PHS students well-representated at the Hillsdale County Fair

by Brooke Maxson

Screaming kids, smells of delicious food, smelly barns full of animals, and one day off of school. What does this put you in mind of? The Hillsdale County Fair, of course! There are many things that went on during fair week, September 21-28, which many of the kids at PHS took some part in. Fair week is especially important to the kids who participate in 4-H. Quite a few of us don't realize how much work they go through in preparation for the fair, with big hopes of winning prizes for their achievements. It turns out that 4-H members here at Pittsford did, in fact, get what they were hoping for.

Senior William Belson showed rabbits on Sunday, sheep on Monday, and steers on Tuesday. He actually won the grand championship award for roaster rabbits. He also won 2nd place in sheep showmanship, therefore taking alternate super showmanship. This means if the 1st place winner decided not to show sheep on Saturday, William would take his place (the person did decide to show for sheep). He also took 2nd place in the weight class for market sheep. On Tuesday of fair week, he won 5th place in the competition for 17 year-olds for showmanship of his steers. When determining whose steers had the highest weight gain from the 1st to the 2nd weigh in, Belson took 4th place. He also came in 2nd for the weight class of his market steers.

Sophomore Ashley Immel won 2nd place three times with her horse. She also came in first place in her equine showmanship, which allowed her to go on to the next show, super showmanship. She also entered two pieces of jewelry and won first place for both! “I’m satisfied with what I did in 4-H, but I wish I would have practiced a little bit more than I did,” said Ashley.

Junior Chloe Hepker, 4-H member for nine years so far, participated in the 14 and over rabbit showmanship and moved onto the Super Showmanship the last Saturday of the fair. She won a gold ribbon for her rabbits, which allows her to move onto the State Fair. She not only won prizes for animals, but she also won "best of class" for her cheesecake! However, now Chloe is paying for her time at the fair. “I did good in the fair this year, but I think school should let us out more than one day because I missed a lot of school for 4-H and I am forced to play catch-up,” explained Chloe.

Junior Jocelyn Elarton, a member for two years so far, sold her California rabbit for $90. This is also her first year for entering poetry and she won an honorable mention. “I believe that my overall performance in 4-H was good. I would have liked to have taken more time off of school to enjoy my 4-H experience more thoroughly,” wished Jocelyn.So, what about the rest of the fair? So many of us look forward to the fair, but why? "I went to the fair with my girlfriend and I played a game for ten dollars and all I won her was a tiny, little bear!" said junior Alex Reinbolt. Alex also looks forward to the pizza. Junior Desirae Swope said, “It was fun. I liked the food and the rides…and hanging out with my friends. I didn’t like how they didn’t sell wristbands on Saturday though.” Erica Church, junior, said, “It was actually pretty fun. The freak out was awesome!” Sophomore Brandy Boise said “There were really long lines and the food I ate was o.k.” So, everyone here at Pittsford has different opinions about the fair. Whether we like it or not, it’s over for this year.