Sunday night Tough Trucks rally a hit with drivers, grandstand crowd
“We couldn’t have asked for a better weather pattern!”
That was the initial enthusiastic response from fair board treasurer Christina Dose when asked for her thoughts about this year’s Hamilton County Fair. Speaking on Monday morning after the fair wrapped up its 155th annual run Sunday night, Dose said that even for the organizers, it seemed like this year’s fair went by in a hurry.
“Yeah, Thursday night that wind was interesting, but the weather for Friday, Saturday and Sunday was just beautiful, and people came out and were happy and rode rides and went to the trailer races and Tough Trucks yesterday. It was very busy and it went very fast, but it was also just very, very good.”
One of the highlights of the week turned out to the the newest addition to the fair’s entertainment lineup, the Tough Truck competition on Sunday evening at the grandstand. The obstacle course set up in the arena that featured earthen hills and bumps had numerous entries catching lots of air and losing tires, bumpers and other body parts.
“I talked to almost every driver, because they had to pick up their winnings, and they are so excited we had it,” Dose said. “They had a blast and they want us to do it again. The people in the stands were excited too, and they want us to do it again. So I’m thinking next year we’re going to see Tough Trucks return.”
Aside from a bit of a bottleneck created at Friday night’s popular trailer race ticket booth when it seemed like the majority of the spectators all showed up at once, Dose says things ran smoothly overall. (She said the Ag Society will be discussing in coming days how to avoid the same problem next year.)
“We got a lot of compliments this year about how organized and clean our fairgrounds were,” she said... And they enjoyed our entertainment, and they love that we have the DC Lynch Carnival. They’re so clean and they have the best carnival workers, and they also loved our event tent events. So honestly, I heard very little complaint and a lot of just praise.”
With regard to the 4-H and FFA portions of the fair, Dose said turnout was great in terms of both entries and attendance at livestock shows and the exhibit halls.
“I do know numbers were up there pretty well,” Dose said. “There was great communication, and people got along, and there was just great volunteer help. And those projects this year were so cool. Some of the imagination and creativity that we got to see as we walked around, it was really neat to see what our kids in this county are capable of. And then they come out to the fair and they help volunteer with their food stand, they help pick up trash. Hampton FFA picks up trash for us every year and does an amazing job keeping the grounds clean. And then even if they’re not doing things, they will come up and say hi and ask if we want help or anything. And they’re just the best group of kids. I mean we have probably the best group of county kids in the state. They just impressed me this year with how well-behaved and happy they were. It was just a great time hanging out with those guys.”
Speaking of those 4-H and FFA youth, ANR news staff members talked to several of them over the weekend to get their reactions to this year’s fair and their responses follow:
Sarah Mead
This year’s beef show was bittersweet for Sarah Mead as she led her cattle through the Hamilton County Fair’s livestock arena for the final time, ending a tenure that began with bucket calves back in 2016.
“It has been a wonderful ride,” Mead said at the conclusion of Friday’s beef show. “I’ve been very grateful for everyone involved in 4-H and FFA. It truly is an amazing experience and the people are great. It’s all about the kids and that’s my next goal now is to help the next generation and keep the beef program continuing on. There are some really good showmen out there.”
Mead said she looks forward to the county fair as one of the highlights of the summer, though she realizes not everyone comes to the fairgrounds for the same reason.
“I know some people think the fair is about the rides or the trailer races and all that, but some people don’t venture out here and realize that the livestock is the main part of the fair, for us livestock kids at least,” she said. “I think ag is huge in Hamilton County and it keeps growing. There are more and more people getting involved in every barn and I love to see that. It’s really incredible.”
Mead plans to carry the experiences she’d had at the fair forward as she is starting to sell show cattle and currently serves on the American Charolais Association board. After graduating from college in May, she hopes to get into feed sales.
Asked to reflect on what she will remember most about her time in the county fair show ring, Mead paused only briefly.
“I would say the people,” she shared. “You make so many connections and you meet people. Me and my mom were just talking earlier about how there are some people you see only once a year at the fair and the next year you see them and they’ve grown up and just changed a lot. Watching people grow up and building bonds with the animals, that’s a big thing. It’s really fun to build a special bond with the heifer and show her all year and then come to the county fair.”
Quinn Reeson
It took a few seconds but 4-H and FFA Swine Show contestant Quinn Reeson was able to name each of the four awards he received in Saturday morning’s show. Those honors included 4-H Intermediate Showmanship Grand Champion, 4-H Market Barrow Reserve Champion, FFA Market Barrow Grand Champion and FFA Market Gilt Reserve Champion.
