SMITHFIELD - Nice weather has brought crowds to the Jefferson County Fair each day this week.
That was the case with annual cheerleading competition held Wednesday, according to Linda Daily, secretary.
"The cheeleading puts the gate over the top every time," she said.
Article Photos
Esther McCoy
HAULING STRAW — David McElwain of Bergholz used his team of Belgian horses and wagon to haul away the bales of straw and bags of grain after threshing was completed. The art of threshing is demonstrated at the Jefferson County Fair each day at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The county fair continues through Sunday at the fairgrounds at Friendship Park.
Another popular event has been the threshing demonstrations held each day at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Ray Hilderbrand is chairman of the antique equipment committee, and threshing was started by Gil Boring, a fair board member when the fair was new to Friendship Park.
The threshing project always has helpers in getting the grain separated from the chaff and there is usually an audience of retired farmers knowledgeable in this type of farming. Young children are fascinated to see the straw blow out and drift in the wind too.
Other events at the fair have included the annual small and large animal contest, sponsored by the fair board, held Tuesday.
The small animal division had four categories:
Most creative - Brittany Jenkins, cops and robbers puppies, first; Hanna Langsdorf, patriotic turtle, second; and John Skatula, rabbit biker, third.
Funniest - Karacel Hayman, joker cat, first; Haley Langsdorf, Thing I and II, second; and Catalina Mazzaferro, tuxedo cat, third.
Patriotic - Avery Kepner, Miss Sam dog, first; and Jacob Anderson, Uncle Sam dog, second.
Athletic - Olivia Huff, lifeguard dog, first; Kyrsten Mazzaferro, ballerina cat, second; and Abigail Lish, Olympic spirit, third.
Large animal divisions:
Funniest - Olexia Irvine, Little Bo Peep dog, first; Emma Scott, Good Witch dog, second; Katie Jasper, ballerina goat, third.
Patriotic - Jordan Vance, medical military goat, first.
The Jefferson County Farm Bureau promotion and education committee held a Cupcake Wars contest in conjunction with the Ohio Farm Bureau promoted book, "How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?" Teams competing designed lunch boxes out of cupcakes, with healthy foods that would be included for a healthy school lunch.
Erika Cline, Cierra Leput and Kaylee Sabo were the winning team members. Sisters, Kyrsten and Catalina Mazzaferro placed second.
Judges for the contest were Linda Chivers of the Wintersville Kroger, Stephanie Pethtel of Touch of Elegance and Louise Pastre, former head cook at Buckeye Local High School.
Fair organizers noted registration for Mack's Music Karaoke will be at the gazebo at 5 p.m. today, with the contest at 6 p.m., and a home talent truck and modified tractor pull will be held at the grandstand at 7 p.m. Also, Dan Kirk will be the square dance caller for the 4-H event at the livestock barn at 9 p.m. today.
The Jefferson County Garden Club Flower Show will be at the display building throughout the day on Saturday, and the grand parade will be on the Main Road at 10 a.m., with the family of Ronald Turner representing the chief deputy riding on the Belgian-pulled wagon.
The junior fair livestock auction will start at noon Saturday, with a 5 p.m. break for a meal. The auction of the "Old Fashioned Hayride" Dave Barnhouse print will take place before the auction starts again.
Also, a home talent demolition derby will be held at 6 p.m., after the lawn mower demo derby at 5 p.m.
