This year’s Venango County 4-H Fair will feature a new sturdy floor to walk on while looking at the cows, a political figure who, instead of slinging bull, will ride one, and a group called Bacon Buddies will provide perhaps one of the most heartwarming experiences a young 4-Her will ever have as they help others. Fair board president Brad Deeter said the improvements to the fairgrounds and barns are continuing. A new concrete floor in the dairy barn will make getting around a little easier. They have been systematically replacing and upgrading the barns in the last 10 years. And it is paying off, as Deeter expects this year have move animals than last. “Everything is shaping up good,” Deeter said. “And the animal exhibits are up again this year.” Recognized as an official county fair in 1962, the original organizers began laying the ground work in 1959 to have a place to support local 4-H clubs and promote local agriculture. Their mission hasn’t changed much since. thought they also bring in entertainment for everyone beyond just the 4-H kids. Here are some highlights of this year’s fair schedule. This year’s fair kicks off Saturday with some mega mud bogging trucks with big wheels and farmers bringing in their livestock and home show entries. The day will be topped off by something called a Rock N Roll pet show and a rodeo. At the rodeo Venango County Commissioner Chip Abramovic will be among those to hop on top of a bull and hold on for dear life. He has ridden eight or so times. “I haven’t gotten a full ride yet,” he said. A full ride means staying on the bull for eight seconds with one hand holding on and the other waving free. On Sunday, you can see a goats, cows and others animals get on the scale to be weighed and a team of kids and adults trying to corral chubby pigs in and out of the hose down area to get all prettied up to be on display. In the evening, a fair queen will be crowned through a new pageant. On Monday, the judging kicks into gear in the Phillips Arena with goats getting it started. Horse shows begin filling up the fairgrounds corral called the Kiwanis Bowl. Later in the day, sheep take over where the goats left off and the popular Barnyard Olympics begin with a milk guzzling contest. Then the fair gets a little noisy with the demolition derby in main stage area. Tuesday starts with the bunnies getting flipped over and inspected for quality attributes, another pet show. Hogs take over the Phillips Arena and truck and tractor pulls try for the distance on a dirt track and one heavy pulling sled. On Wednesday, there will be butterflies and masks painted on faces everywhere and the beef cows will be showing who the king of the fair really is. Kids will be encouraged to spit watermelon seeds as far as they can. Horses will be dressed up to look like princesses and other crazy things and the popular Pine Valley Boys will give a softer listen on one side of the fairgrounds while on the other side more pulls will fill the stands with rumbles. If you’re a youngster with strong legs, the pedal tractor pull might be a place you want to be. Garden tractors get to pull stuff on Thursday while the best cornhole players around will go head-to-head in the spot the cows and pigs and goats competed all week. By Friday, the kids and parents traditionally are getting a bit tired, but some will get to rejuvenate with a sugar buzz during the pie-eating contest. This might just give them enough energy for one of the best attended spectacles of the fair - the livestock auction. From rabbits to the grand-champion market steer, tens of thousands of dollars are spent each year filling freezers and bellies for weeks and months to come. Deeter said last year the Autism Tough group began pairing up some of the older 4-H members with folks on the spectrum who are interested seeing the animals up close. “It’s pretty cool,” said Deeter, who was happy they were doing this again this year. “They’re called Bacon Buddies, and that is happening on Saturday during the day.” That day you can also test your strength to see how far you can toss a bale of hay before setting in for the final event of the fair, another