is the location of an annual Munchkins parade.

• Oneida has the wo rld's smallest church with the dimensions of 3.5' X 6'.

• The first railroad in America ran a distance of 11 miles b e t ween Albany and Schenectady.

• The first capital of the United States was New York City. In 1789 George Washington took his oath as president on the balcony at Federal Hall.

• Gennaro Lombardi opened the first United States pizzeria in 1895 in New York City.

• On July 28, 1945 an Army Air Corps B-25 crashed into the Empire State Building at the 79th floor level.

• New York's largest lake in Oneida measures 79.8 square miles.

• New York's highest waterfall is the 215 foot Taughannock.

• Horseheads is the first and only village in the United States dedicated to the service of the American military horse.

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History of the Ferris Wheel

The first ferris wheel was designed by George W. Ferris, a bridge-builder from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Ferris began his career in the railroad industry and then pursued an interest in bridge building. He understood the growing need for structural steel, Ferris founded G.W.G. Ferris & Co. in Pittsburgh, a firm that tested and inspected metals for railroads and bridge builders.

He built the Ferris Wheel for the 1893 World's Fair, which was held in Chicago to com-

memorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's landing in America. The Chicago Fair's organizers wanted something that would rival the Eiffel Tower. Gustave Eiffel had built the tower for the Paris World's Fair of 1889, which honored the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Finding a suitable design proved difficult: Architect Daniel H. Burnham, who was in charge of selecting the project for the Chicago World's Fair, complained at an engineer's banquet in 1891 about having found nothing that "met the expectations of the people". Among the audience was George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., owner of a firm that tested iron and steel. He had an inspiration and scribbled the design for the Ferris Wheel on a napkin during the dinner.

It was considered an engineering wonder: two 140-foot

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steel towers supported the wheel; they were connected by a 45-foot axle, the largest single piece of forged steel ever made up until that time.

The wheel section had a diameter of 250 feet and a circumference of 825 feet. Tw o 1000-horsepower reversible engines powered the ride.

Thirty-six wooden cars held up to sixty riders each. The ride cost fifty cents and made $726,805.50 during the World's Fair. The original Ferris Wheel was destroyed in 1906, but there are other ferris wheels at theme parks and carnivals everywhere.

When George Gale Ferris built his first wheel he probably never dreamed of the trend he was starting.

However, his wheel was huge, and certainly not very portable. It took The Eli Bridge Company to develop a practical, portable wheel.

Article courtesy of inventors.about.com

Ferris wheel at the Chicago World's Fair Photo by the Waterman Co., Chicago, Ill. 1893

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

Why horses need their hooves pampered On the surface, it seems almost foolish that a horse should be shod with a hard, metal disk on each of its hooves. After all, if animals were meant to wear shoes wouldn't we see cheetahs wearing running sneakers or dogs donning boots?

Although it may seem odd, horseshoes provide protection to animals who are used as working horses.

Working horses are those that are asked to carry riders, pull farm equipment and do different tasks that a wild horse does not. There are distinct differences between domesticated working horses and their wild counterparts, which is why domestic horses are fitted with shoes.

In the wild, horses walk long distances to find acceptable

grazing pastures. Trekking so far across different types of terrain naturally hardens the horses' hooves. Furthermore, eating wild vegetation provides certain nutrients essential to strengthening hooves and keeping them healthy.

Domestic horses walk far less than their wild cousins.

Also, commercial feed provided to them does not have the same level of nutrients necessary to properly strengthen hooves. The added weight of riders or gear can put strain on horse hooves. To help alleviate that, different horseshoes are used depending on the type of work the horse does.

The person who does shoeing on a horse is called a farrier. The farrier's tools and apron have remained unchanged for years. The far-

rier often goes to the horse to do his work. Shoeing can be done hot or cold, but the cold process requires horseshoes be custom-made at another location. Hot shoeing allows the farrier to custom mold shoes on the premises.

While the horse shoeing process may look painful for the horse, in essence it's just like getting a pedicure. An experienced farrier knows what to do to make a horse comfortable and prevent any pain. Here's a general synopsis of what's done with a shoeing.

1. The old shoe is removed by straightening the clenches, or the nails that have been bent to secure the shoe. Once straight, the shoe is removed with pincers.

2. The farrier then trims, levels and cleans the hoof with cutters and a rasp.

3. The farrier will then take one of his variety of horseshoes that will be a close fit for the hoof and heat it (in hot shoeing) in a forge. The hot shoe is placed up against the horse's hoof to determine if modifications must be made.

