Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Nearly perfect weather last week made this year's Kosciusko County 4-H and Community Fair one of the most successful so far.
Organizers said today that approximately 40,000 people attended this year's fair. That number is similar to last year's near-record attendance, but with a twist - storms Sunday diminished the crowds on the last day of the fair this year. Otherwise, organizers speculate, the attendance figures could have even out-distanced last year's.
The main grandstand events - the demolition derby, the semi truck pull and the semi show and shine - drew full crowds and were "exceptionally good," said fair spokeswoman Becky Thomas.
New this year was a lumberjack show, which Thomas characterized as a "big hit," and three additional beauty pageants, which filled the Activity Tent.
"Each year we get more volunteers and more sponsors, and I feel we're getting more community input that way," Thomas said.
On the drawing board for future county fairs is a new exhibitors' building for both merchants and for 4-H exhibits, Thomas said.
Most of the livestock on the 4-H end of the fairgrounds had been taken home or trucked off to buyers by Sunday's storm.
But, by all accounts, Friday's 4-H auction was a success, raising a total of $199,185.12.
Some of the grand champions and their sale prices at the auction included: Nate Johnson, grand champion steer, $2,572.75, sold to Polk and Sons; Cody Timmons, grand champion dairy calf feeder steer, $1.50 per pound for 612 pounds, or $918, sold to Lake City Bank; Melissa Wise, grand champion milking doe, $425, sold to First Source Bank and Biomet; Matthew Firestone, grand champion wether, $325, sold to Warsaw Merchants; Levi Mithoefer, grand champion registered Holstein, $350; Brent Bokhart, grand champion market lamb, sold for $15 per pound at 121 pounds, to supporters of Brent Bokhart; Heath Shock, grand champion fryer, $500, sold to First National Bank, Service Liquor Store and Quality Assured Auto; Mary Sholtey, grand champion meat pen rabbit, $350, sold to Quality Farm & Fleet; and Laura Lash, grand champion county barrow, $2,580, sold to 1998 Grand Champion Barrow.
A kiss with the 4-H Fair king, Shad Krull, sold for $175 to the Tim Polk family, and one with the 4-H Fair queen, Michelle Lamb, sold for $275 to Polk and Sons.