Several times during the show Reeson found himself competing head to head with his big sister, Avery, who graduated from Giltner High School in May. In the contest for FFA Grand Champion Market Gilt, he came in second to Avery, but in another category he was able to best her for the honor of FFA Grand Champion Market Barrow. Avery won reserve champion in that event.
Competing in both FFA and 4-H categories during the four-hour show meant several wardrobe changes for Reeson and the other contestants, who switched back and forth between purple 4-H t-shirts and blue FFA polos depending on which class they were showing in. Reeson said it was sometimes hard to remember what shirt he should be wearing next. In fact, he said there was one time when he put on his FFA shirt over his 4-H shirt and “just went.”
With swine being the only species he shows at the fair, Reeson said he has been gearing up for the show since April or May. With the swine show now over he said he was looking forward to enjoying some of the other aspects of the fair.
“I’ll probably ride some rides, go to the trailer races, get some good food at the 4-H Cafe,” he said.
Kylee Ochsner
The Hamilton County Fair is a highlight of the summer for the Joseph and Kylee Ochsner family. What started nine years ago with the two oldest boys showing a few static exhibits has evolved into five members gaining a lot of appreciation for the lessons 4-H has taught them.
“When I asked my children what 4-H has taught them, their number one answer was hard work,” Kylee said. “Whether that effort was put into sewing a garment, writing a speech, improving on a shooting sports discipline, or showing a feeder calf, they have learned that none of these things just happens. It takes patience, perseverance, a willingness to learn new things, and sometimes a little bravery.
“They also mentioned learning grace,” she continued. “They have learned to be considerate and kind to other 4-H members when we’ve had a good showing. And they are learning the harder lesson of being excited and cheering on a friend when you yourself had a disappointing day.”
While each of the Ochsner kids could name a few favorite exhibits they have made over the years, their mother said the most important things they’ll take from their 4-H years aren’t collecting dust in the back of a closet.
“It’s the opportunity to try something new that might ignite a passion they never knew they had,” Kylee said. “It’s the community they’ve built with other 4-H members. It’s the hard work they’ve helped with and seen from that community put into every 4-H event. It’s the determination to try again another year even after a disappointing result. It’s the grace and grit, in their own moments of discouragement, to see a friend’s win and celebrate with them. And it’s the assurance that their community around them will step in and help through ups and downs, and not just the 4-H ones.”
Ava Myers
Aurora junior Ava Myers has been showing an entire barnyard of animals at the Hamilton County Fair for more years of her life than not.
It’s something she’s proud of and something she works much of the year for. That hard work certainly paid off Thursday as Myers was named both the FFA and 4-H grand champion senior sheep showman.
“This is so much fun,” she said following Thursday’s show. “I love being with my livestock and getting to show them off for everybody. This is what I love.”
As far as winning two grand champion showmanship honors, it’s something in which she takes a lot of pride while adding there was a ton of hard work that went into that success.
“I believe that showmanship is very important,” Myers said. “It will help you the rest of your life and with everything you do.”
Myers laughed, recalling the first time she entered the show ring as both a peewee and clover kid, noting how she was hooked on it from the first whiff of the air.
She was busy throughout the entire fair weekend, showing off cows and chickens along with her sheep Thursday, which she admitted were her favorite.
“I’m not really sure why, they’ve just always been my favorite,” Myers said. “I just really like them. I’ve just attached to them.”
The De La Cruz family
Another family enjoying their time throughout the week was the De La Cruz family of Hampton, who spent their week competing in the 4-H events.
Parents Ernesto and Annie said they were proud of their children -- Simon, Felix, Eva and Elsa -- who participated in more than 10 events and averaged more than 15 4-H projects over the year. They said they were happy seeing all the 4-H members be recognized with ribbons and champion honors.
“We feel blessed to participate with such talented kids throughout Hamilton County,” Ernesto said. “We find ourselves impressed with others’ craftsmanship and projects, that it keeps us wanting to learn and experience more. We have so much fun during fair week.”
After a successful week of 4-H competitions, Annie shared her family’s joy in being able to spend time with other families and enjoy the county fair’s festivities.
“When we are all done, we look forward to hanging out with families we may not see as much throughout the year,” Annie said. “The fair is a special time for connecting with friends. The kids also like their one night where they get to run wild and ride all the rides.”
Calvin Epp
A family from outside Hamilton County enjoying the fair was that of Calvin Epp of Bradshaw. He brought his four children for their 15th year at the fair. He and the children competed in the annual pedal pull on Sunday afternoon and on Saturday night the family watched the trailer races and spent time at the DC Lynch Carnival.
“It’s a good fair,” Epp said. “They have good grandstand events, the pedal pull is good and the Midway is good. Everything’s really good here!”