demolition derby. The fair and demo derby end together with a bang as fireworks will fill the sky. For more information and complete schedule, visit www.venangofair.com Getting into the fair. NEW THIS YEAR: General Entry Wristbands will be $20 per person for a weekly pass or $7 daily per person (everyone over 8 years old). General admission includes entry to the Toyota Rodeo, the Garden Tractor Pulls, the Main Street Market Bluegrass Night, daily entertainment, all animal shows and exhibits and much more, according to the fair's website. There will be an ADDITIONAL cost (after the purchase of the weekly or daily wristbands) of $5 per person (over 8 years old) to enter the grandstands and $10 per person to enter the pits for the following events: Demo Derby - Monday Truck and Tractor Pulls - Tuesday Mini Rod Pulls - Wednesday Demo Derby - Saturday Any 4-H Member who is showing at least one 4-H project will receive a free green wristband. 4-H wristbands allow kids to enter the main gate and the grandstands, but does not get them into the pits. | Saturday, August 6 Pick up entry tags and numbers at the Fair Office. Animal Entries: Hogs: 7 am-noon ONLY (per vet ) Animal Entries: 7-3pm Horses: Saturday ONLY 7am -5pm large animals use back entrance Have health papers with animals Rabbits/Poultry: 2-6pm – please use front gate 11AM Mega Mud Trucks DOT 12-3pm All non-animal exhibit registration – buildings are closed during registration 6pm Rock N Roll Pet Show 7pm Rock N Roll Pet Show 7pm Toyota Rodeo- Kiwanis Bowl Sunday, August 7 Pick up entry tags and numbers at the Fair Office. Animal Entries: Hogs: 7 am-10Am ONLY (per vet) Large Animal Entries: 7-3pm Rabbits/Poultry: 12-5pm Please use front gate Throughout day- Chainsaw Demonstrations, Clown & Face Painting 11am Worship Service with Ron Knapp – Log Cabin 11am Times Rodeo Events- Kiwanis Bowl 12pm - 5pm- All non-animal exhibit registration - buildings are closed during registration 3:30pm Animal Exhibitor’s Meeting – Phillips Arena 4:00pm Weigh-ins for Goats, Lambs & Hogs- hog barn 6:30pm NEW Venango County Fair Queen Pageant - Grandstand 7pm Beth Stanish & John Walton with family- evening of praise and worship music- Log Cabin 11pm Fair Close. Monday, August 8 Throughout day- Chainsaw Demonstrations, Clown & Face Painting 9am Open & 4-H Dairy Goat Show- Phillips Arena 9am Project Judging- Foster/Bullock & Flower Building, Buildings will be closed until judging is complete 9am-11am- Judging of 4-H Clothing & Textiles Projects- Log Cabin 10am 4-H Pleasure Horse Show- Kiwanis Bowl 11am Open and 4-H Market and Meat Goat Show – Phillips Arena *Followed by Fiber Goats and Pack & Harness Goats 1pm Barnyard Olympics- Bubble Gum Blowing – Scrubgrass Stage 1pm-5pm Gameland open 2pm Open & 4-H Sheep Show – Phillips Arena 3pm 4-H Horse Game Show- Kiwanis Bowl 4pm Barnyard Olympics - Milk Drinking Contest – Scrubgrass Stage 6-8 pm Bingo- Gameland 6:30pm Demolition Derby- Grandstands Back By Popular Demand 6:30pm Bakes Good Auction- Foster/Bullock Bld. 11pm Fair Closes Tuesday, August 9 Throughout day- Chainsaw Demonstrations, Clown & Face Painting 9 am Open Pleasure Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl followed by the Versatility Show 9am Open & 4-H Hog Show – Phillips Arena 1pm-5pm Gameland open 2pm Rabbit /Cavy Show – Rabbit/Poultry Barn 4pm Barnyard Olympics- Animal Dress up Contest- Phillips Arena 5pm Open Pet Show- Phillips Arena 6-8 pm Bingo- Gameland 6:30pm Truck & Tractor Pulls - Grandstands 7pm Talent Show – Log Cabin 7pm 4-H Dog & Cat Show- Phillips Arena 11pm Fair Closes Wednesday, August 10 Throughout day- Chainsaw Demonstrations, Clown & Face Painting 9am- Open & 4-H Beef Show – Phillips Arena 11am Pee Wee Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl 1pm-5pm Gameland open 1pm Barnyard Olympics – Scavenger Hunt – in front of Gameland 3pm Lego Building contest – (Must bring your own Legos)- Foster/Bullock 5pm 4-H Dairy Clipping Contest- Phillips Arena 6pm Barnyard Olympics- Seed Spitting – Scrubgrass Stage 6-8 pm Bingo- Gameland open 7pm Costume Horse Show- Kiwanis Bowl 7pm Mini Rod Pulls- Grandstands Main Street