4. The shoe is worked and reworked until the shape is ideal. This may take several go-arounds.

5. The new shoe is then nailed to the hoof. Most of the time seven nails are used, and they are driven toward the outside of the hoof so part of the nails poke through. The excess is cut off and the top part of the nails are bent down to form clenches.

There are many different types of horseshoes for particular tasks. These include shoes for trail riding, jumping, racing, and even therapy for horses that may otherwise go lame.

PAGE 19 Although shoeing has many advantages, the fact remains that nails must be driven into the hoof, which can damage some of the fibers of the horn.

Shoes also confine the hoof to one shape, preventing it from naturally being able to flex under weight. Inexperienced farriers may hurt a horse by causing pain or damaging tender tissues in the foot.

All in all, working horses generally benefit from wearing shoes. Many people find that watching a farrier at work is a spectacle worthy of witnessing. Metro News Service

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PAGE 20

Draft Horse Showing Draft horse showing refers to horse shows exclusively for horses of the draft horse breeds. In North America, though a small number of draft horses are also shown under saddle, the term "Draft horse showing" refers to a specific horse show competition that primarily features driving exhibitors present their horses to be judged in harness.

Worldwide, some draft horse shows also feature riding classes.

The driving events at these competitions are somewhat akin to fine harness classes at horse shows for light horses, though the four horse and larger hitch classes also resemble some aspects of combined driving. Draft horse shows are different from draft horse pulling competitions, where teams of horses compete to determine who can pull the most weight.

Exhibitors of these classes must follow a pattern for each class in which they participate.

The pattern is the same for every class. The hitches enter the arena one at a time, following one another. They travel to the right, along the rail in a counter-clockwise direction. A hitch is a unit consisting of the exhibitor, his or her horse(s) and vehicle, being a cart or wagon. The judge is observing each hitch from the middle of the ring where he or she is standing.

All of the hitches make a few laps in this counter-clockwise direction and then reverse. A lap is completed when a hitch travels the entire way around the arena next to the rail.

When the reverse is made, the hitches diagonally cut the ring in half in order to go the opposite direction. This allows the judge to see the other side of each hitch. A couple more laps are made going in this clockwise direction. While making these laps on the rail, the horses are trotting and usually asked to walk for a few steps only once during the

entire class. Next, all of the hitches line up, coming to a complete stop in the middle of the ring, all facing the same direction. The judge then looks at each hitch individually and has them back up. This requires the driver of each hitch to direct his or her horse(s) to back either the cart or wagon a few feet, stop, and then step forward to the original position. Finally, the judge places all of the hitches in the order of his or her preference.

The main classes in a show exclusively for draft horses are limited to driving competition, and generally include the following: • Ladies Cart—One horse driven in a cart by a woman • Men’s Cart—One horse driven in a cart by a man • Team -- Two horses hitched side by side on a show wagon, driven by a man or woman • Tandem—Two horses hitched with one lead horse directly in front of one wheel horse, driven by a man or woman in a cart. Considered

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

an unsafe hitch by many drivers, since the tendency for the lead horse to turn around and face the wheel horse.

• Unicorn—Three horses hitched as a team with one horse in front of the team, driven by a man or woman • Four—Four horses hitched as two teams, one pair in front of the other, driven by a man or woman • Six -- Six horses hitched as three teams, one in front of another, driven by a man or woman • Eight—Eight horses hitched as four teams, one in front of another, driven by a man or woman "Breeding" or "Halter" classes are also offered at many shows. These classes evaluate the conformation of the ani-

mals.

In the United States and Canada, the breeds of draft horses shown, include: * Belgian * Percheron * Clydesdale * Shire * Suffolk Punch * American Cream Draft Horse.

Belgians, Percherons and Clydesdales tend to be the dominant breeds seen at North American draft horse shows. The cost of a draft horse depends on the level of competition at which an exhibitor would like to compete. If an exhibitor would like to compete at the highest level, receiving first place honors at the toughest shows, a great horse could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000, with the most expensive horse sold at public

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011 auction costing $112,500. A draft horse shown as a hobby and competing only at local or county fairs would start at approximately $1,000.

A harness exhibitor uses appropriate equipment for driving, beginning with a truck and trailer to haul the draft horses to the show. A show harness, a show wagon, and a show cart must be purchased as well. These three items are only used in the arena while a hitch is performing. Another set of work harness and a practice wagon is used at home for training.

