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County fair filled with animal judging, tradition
By Dana Cole/Herald/Review
DOUGLAS - Seven-year-old Logan Adams has been practicing hard with Freddie, his pig.
And now he's more than ready to show judges what he knows when he and Freddie walk into the ring at the Cochise County Fair.
"I feed him corn every day and I give him fresh water," said Adams, who is a member of the 4-H Clover Kids program. "I practice, too."
Thursday marked the opening day of the 84th annual Cochise County Fair in Douglas. The fair runs through Sunday.
Small stock judging started bright and early, overlapping the swine classes that were expected to extend late into the evening.
Trisha Adams, Logan's 11-year-old sister, is in her third year of 4-H. On Thursday afternoon, the swine barn was bursting with activity as she, other 4-H members and kids enrolled in Future Farmers of America were busy getting their pigs ready for upcoming competitions later that day.
"My pig's name is Gordy," Trisha said. "I'm going to be showing him three times and I have to help two other kids show their pigs. So I'll be going in the ring five times today."
The children of Gary and Christal Adams, Logan and Trisha are members of the Stewart District 4-H Club in Willcox.
"4-H is such a great experience for these kids," said Christal Adams, who is one of program's leaders. "They learn a lot of responsibility, it gets them involved with their community and teaches them work ethics."
Ken McDonald is a familiar face in the small stock barn where rabbits and poultry are on display. As valuable members of the county 4-H program since 1971, McDonald and his wife, Dorothy, were honored at this year's fair, officially starting the 2008 festivities by cutting the ribbon.
Every year the McDonalds arrive at the fairgrounds in plenty of time for him to set up the small stock area. He has it ready to go by the time exhibitors start arriving.
"We look forward to this every year," Ken McDonald said. "We sleep on the fairgrounds and we're here until the fair is over on Sunday evening."
In past years, they slept in a travel trailer, but have moved up to an RV for the first time this year. For Dorothy McDonald, who gets around in a motorized wheelchair, the RV is a big improvement.
Howard Henderson, a member of the fair board, served as emcee for the opening ceremonies. In a tribute to the McDonalds, he highlighted some of the couple's contributions to 4-H and the county fair during their 37 years of volunteerism.
"Ken has served as project leader, president of the County Council, member of the fair board, superintendent for small stock, fundraiser coordinator and as an Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation representative," Henderson said. "Ken's wife, Dotty, also has served in various roles, as well as a project leader. She was instrumental in starting a clowning project in the early '80s. For years Ken and Dotty participated in many state and western regional leaders' forums, bringing back lots of ideas and resources."
While judging is going on in the livestock barns, families wander through the midway, enjoying the carnival and performers.
Bonnie Starr and Ted Bax of Partners performed on the stage Thursday while couples line danced and two-stepped to the music.
Vendors line the midway selling everything from hats to trinkets to food.
Groups could be seen going into the display tents, pausing at the different political booths or signing up for different drawings.
Rebecca Orozco, director of Cochise College's Center for Southwest Studies, says she enjoys working the booth every year. As a third generation Cochise County resident, she said, "The fair has been a big part of my life forever. I love talking to the people who come through here and seeing the exhibits."
Kara Harris is manning the booth for Care Net (pregnancy center). Known as "Cochise County's sex lady," Harris goes into schools and talks to students about abstinence. She uses an "in-your-face" blunt approach with the teens, splashed with a touch of humor, to get her abstinence message across.
Next to Care Net, Rene Lopez is in the Bishop Salpointe Council Knights of Columbus booth.
"The purpose of our booth is pro life," Lopez said.
The council is part of St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Sierra Vista.
Despite a disappointing state funding hit, where the fair received half the money it was expecting, the fair association made some changes and managed to keep things going. In order to cut costs, the fair did not print a premium book, nor did it pay premiums on exhibits this year. In addition, the fair turned to local talent for most of its entertainment instead of hiring performers from other areas.
"We found out on April 24 of this year there would be no state funding at all," said Karen Strongin, who is the fair's general manager. "All the fairs across the state count on this money. For Cochise County, it meant we would not be receiving $85,000 that we were counting on."