Market Bluegrass Night 7pm Bluegrass Night – Pine Valley Boys & Friends – Log Cabin 7:30 pm Pedal Tractor Pull- Phillips Arena Extension Sponsored by Walls Dairy Transport 11pm Fair Closes Thursday, August 11 Throughout day- Knapping (arrowhead making) 10am Open Game Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl 10am Open & 4-H Dairy Cattle Show – Phillips Arena 11am Barnyard Olympics- Frog Jumping Contest – Scrubgrass Stage 1pm-5pm Gameland open 2pm Barnyard Olympics- Eggcellent Adventure, Scrubgrass Stage 3pm RC Cars 6pm Garden Tractor Pulls- Grandstand 6pm Cornhole Contest – sponsored by 4-H Teen Coucil – Phillips Arena 6pm Showman Band- Scrubgrass Stage 11pm Fair Closes Friday, August 12 Throughout day- Knapping (arrowhead making), clown & face painting 9am Senior Livestock Showmanship Contest – Phillips Arena 11am Barnyard Olympics – Nail Driving Contest- Scrubgrass Stage 1pm Barnyard Olympics- Pie Eating Contest – Log Cabin 1pm-5pm Gameland open 6:00 pm- Jr Livestock and Cheese Yield Auction – Phillips Arena 11pm Fair Closes Saturday, August 13 Autism Tough Day – for details check: https://www.facebook.com/Autism-Tough- Foundation-2718471158378700 Throughout day- Knapping (arrowhead making) 10am – Bacon Buddies – Phillips Arena 12pm-2pm Gameland open 1pm Barnyard Olympics- Hay Bale Throwing- Pulling Track 1pm - Supreme Senior Livestock Showmanship Contest – Phillips Arena 4pm 4-H Awards Ceremony – Phillips Arena 6pm Demo Derby- Grandstands followed by Kellner’s Fireworks Sunday August 14th 6am-11am- Release of animals 8am-11am – Release of all entries |
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"We had a bit over 250 people tonight at our National Night Out event. It was great fun. 220 hot dogs, 250 snow cones and 200 pieces of BBQ chicken." said Anne Bakker, who organized the event in conjunction with the United Way of Venango County.
National night out is designed to have several members of law enforcement and emergency responders available to meet and greet the neighborhood community. It is also a time for a fun block party to add to the feeling of a shared home or neighborhood. Several spots around Venango County held events supported through a series of grants given by the United Way. Republican governor candidate Doug Mastriano stopped at the Cochranton Fair Tuesday. Mastriano, who is making a series of stops in northwest Pennsylvania, spent the morning and afternoon in Lawrence County before coming to Crawford County. “My opponent doesn’t want to talk about anything serious,” he told the crowd of a couple hundred people in the bleacher seats at the fairground bandstand. “Shapiro doesn’t want to talk about gas prices.” He told the crowd he is one of them and got into politics only because he saw a need. “I have not been groomed for politics like my opponent,” he said. “My dad taught me not to ask for money, but here I am asking you to go to [my website to donate]. But if it comes down to food or medicine for you or your family take care of yourself first.” The crowd appeared to be mostly supporters who cheered when he addressed gender identity issues, including bathrooms and sports. And got a big cheer when he mentioned consequences for schools that taught CRT, which he said was a racist belief. He called Josh Shapiro “Little Josh” repeatedly saying that Shapiro will be virtually the same governor as Tom Wolf. “If you like the current governor, I’m not your guy,” he said. Mastriano’s team told the media he would not be taking any questions. He concluded his stop by shaking hands and talking with many of his supporters in a meet and greet session after his short speech. Mastriano visits Warren tomorrow, Mercer and Venango counties on Thursday and Clarion and Forest counties on Friday.
I found this scene tonight to be just beautiful and wanted to share it. I thought this couple were sweet as they walked hand in hand slowly away from the fairgrounds. I didn't even want to pass them even though I was on a bit of a deadline. So I made a few cell phone photos. When I saw the cool affect of the sun rays thanks to the way the phone camera lens works it seemed almost poetry.
