By Kay King
Special to The Item
HUNTSVILLE — Officially only nine more days remain until the start of the 32nd Walker County Fair and Rodeo and “Blue Jeans and Country Dreams!”
Are you ready for the sights, sounds and smells of the county fair?
Bright and beautiful lights on the carnival rides, children laughing and livestock bellowing, the smell of popcorn, cotton candy, barbecue and more?
Youth exhibitors are making final preparations for showing their projects, checking their lists twice to make sure they have done all they can to make their project the best it can be.
Not only do the exhibitors have to take care of their projects but they must meet certain requirements to be eligible to show their projects at the fair.
Each exhibitor is responsible for knowing the rules of the contest that they are competing in as well as meet the requirements set forth by the 4H, FFA or FCCLA, whichever one they will represent at the fair.
They must also adhere to the Walker County Fair Association Bylaws and General Rules which includes completing their work hour requirements as stated in General Rule No. 16 which was amended for the 2010 Fair and reads:
All youth exhibitors of the Walker County Fair must be present and participate in: any of the following work projects/events below to obtain a minimum of 6 required hours: September Kickoff Jamboree; One work project or event designated by the committee in which the exhibitor is showing. At least one designated work day prior to the Spring Fair. WCFA sponsored activities.
Participation in the above activities will be for a minimum of six hours. The required six work hours must be obtained at least six days prior to the opening ceremonies or exhibitor will be ineligible for participation or showing of project(s) at the WCF.
Work day immediately following Spring Fair. Failure to adhere to this rule or have a pre-arranged designated substitute present will result in a $100 penalty.
Each exhibitor must have a parent, guardian, or stand-in (21 years of age or older) to work a two-hour shift for admissions. Other areas may be assigned with approval from majority of fair officers. If this duty is not fulfilled an additional $100 will be taken from exhibitor's check.
Official Walker County Fair workdays were set prior to the Jamboree last fall so that all exhibitors could make plans to attend. They were set for Oct. 31, 2009; Feb. 27, March 13 and March 20.
Exhibitors will not be able to get work hours during the fair this year, they must be completed as stated in rule No. 16 above.
If you have questions or concerns regarding your work hours, contact Brenda King at bking240@gmail.com.
In addition, 35 lamb exhibitors are geared up and ready to show.
The Walker County Fair Lamb Division is looking forward to an exciting show this year with a higher quality of sheep than in years past.
One of the following exhibitor’s lamb will be selected as the Grand Champion Market lamb for the 2010 Walker County Fair:
Josie Tindall, Jordan Davis, Hagen Knighten, Kristen Soria, Shelby Beaird, Kalynne Drabek, Renee Abott, Dean Dicky, Wyatt Dicky, Dakoda Drabek, Garrett Oates, Shelby Lepley, Ryan Slott, Gracie Koonce, Genilyn Koonce, Ashton Cartwright, Sara McCann, Stephany McCann, Cheyenne Robinson, Tyler Miller, Jerroll Hodge, Erroll Hodge, Rebecca Kilgore, Tyler Gibson, Kailee Gibson, Christina Rozell, Ross Rozell, Shelby Thornton, Cody Corcoran, Brennen Rushing, Chance Rushing, Luke Yargo, Abby Christian, or Summer Hammons.
The lamb committee for 2010 consists of Glen Andrus, Alan Fry, Melissa Fry, Lee Beaird, and Chairman Mike Kilgore.
The committee is working hard to produce the best show possible for the exhibitors. Several buckle donors have already committed to donating again this year.
Others are in the process of being contacted. If you would like to donate, please contact any of the committee members.
The lamb show is scheduled for March 29 at 6 p.m. in the livestock arena at the Walker County Fairgrounds.
Attend the lamb show Monday night and come back on Tuesday evening for the swine show where 82 local FFA and 4H members will compete for the championship.
Check-in and official weigh in will be held March 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Walker County Fairgrounds. No pigs are to be penned prior to 6 a.m.
The swine show will begin at 6 p.m. March 30 in the livestock arena.
Those serving on the swine committee this year are co-chairs Phillip Cobler and Lorraine Belinowski along with committee members Jeff Allen, Huey Campbell, Whitney Campbell, Otis Cunning ham, Jamie Duke, Shane Fitz, Glenna Goodrum, Robert Hanson, J.D. Hill, Holly Hudler, Allen Koonce, Bernard Kuznarik, Mike Lampson, Paul Miller, Jr., Todd Moore, Clint Morrison, Darryl Novark, Benny Oliphant, Joey Pavelock, B.J. Riley, Sheldon Ross, Jacob Slott, Josh Slott, Schannette Slott, Robert Smith, and Jeff Snoe.