Literally the day before the fair opened, Strongin said the state came up with $42,500, which was money obtained through an early release of unclaimed property.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
And now he's more than ready to show judges what he knows when he and Freddie walk into the ring at the Cochise County Fair.
"I feed him corn every day and I give him fresh water," said Adams, who is a member of the 4-H Clover Kids program. "I practice, too."
Thursday marked the opening day of the 84th annual Cochise County Fair in Douglas. The fair runs through Sunday.
Small stock judging started bright and early, overlapping the swine classes that were expected to extend late into the evening.
Trisha Adams, Logan's 11-year-old sister, is in her third year of 4-H. On Thursday afternoon, the swine barn was bursting with activity as she, other 4-H members and kids enrolled in Future Farmers of America were busy getting their pigs ready for upcoming competitions later that day.
"My pig's name is Gordy," Trisha said. "I'm going to be showing him three times and I have to help two other kids show their pigs. So I'll be going in the ring five times today."
The children of Gary and Christal Adams, Logan and Trisha are members of the Stewart District 4-H Club in Willcox.
"4-H is such a great experience for these kids," said Christal Adams, who is one of program's leaders. "They learn a lot of responsibility, it gets them involved with their community and teaches them work ethics."
Ken McDonald is a familiar face in the small stock barn where rabbits and poultry are on display. As valuable members of the county 4-H program since 1971, McDonald and his wife, Dorothy, were honored at this year's fair, officially starting the 2008 festivities by cutting the ribbon.
Every year the McDonalds arrive at the fairgrounds in plenty of time for him to set up the small stock area. He has it ready to go by the time exhibitors start arriving.
"We look forward to this every year," Ken McDonald said. "We sleep on the fairgrounds and we're here until the fair is over on Sunday evening."
In past years, they slept in a travel trailer, but have moved up to an RV for the first time this year. For Dorothy McDonald, who gets around in a motorized wheelchair, the RV is a big improvement.
Howard Henderson, a member of the fair board, served as emcee for the opening ceremonies. In a tribute to the McDonalds, he highlighted some of the couple's contributions to 4-H and the county fair during their 37 years of volunteerism.
"Ken has served as project leader, president of the County Council, member of the fair board, superintendent for small stock, fundraiser coordinator and as an Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation representative," Henderson said. "Ken's wife, Dotty, also has served in various roles, as well as a project leader. She was instrumental in starting a clowning project in the early '80s. For years Ken and Dotty participated in many state and western regional leaders' forums, bringing back lots of ideas and resources."
While judging is going on in the livestock barns, families wander through the midway, enjoying the carnival and performers.
Bonnie Starr and Ted Bax of Partners performed on the stage Thursday while couples line danced and two-stepped to the music.
Vendors line the midway selling everything from hats to trinkets to food.
Groups could be seen going into the display tents, pausing at the different political booths or signing up for different drawings.
Rebecca Orozco, director of Cochise College's Center for Southwest Studies, says she enjoys working the booth every year. As a third generation Cochise County resident, she said, "The fair has been a big part of my life forever. I love talking to the people who come through here and seeing the exhibits."
Kara Harris is manning the booth for Care Net (pregnancy center). Known as "Cochise County's sex lady," Harris goes into schools and talks to students about abstinence. She uses an "in-your-face" blunt approach with the teens, splashed with a touch of humor, to get her abstinence message across.
Next to Care Net, Rene Lopez is in the Bishop Salpointe Council Knights of Columbus booth.
"The purpose of our booth is pro life," Lopez said.
The council is part of St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Sierra Vista.
Despite a disappointing state funding hit, where the fair received half the money it was expecting, the fair association made some changes and managed to keep things going. In order to cut costs, the fair did not print a premium book, nor did it pay premiums on exhibits this year. In addition, the fair turned to local talent for most of its entertainment instead of hiring performers from other areas.
"We found out on April 24 of this year there would be no state funding at all," said Karen Strongin, who is the fair's general manager. "All the fairs across the state count on this money. For Cochise County, it meant we would not be receiving $85,000 that we were counting on."
Literally the day before the fair opened, Strongin said the state came up with $42,500, which was money obtained through an early release of unclaimed property.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
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