Along with the costly equipment, decorations that are put up at the draft horse shows and miscellaneous tack items must also be obtained.

A hitch is judged the moment it enters the arena.

Usually, there is only one judge for all the hitches in an entire horse show, and it is

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

usually a different judge than the halter classes. The hitches are judged on a variety of aspects including physical conditioning of the horses, conformation, hoof size, cleanliness and quality of turnout, movement of the horses, quality of action, manners and how well the horses work together as a team and as a hitch as a whole. The presentation and soundness of the wagon is also evaluated, as well as the drivers ability to drive the hitch.

There is no standard or uniform set of rules. All judges have their own opinion on what they like, putting more emphasis on certain aspects than others do. This is what makes draft horse showing so unique; the outcome of a show can never be predicted.

Before leaving the farm all equipment is checked for problems, cleaned thorough-

ly, and packed into the truck–trailer used for travel.

Most hitches use a semi trailer to transport their horses and all their equipments from show to show. Generally, the maximum number of horses that can be trailered in this manner is nine.

Most exhibitors arrive the day before showing begins so that they may set up their stalls, including stall decorations that display the farm name and colors, and prepare for the hectic show schedule.

Most exhibitors bathe their horses before departing from their home farms so that their stock arrive at the show looking well groomed. Other trainers and farms are evaluating their competition as soon as they arrive, so this is as much for show as is practical.

Depending on the show's facilities, the draft horses tend to be hosed down upon

arrival, or bathed completely to remove any dirt from their coats, though each farm has their own way of doing things.

Clydesdales require extra attention after the bathing process, due to their leg feathers, which are coated in sawdust to help keep dirt out of the wet hair.

The morning of the show horses are completely groomed, sometimes using a vacuum to remove any dust that has settled into the horses' coats since their bath.

Next, most breeds have their hooves painted black, usually with hoof black or a glossy black spray paint. Exceptions to this are the Clydesdale and Shire breeds which commonly have white hooves, linked to the white leg markings preferable for their breed. For these breeds, it is necessary to powder their white feathers with baby powder, or a similar sub-

PAGE 21 stance, once again depending on preference.

While the hooves are drying, the mane is rolled and tails are braided up in a specific way.

At this point, the horses are harnessed and then sprayed with fly spray to prevent movement in the show ring.

Harnesses are wiped down again to remove any dust that has settled on them and the horses are hitched to the cart or wagon that will be used during the next class. wikipedia.org

PAGE 22

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

4H - What Is It All About?

4-H is a national organization which helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become productive citizens.

4-H also helps youth to meet the diversities and challenges of today's society and brings together youth and adults to design programs that will teach skills for living. 4-H upholds the theme of "learning by doing." It reaches people in their own neighborhoods with delivery methods suitable to their needs. 4-H

also helps provide a stronger bond between family members.

Since its humble beginnings more than 100 years ago, 4-H has gr own to become the nation’s largest youth development organization. The 4-H idea is simple: help yo u n g people and their families gain the skills they need to be proactive forces in their communities’ and develop ideas for a more innovative economy. That idea was the catalyst to begin the 4-H movement, and those values continue today.

As one of the first youth development organizations in America, 4-H opened the door for young people to learn leadership skills and explore ways to give back. 4-H revolution-

ized how youth connected to p ractical, hands-on learning experiences while outside of the classroom.

The Birth of 4-H Programs During the late 1800's, researchers at public universities saw that adults in the farming community did not readily accept the new agricultural discoveries being developed on university campuses.

H oweve r, they found that young people were open to n ew thinking and would "experiment" with new ideas and share their experiences and successes with adults. In this way, rural youth programs became an innovative way to introduce new agriculture technology to their communities.

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

The seed of the 4-H idea of practical and "hands-on" learning came from the desire to make public school education more connected to country life. Early programs tied both public and pri va t e resources together for the purpose of helping rural youth.

Building community clubs to help solve these agricultural challenges was a first step t oward youth learning more about the industries in their community.

A. B. Graham started one such youth program in Clark County, Ohio, in 1902, which is considered the birth of the 4-H program in the United S t a t e s. The first club was called "The Tomato Club" or the "Corn Growing Club". T.A. "Dad" Eri ckson of Douglas County, Minnesota, started local agricultural after-school clubs and fairs also in 1902.

Jessie Field Shambaugh developed the clover pin with an H on each leaf in 1910, and by 1912 they were called 4-H clubs.

When Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 and created the Cooperative Extension System at USDA, it included work of various boys' and girls' clubs involved with agriculture, home economics and related subjects, which effectively nationalized the 4H organization. By 1924, these clubs became organized as 4-H clubs, and the clover emblem was adopted.

The Cooperative Extension System is a unique partnership of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the 109 land-grant universities (in every state and territory) and more than 3,000 county offices.

As a publicly funded, nonformal collabora t i ve national educational netwo rk, Cooperative Extension combines the ex p e rtise and resources of fe d e ral, state, and local gove rnments.

Cooperative Extension is designed to meet the need for research, knowledge and educational programs that enable people to make practical decisions.

Through the local county and state offices, Extension staff provides research-based information, non-formal educational programs and technical advice directly to individuals, families and communities that enable them to be self reliant and improve their lives.

Historically, these efforts have been described in va rious ways - as major projects, progra m s, areas or core programs.

Today, 4-H has an expansive reach, serving youth in rural, urban, and suburban commu-

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011 nities in every state across the nation. Youth currently in 4-H are tackling the nation’s top issues, from global food security, climate change and sustainable energy to childhood obesity and food safety. 4-H out-of-school programming, in-school enrichment programs, clubs and camps also offer a wide variety of science, e n g i n e e ring, technology and applied math educational opportunities – from agricultural and animal sciences to r o cke t ry, robotics, env i r o nmental protection and computer science – to improve the nation’s ability to compete in key scientific fields and take on the leading challenges of the 21st century.

4-H also has an expanded global presence through the d evelopment of the International Farm Youth E x c h a n g e. The Exchange helped to develop similar 4-H p r o grams in more than 80 countries throughout the world.

As 4-H grew, so has the American economy.

Companies in the areas of agri c u l t u r e, manufacturing, technology, education seek out 4-H youth to join the ranks of their most successful employees. In addition, you will find 4-H Distinguished Alumni in many different fields such as business & industry, commu n i c a t i o n s, education, entertainment, sports and public service.

National 4-H History Preservation Preserving – and making accessible – the history of 4-H highlights an essential part of Americana. What began as a bold experiment in empowering young people to advance agricultural practices of their parents evolved over the past century into a highly respected youth development organiza-

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

tion reaching all segments of the US citizenry. Referring to 4-H history also enables current leaders to design stronger p r o gra m s, more effectively train volunteer and professional staff, and generate even greater support resources.

That is why the National 4-H History Preservation Program was created.

If you are looking for little known facts, photos or documents on how 4-H originated and prospered over the years …. If you have 4-H buttons, ribbons, pins, posters or other memorabilia that you don't know what to do with …. If you are interested in how, where and why 4-H History is archived …. If you want to learn how you can help start a display, museum, quilt or book about the history of 4-H in your family, community, county or state.

What are the 4-H emblem, motto, and slogan?

A green four-leaf clover with a white "H" on each clover leaf is the 4-H emblem. Green and white are the colors. The 4-H motto is "To Make the Best Better." The 4-H slogan is "Learn By Doing."

What do the H's stand for?

Head, Heart, Hands & Health.

How old do girls and boys have to be to become involved in 4-H? The traditional 4-H club program is open to all youth, ages 9 to 19. Many counties, however, have Clove r bud programs available to youth ages 5 to 8.

Members pledge: "My head to clearer thinking My heart to greater loyalty My hands to larger service My health the better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world."

How can my family get involved in 4-H? Contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office.

An extension educator working with the 4-H Youth Development Program will be

PAGE 23 able to guide you and your child to 4-H opportunities in your area. There are 4-H c l u b s, afterschool activities, school enrichment projects, camps or events in eve ry county.

How do I become a volunteer?

Whatever your talents or interests, there is a volunteer role for you in the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program.

4-H volunteers receive excellent training, guidance and ongoing supervision appropriate to the specific roles they assume. To learn more about 4-H volunteer opportunities and to obtain a vo l u n t e e r application form talk to the 4-H staff at your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office.

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

PAGE 24

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History of Cotton Candy Originally called “Fairy Floss”, the process of making Cotton Candy was invented by four men: Thomas Patton, Josef Delarose Lascaux, John C. Wharton, and Wi l l i a m Morrison. In 1899, Morrison and Wharton were able to patent the first electric cotton candy machine, which used centrifugal force to spin and melt sugar through small holes. In 1904, these two Nashville candy makers introduced their invention of how to make cotton candy to the St. Louis World’s Fair. Due to fair goers’ curiosity, these inventors sold approximately 68,655 boxes of cotton candy for 25 cents a box for a total of $17,163.75. Back then and

today this is a great deal of money, just think of the profit that you could make today selling such a low cost and enjoyable product!