Swine exhibitors for the 2010 swine show are: Darric McLaren, Cahill Kolb, Jonathon Moya, Makenzie Brame, Alyson Drane, Maci McKenzie, Savannah Tolbert, Montanah Hatcher, Maclaye Hatcher, Maddie Cobler, Kelsey Kelly, Maya Lewis, Taylor Cunningham, Jacob Hammons, Hannah McDonald, Ben McDonald, Cameron Janes, Chad Novark, Katie Novark, Travis Goodrum, Laney Syphrett, Taylor Harrell, Madison Harrell, Kaitlyn Snoe, Kolten Snoe, Richard Stafford, Katelyn Takace, Amanda Dugas, Rowdy Williams, Bailey Williams, Coyann Markham, Mason Markham, Sloane Hanson, Abby Christian, Dylan Morrison, Clinton Morrison, Megan Gary, Dustin Gray, Lane Smith, Trey Smith, Paulina Corral, Courtney Dees, Jalynn Ashley, Robbi Flack, Christen Jeffcoat, Ethan Abbott, Garrett Drilling, Jacob McGinty, Daniel Davis, Jack Riley, Ryan Keller, Jonathan Keller, Tanner Smith, Dawson Smith, Peyton Carranza, Tanner Gibson, Katie Gibson, Michael Hubbard, Tyler Miller, Shelby Beaird, Cody Oliphant, Latifah Eaglin, Jalisa Oliphant, Katlyn Youngblood, Shantel Cook, Zachory Weaver, Cohl Wilkerson, Jordan Davis, Kindell Watson, Cody Gregory, Caitlin Wilson, Adam Olsen, CJ Kizer, Kelly Roberts, Halston Williams, Jacy Mathis, Jayden Mathis, Chelsea Little, Shannon Riley, Shyanne Riley, Rane Riley, and Matthew McKenzie.
Dorothy Currier reports from the Scramble Heifer Program…
The 2009-2010 Walker County Fair Scramble Heifer Program got off to a great start during the Walker County Fair rodeo in March 2009. This year 16 teens who participated in the rodeo calf scramble will proudly compete with their heifers during the Walker County Fair.
The calf the participant caught during the scramble is not the heifer they are competing with at the fair.
The Scramble Heifer Program relies on the generosity of local ranchers and businessmen to donate the heifers to be awarded to the successful participants.
On Oct. 17, each participant in a random drawing discovered which calf would be theirs and which donors they would represent for the remainder of the program year.
Each month, the participant and heifer attend a progress show at the fairgrounds where the heifer is weighed and the participant is taught how to care for, train, groom, and show their heifer.
The participant is required to keep accurate records, write an essay about what this program has taught them, and decorate their heifers’ stall at the Fair.
Awards will be presented for best conformation type, showmanship, Top Hand, Herdsman, most improved, record book, essay, and stall decoration on April 2 at the Scramble Heifer Show at the Walker County Fair.
Prizes include 16 buckles, money, and miscellaneous other prizes. The most important prize these participants will receive is the experience this program offers and the heifer that will belong to them once they enter the show ring.
This years participants in the Scramble Heifer Program are Caston Bohan, Joshua Burnett, Amanda Davis, Timothy Douga, Tommy Douga, Callie Doyle, Dayle Goffney, Erroll Hodge, Jerroll Hodge, Courtney Hoke, Kevin McGilberry, Adam Olsen, Lee Williams, Audie Wyatt, Steve York, and Xavier York.
The generous donors of heifers for this year’s program are Sandy Creek Angus — Phillip and Tanya Burnett, Colton Christian and Kelsey Christian, Howard and Brenda Coates, True and Esther Cousins, Jake and Gretchen Dixon and family, John Wayne Henry and Dennis Sivcoski, Mike and Lynn Hubbard, Glen and Norma Reader, Laura Rich, David and Peggy Smith, S&S Pipe — Ricky Spriggs, Gary and Saundra Syphrett, Jerald and Nita Syphrett, Robert Weeks, Ronnie and Reba White, and Jerry and Judy Woods.
Donors for the pen of heifers to be raffled off at the fair are Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace James and Margaret Mature, County Judge Danny and Cindy Pierce and Jackie Yates.
The Scramble Heifer Committee would like to extend a special thanks to each of these donors for their support of the Walker County Fair Scramble Heifer Program.
The 2009-2010 Scramble Heifer Committee is made up of volunteers who donate much time and labor in support of the youth of Walker County.
Members of the committee are: co-chair - Grant and Dorothy Currier, treasurer – Lisa Branch, secretary – Deneane Thompson, historian – Kathy Crapitto, Sharon Coburn, James Crapitto, Jake and Gretchen Dixon, Butch and Christie Gibson, Eugene Kelley, Warren and Lynn Kroll, Willie and Sandra Sumner, Jerald and Nita Syphrett, Matt Thompson and Angie Grisham, and Bobby Weeks.
If you are interested in becoming a member of this committee, please talk to any of the committee members, stop by the Scramble Heifer area at the Walker County Fair, or call the number below.
Anyone interested in participating in this year’s calf scramble during the 2010 Walker County Fair Rodeo should call (936) 293-0123 or (936) 577-5671 or see your FFA or 4-H adviser.
Those wishing to participate must be a member of FFA or 4-H, have a place in Walker County to keep a heifer, be 12-18 years old, in good health, and should weight at least 100 pounds.
The 2009-2010 program participants will have their heifers at the fair March 26-April 3.
Please come visit us in the livestock barn to see what this program is all about. You will get a chance to see the enjoyment and work experienced by the participants and committee members.
Also evident will be the pride of accomplishment so evident on the faces and in the actions of the Scramble Heifer Participants.
Make plans to attend the 32nd Walker County Fair and Rodeo March 26 through April 3 at the Walker County Fairgrounds on state Highway 30 West.
For more information, visit us online at www.walkercountyfair.com
