News From Terre Haute, Indiana

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Animals’ arrival delayed by heat

Beastly weather was on the minds of fair officials Saturday, as livestock registrations were delayed until today.
According to the National Weather Service, air temperatures in Terre Haute hit 105 before 2 p.m., with the heat index climbing higher yet to 110. Vigo County’s Purdue Extension educator Jim Luzar said organizers made the decision in advance to postpone registration until today, when temperatures are expected to be in the upper 80s.
“We anticipated it being hot,” he said, adding the decision seemed an easy one to make from the fair board down. “There’s a whole team involved in the decision-making.”
Some 4-H’ers brought smaller animals, such as rabbits, later Saturday evening, but most of the large livestock, such as cows and hogs, were slated for arrival this morning. Animal health and well-being is stressed in the 4-H program, he said, emphasizing the amount of supervision involved.
“You don’t want the animals to be stressed, and you don’t want the humans to be stressed,” he said, observing the amount of physical labor involved.
Brian Otte’s three children have four hogs to show this week, and the West Terre Haute resident said he’s glad about the decision.
But temperatures in the upper 80s can still be rough, and Otte noted that hogs in particular have trouble in the heat because they don’t sweat.
“Make sure they have plenty of water and fans on them,” he said, pointing out the group has soaker hoses dropped from the barn roof to help.
In the beef and dairy barn, Matt Marion, 16, was shoveling wood chips into a stall for three of his cows. The Riverton Parke High School student will also show six pigs this year.
“This will be my eighth year,” he said, noting he just finished a show in Louisville, Ky., last week where 2,000 hogs were shown. His came in among the top four in their class, and Marion said he’s looking forward to a good week in Terre Haute.
— Brian M. Boyce
Tribune-Star

Related Photos

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Mini member: Seven-year-old Makenzie Bays, center, enters her project at the Mini-4-H table Saturday morning at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds. Bays was registering her 4-H projects with the help of her mom, Erin Bays, left, and brother, James Bays, right, as Sarah Puckett accepted her submissions.

    MET 070712 FAIR BAYS.jpg

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Canned goodness: Nancy Harding places an entry tag on a submission in the 4-H category of canning Saturday at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.

    MET 070712 FAIR HARDING.jpg

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Her cake runneth over: Tressa Steward, 15, enters her waterfall-themed cake into the 4-H fair Saturday at Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.

    MET 070712 FAIR STEWARD.jpg

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Our farming heritage: Classic and antique tractors are parked in a line Saturday for display at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds for the start of the Vigo County Fair.

    MET 070712 FAIR TRACTORS.jpg

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Classic J.D. Green: Eddie McCullough positions his 1951 John Deere B into a spot in a row of tractors Saturday at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.

    MET 070712 FAIR MCCULLOUGH.jpg

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Fairly close to opening day: Dianne Reeves, a 35-year member of the Lafayette Homemakers, sets up the group's display during preparation for the Vigo County Fair Saturday at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.

    MET 070712 FAIR REEVES.jpg

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza He's all ears: 4-H member J.P. Hartzler describes how he grew his corn to John Rosene, agricultural program chair at Ivy Tech Community College, as Hartzler's fellow 4-H members wait in line to have their entries judged Saturday morning at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.

    MET 070712 FAIR HARTZLER.jpg

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July 8, 2012

Cooler temps await Vigo Fair crowd

Brian Boyce The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — The 4-H community streamed into the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds on Saturday and steamed amid record temperatures, preparing for what could be a week of perfect Vigo County Fair weather.

Meanwhile, participation seems to be up this year, organizers said.

Katarina Walker, Vigo County’s Purdue Extension educator for health and human services, said this will be her first time at the local event. A native of Houston, Texas, the registered dietitian earned her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University before completing her graduate work at Purdue.

“It’s been really exciting. The number of exhibitors has actually gone up,” she said inside the main exhibit hall Saturday. “Seeing everything come together is really interesting to me.”

Tables full of vegetables faced those with pies, as posters displaying photography rested just down the aisle from crafts. The 83rd Annual Vigo County Fair, presented by First Financial Bank, runs through Saturday at the fairgrounds. Exhibit halls open at noon today, and the Wabash Valley Antique Engines and Tractors club will display projects all day. Live gospel music is planned at the Rick’s Smokehouse and Pepsi Free Stage between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. A preview night for the carnival opens at 6 p.m., and the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League truck and tractor pulls begin in the grand stand at 7 p.m.

Inside the exhibit hall, Open Class Superintendent Ruth Ridener said participation is up considerably from last year.

“We actually have more than 200 exhibitors,” she said, adding that most participants are bringing multiple entries.   

In addition to youth in the 4-H program, participants in the open class range from pre-schoolers to senior citizens.

“It’s anybody, any age. They don’t have to be from Vigo County. It’s open to the world, so to speak,” she said, noting residents at local nursing homes participate in a number of the categories. “In the fine arts division, we have 4-, 5-, 6-year-olds that come in. It’s a really broad range, which is neat.”

Categories vary from photography and fine arts to horticulture, canning and foods.

Anna Rose Hackney, a member of the Prairie Creek Home Extension Club, said she brought banana and pumpkin bread, as well as eight entries in needlecraft.

“I really think the fair needs to be supported and that’s one way to support it,” she said, remarking how empty the festivities would feel without exhibits. A member of her club for nearly 10 years, she said her introduction came as a child through 4-H.

“My mother was, I was, and my children were both 10-year members. I guess that’s the main reason I think the fair needs to be supported,” she said.

The Vigo County Fair The fair continues through Saturday.

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