In 1900, Patton obtained a patent for his invention of making cotton candy. Using a gas-fired rotating plate to spin caramelizing sugar, he was able to form threads of cotton candy with a fork. In addition, he introduced his invention to the public at the Ringley Bros.

Circus. Boy was it a hit! Even though he never received a patent, dentist Josef Lascaux introduced this popular candy to his Louisiana dental office.

About 50 years later, in 1949, Gold Medal Products launched a cotton candy

New York Facts & Trivia

machine that had a spring base. Like any other invention, this cotton candy maker was more dependable than the past machines due to the help of new knowledge on how to create a better machine. From here own, cotton candy has been a hit and still is today. Whether you

have tried this tasty treat at a local fair, circus, or from a school fund raising event, we hope that the next time you enjoy this delicious candy you will think about the interesting history of such an enjoyable food.

Article courtesy of www.cottoncandyexpress.com

• Joseph C. Gayetty of New York City invented toilet paper in 1857.

• Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken Jr. played against each other in Rochester vs. Paw t u cket Red Sox in the longest game in baseball history. The game went a total of 33 innings.

• The oldest cattle ranch in the US was started in 1747 at Montauk on Long Island.

• Adirondack Park is larger than Ye l l ow s t o n e, Yo s e m i t e, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Olympic Parks combined.

• New York was the first state to require license plates on cars.

• Niagara Reserva t i o n became the first state park in the United States.

• Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh was the first publicly owned historic site.

• New York State is home to 58 species of wild orchids.

• New York has over 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.

• The first public brewery in America was established by Peter Minuit at the Market (Marckvelt) field in lower Manhattan.

• Mount Kisco's landmark, a statue of Chief Kisco, wa s once an elaborate fountain for watering horses. The statue stands at the intersection of Routes 117 and 133. D.F. Gorham, a strong supporter of prohibition, presented it to Mount Kisco in 1907. The inscription on the base to the statue reads "God's Only Beverage for Man and Beast."

• The name Canandaigua (pronounced Can-an-DAYgwa) is derived from a Native American word meaning the chosen spot.

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

Top 20 Incredible Edible Fair Foods It’s fair time. And ….. when you think of fa i r s, many people think of the plethora of different types of food being served, as well as what the latest craze will be in exuberant and glorified fun food.

At one time, the basic fair food consisted of corn dogs, burgers, cheese steak, Italian s a u s a g e, f ried_dough_food_b ooth corn-on-the-cob, french fri e s, onion ri n g s, nachos, giant pickle on a stick, cotton candy, popcorn, carmel corn, candy apples, snow cones, ice cream cones, lemonade, and the like. N owa d ay s, there seems to be no end in sight to the various concoctions and oddities that can be thrown together, and a it also seems like just about anything that can be put on a stick and/or

deep fried will make a big splash on the general fairgoing public.

Around the country, some formidable fair oddities over the last few years have included deep fried cheese curds in Wisconsin, fried Kronski’s sausage in Wyoming, fried pickles with horseradish sauce at the New York Dutchess County Fair, alligator-on-as t i ck and the inev i t a ble s p a g h e t t i - o n - a - s t i ck at the Minnesota State Fair. Some of them represent arcane regional specialties ….. some of them are just insanely freakish sideshow snacks.

Well, I guess if it can be put on a stick and deep fried, you have a tasty state fair treat!

Here is a list of 20 (in no particular order) of the biggest,

unusual, artery as well as gut bustin’ concoctions served at various fairs this year as well as over the past few summers.

You say you’re going on a diet after you get back from the fair, right?

1. Chicken Fried Bacon 2. Fried Avocado Bites 3. Spaghetti and Meatball-On-A-Stick 4. Fried Frog Legs 5. Hot Beef Sundae 6. Pizza Cones 7. Deep-Fried Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger 8. Deep-Fried Krispy Kreme Chicken Sandwich 9. Deep-Fried Twinkies 10. Deep-Fried Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola or Dr. Pepper 11. Key Lime Pie On-A-Stick Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich

12. Deep-Fried Snickers, Milky Way or Three Musketeers Bars 13. Deep-Fried Twinkie-On-A-Stick 14. Deep-Fried Oreos 15. Deep-Fried Cheesecake 16. Fried Mac & Cheese 17. Fried Banana Split 18. Deep-Fried Cookie Dough 19. Deep-Fried Bread Pudding 20. Deep-Fried Pickle-On-A-Stick

PAGE 25 Bonus creations to salivate over …..

