Bourbon County Fair going well so far

Kaitlyn Arnold of Northwest Scott 4-H washes down her sheep at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on Tuesday. This is the 11th year she has taken part in the fair.(Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

So far this week, numbers at the Bourbon County Fair have been good from the livestock to the clothing and food.

"It's going great," Fair Board President Darrel George said. "It's how it always goes. We always have worries. The people in Bourbon County just come together for the fair and make it operate. ... We've just got a great bunch of volunteers."

A brainstorming session is conducted in August to discuss things that went well and things that might need improvement next year. "In January, we're just finalizing ... all the preparations for the next year. Next is polishing those plans and getting them accomplished," said George, who has been on the fair board for 20 years.

Two-hundred-sixty-nine head of livestock will be coming through the show arena, not to mention the poultry and rabbits. "I've been thinking we need to expand the facilities to house future livestock. As it is right now, we're using every inch of space," George said.

Goats have grown in popularity in the past five to 10 years, he said. "It's a small animal and they're easy to handle and apparently easy to feed and show," he said. "They're good for starting 4-Hers. They're just right," George said.

Kaitylyn Arnold, a Northwest Scott 4-H member, is showing sheep this year. The Fort Scott resident who will be attending Fort Scott Community College this fall, been taking part in the fair for 11 years and has raised sheep since she was 7. "I just enjoy the challenge you get every year, learning new things, being an example to the younger kids and I enjoy being around animals," said Arnold, a Fort Scott Christian Heights graduate

The Open Class Division at the fair has 536 classes available for everything from antiques and photography to produce, crops, prepared foods, flowers and quilts, said Joyce Gobl, who is superintendent of the class with Jackie Warren. Floriculture is the feature this year.

"As dry as it's been, I didn't think we'd have very many in the garden class," but they did, Gobl said. "We have an overabundance of wonderful garden produce. ... There is a lot to do with all the classes and special awards."

As part of the Junior Livestock Show and Sale, which starts at 7 p.m. Friday, there will be a "Kiss a Pig" contest.

Pig-kissing candidates include Diane Brillhart, Hiattville club leader; Delta George, Southwind Extension agent; Uniontown FFA advisor Kevin Gleason; and Pete Wiley, fair board representative. Cans are set up inside the fair office on the fairgrounds and whoever gets the most money will get to give the swine a smacker.

Intern Katelyn Vincent said the winner will be announced and the kissing will take place during the junior livestock sale. All proceeds will be used to cover district 4-H expenses when youngsters attend the Kansas 4-H Sweepstakes Aug. 24-26 in Manhattan. Kids will take part in livestock judging, meats, skill-a-thon and a quiz bowl.

Along with the Bourbon County Fair, Southwind Extension agent Carla Nemecek said the kissing contest will be conducted at the Allen and Neosho county fairs. All the kids travel and compete together, she added. Those attending the sweepstakes from Bourbon County include Hayden Cole, Hannah Fry, Torrie Hathaway, Drew George and Chase Gleason.