This one goes into my favorites of the year folder. John Kluck, Venango County Democratic chair loads yard signs into the back of Braxton White's truck during a meeting at the Venango County Fairgrounds last week. For Venango County Democrat chairperson John Kluck, having the Democrat fundraiser and gathering in Venango County is a big deal. Kluck has watched the local Democrats go from a very few members only a few years ago to anoticeably growing into a more active political community. So it seems fitting that Demstock 2022 will be held at the Venango County Fairgrounds August 26 to 28. Demstock is a county fair style get together that is centered around everything Democrat party related. This idea started when Democratic leaders from Clarion, Elk and McKean counties got together to talk strategy in 2018 and have a pig roast. “Our planning committee now has Democrats from six western rural counties, so it's really growing,” said Braxton White, the Demstock committee chair. “We held the first official Demstock in 2019 in Clarion County headlined by Lt Gov John Fetterman. We skipped 2020 for obvious reasons but had another successful event in 2021 in Elk County with Senator Bob Casey, John Fetterman, Conor Lamb, and our entire judicial slate on the program.” “I think it’s awesome the Venango Democrats are getting attention on the state level,” Kluck said. He acknowledges that Republicans still out number Democrats two to one, but with controversial bills on the table to limit a woman’s right to choose after the Supreme Court overturned the Roe V. Wade, he said there may be more cross over as a result. Venango County vice-chair Ashley Zaccari Smith met with Demstock committee members to look over the Venango County Fairgrounds last week. “It’s good for the region too bringing people in from all over for this event,” said Kluck. White, who lives in Clarion County and is 2005 Titusville High School graduate, is trying his darndest to turn the rural areas of northwest Pennsylvania blue. Or at least make the dominant red that blankets the political geography of the region a little more purple than red. “There are more rural Democrats than people realize,” said White. This year 17 counties are registered to participate in Demstock already. According to White, Pennsylvania Governor candidate Josh Shapiro and U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman have expressed interest in attending. “I think they are coming. Fetterman has been to every one of our events,” White said. Sen. Bob Casey has confirmed as well as scores of local candidates including Dan Pastore, who is running against incumbent U.S. Representive Mike Kelly in the Pennsylvania 16th district and Mike Molesevich who is hoping to unseat the 15th district U.S. Congressman Glenn Thompson. Rianna Czech, a veteran and a proud member of the LBGTQI+ community is expected to be there to answer questions about her campaign against state senator Michele Brooks in the Pennsylvania 50th District. She will be joined by Nerissa Galt running against veteran State Representative Brad Roae in the Pennsylvania 6th and Rob Vigue seeking house District 12 seat from down in Butler County currently held by Daryl Metcalfe. Titusville native Braxton White and his wife Stephanie pick up yard signs from Venango County last week. “We’re adding more everyday” said White who hopes to fill the 300 person capacity home show building at the fairgrounds for meals.
The event is designed for Democrats to come together, network and strategize about the upcoming 2022 election in November. It is also a time to rally the base while showing off what being a Democrat is all about. And to have some fun. “We want to make sure it is understood that it’s OK to be a Democrat in rural Pennsylvania," White said. The event is pre-registration at www.demstock.net. White said there will be music , food and fun at the fairgrounds but most important will be information tables and chances to talk with people running for office. Tickets are $25, but additional fees if you plan to camp over night. “It’s kinda like summer camp, but for grown-ups who are Dems,” said Steph White, Braxton’s wife. Local groups are planning two rallies in the next couple weeks to showcase their disapproval of the recent Supreme Court decision that abolished the federal protection of a woman's right to abortion. This action opens up the possibility for states to limit a woman's individual right to choose.
On Wednesday democrat candidate for the Pennsylvania 6th district Nerissa Galt has coordinated a "We Will Not Go Back" sign rally around Diamond Park beginning at 5 p.m. "Bring your signs and rally together for our reproductive freedoms. With the recent [Supreme Court] decision to allow states to decide, [Pennsylivania] is at a turning point," the social media event page post said. Organizers are planning a second sign rally in Franklin on August 13 beginning at noon. Their first rally a few weeks ago drew over 150 people. They are organizing a sign making party from 5 to 9 p.m. on August 10 at the Underground Bookstore on 13th Street in Franklin. "Anyone who wants to come in support of their own first amendment rights should come," said Nicole Burton, one of the event organizers. "Women should be able to have the autonomy and privacy to make their own decisions." This same group is planning a larger march and rally on September 17 beginning at noon at Franklin City Hall marching through town to Bandstand Park where they present several speakers. "We need to understand the power of our vote," Burton said. Many details are still being worked out for that event. |
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