• Deep-Fried Zucchini Weenie • Deep-Fried Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich • Deep-Fried Latte • Fried Banana Pudding with Vanilla Sauce • Fried Sweet Potato Pie • Deep-Fried S’mores • Fried Guacamole Article courtesy of coolrain44.wordpress.com

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Holy Cow NY Agriculture Statistics Agriculture is an important contributor to the economy of New York State. New York ranks third in the nation for overall milk production, behind California and Wisconsin. And, New York ranks in the top five nationally for production of corn silage, apples, tart cherries, pears, grapes, fresh cabbage, cauliflower, fresh snap beans, squash, fresh sweet corn, and maple.

For livestock marketing, New York ranks 39th for cattle and calf production, 20th for egg production, 24th for chicken production excluding broilers, 30th for hog and pig production, and 25th for sheep and lamb production.

The most recent agriculture statistics for New York State can be found at http://www.nass.usda.gov/Sta tistics_by_State/New_York/ind ex.asp.

Dairy Leads the State Dairy is number one of all agricultural industries in New York State. It touches the lives of virtually every New Yorker, every day. New York has 1.4 million dairy cattle on nearly 6,000 dairy farms and pro-

STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR duces 12 billion pounds of milk annually. Dairy farms contribute $1.9 billion to the state’s economy, and provide some of the highest economic multipliers in the state.

The leading milk producer in the state is Wy o m i n g County, followed by St. Lawrence and Cayuga counties. One quarter of the state’s milk production is sold fluid milk and the remainder is processed. New York has 115 dairy plants that make nearly 700 million pounds of cheese, 184 million pounds of cottage cheese, 16 million pounds of butter, 237 million pounds of yogurt and 30 million gallons of ice cream. New York ranks third in the nation for cheese production. The most popular varieties are mozzarella and cheddar. The state also leads the nation in cottage cheese production.

Dairies Drive Strong Communities Cornell University estimates that for every new job created on a dairy farm, an additional 1.24 jobs are created in the community. And, for every dollar output, an additional 83 cents is generated. Dairy processing provides an additional 4.72 jobs for every job created in the plant, the highest multiplier in the state, and gener-

ates an additional $1.26 to the community for every dollar of product sold. The dairy industry directly supports a full-time workforce of 22,000 people.

Without farmers, local tax bases would look very different and that would affect schools, local businesses and the food supply. It would also affect the natural landscape, the wide open spaces, and the working landscapes that farmers help provide. Each cow generates $52 worth of school and property tax revenue each year.

Farmers Care NY’s farm families are committed to responsible production that focuses on: Care for animals, Care for land, Care for air and water quality, Care to produce high quality products Dairy farms and processing plants are regulated by USDA, FDA and state and local authorities. Every tanker load of milk that leaves the farm is tested to ensure quality. No milk includes antibiotics. Most milk travels only about 100 miles from the dairy to the grocery store to ensure farmfresh quality.

Dairy Cows are Efficient Recyclers The dairy cow is an amazing animal. She can produce up to

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011

12 gallons of milk each day, eats 100 pounds of feed, drinks a bathtub of water and poops a lot. This manure is recycled back onto farm fields to support growing plants.

Some farmers use manure to generate electricity through methane digesters.

Trained and Specialized Employees With modernization, dairy farm employees have become increasingly specialized. Many receive technical 2 or 4 years degrees and participate in leadership programs such as Cornell’s LEAD NY. In current dairy trends, farms are getting larger. But the average herd size on a US dairy farm is 135 mature cows. The majority, 77 percent, of dairy farms have less than 100 cows. But farms with more than 100 cows produce 77 percent on the milk.

Number of cows is not increasing, but production per cow is, which indicates how

healthy these cows are.

Healthy cows make healthy milk. Increased production reduces the carbon footprint of farms. When the same amount of milk is produced with fewer cows and feed resources, environmental sustainability is improved and the demand on natural resources is reduced. As the global population reaches nine billion people in the first half of the 21st century, the food supply required over the next 40 years will approximately equal the total amount of food produced throughout the history of humankind, which will require farms to continue to become even more efficient.

US milk production will have to increase to 5.62 billion gallons by 2040 to meet USDA dietary recommendations for three 8 ounce-glasses of milk per person each day.

Article courtesy of farmskeepnygreen.org

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STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

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STEUBEN COUNTY FAIR

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 | 2011