Picture-perfect weather on tap for opening day of fair

Picture-perfect weather dawned for opening day at the Yuma County Fair. Though it is grounded in the tradition of livestock shows, a person does not have to win a purple ribbon to have a great time, Fair manager Kelly Watkins said.
 
"It's  the biggest annual event in Yuma and the best value for your dollar," Watkins said. "It doesn't matter how old you are, there's something here you'll enjoy."
 
The one thing the Yuma County Fair does that nobody else will do is reserve an attraction for the youngest fair attendees, The Tiny Tot area, Watkins said. It has rides that are more "kid friendly" as well as a petting zoo, with cups of treats children can feed the animals and Shetland pony rides.
 
Close by is Kids Town America, with free attractions such as hula-hoops,a putting green and arm painting. Ray Traughben, a Kids Town arm painter, said they always pull in a good crowd because it is free and it is for children 10 and under, "although we make an exception for bigger people who are kids at heart," he said.
 
"Yet we're not baby-sitters but the parents enjoy sitting on the hay bales under the shade trees watching the kids play, and you can't beat that," Traughben said.
 
Jessica Freytag, 10, an O.C. Johnson School 4th grade student, had her face painted with a floral design and a happy face painted on her arm at Kids Town. Jessica is raising a Yorkshire pig named Eddy, who won a blue ribbon Tuesday for showmanship.
 
"He's the strongest pig you've ever seen," she said. "He can push a bowling ball with his snout. But I'm looking forward to getting a lot of money for him at the auction."
 
Also winning a a blue ribbon in showmanship for her York Cross hog was Meghan Pilgrim, 13, a Woodard 8th grade student. Her hog, Rumper, weighs 243 pounds and she keeps him in a pen she built at her parents' home, she said.
 
"He's just like a little character because he's so funny," Meghan said. "He gets in the dog's water bowl. They mostly ignore him but sometimes they attack him but it's never serious."
 
 Meanwhile, Andie Ostiguin, 13, a Crane Middle School 7th grade student was waiting patiently to show her boar cross goat, Babe. Andie said she wants to raise money to go to college. In prior fairs, while showing rabbits, she has won Best of Breed and Reserve Grand Champion. Andie said she loves feeding Babe.
 
"My favorite part is when he tries to head-butt the Chihuahua," Andie said, "He goes after him like an evil monster."
 
Sierra Swenson, 12, won a purple ribbon for her goat Sadie, who is "real fun to be with. I also have a dog but Sadie is my only 4-H project."
 
And the Yuma County Fair would probably never be the attraction it is without Kammann Sausage served up at the Rotary Club booth where they did a brisk business for lunch because it was "dollar day" admission, Bob Stull, president- elect of the Yuma Rotary, said.
 
"We had two long-term Rotarians at the first shift in booth early this morning," Stull said. "Don Cutlip, who has worked this booth 35 years and Al Face, who turned 90 today and did a great job."
 
Face has been a Rotarian for 64 years and says it is a very good organization that does a lot of things to help the unfortunate around the world and sponsors a lot of scholarships as well.
 
When Face arrived in Yuma just after mustering out of the service following World War II, he organized the Junior Fair held at the Crane School grounds so the 4-H and FFA clubs could show their livestock. Seven years later it became the nucleus  for the Yuma County Fair.
 
"They've done a good job carrying it on," Face said. "I organized the livestock auction. A lot of young people get money for their college education from that, at least some of it. I came here 45 years ago for my health and Yuma has been very good to me."

--
William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.

---

See more coverage of the Yuma County Fair and Jr. Livestock large animal results.