FFA, 4-H members taking part

TURLOCK – The West Side is well represented at the 2008 Stanislaus County Fair, as more than 50 Newman FFA, Newman 4-H and Crows Landing 4-H Club members are among the scores of exhibitors who are competing and soaking in the fairgrounds atmosphere.

Showing their animals in the arenas or displaying their handiwork for the judges is old hat for many club members, but quite a few experienced it all for the first time this week.

Crows Landing 4-H member Trevor Beach is not new to the livestock show, but entered a new arena this year, entering 10 photographs. He located his judged entries on Sunday in the exhibition hall and excitedly discovered he had quite a few first- and second-place winners.

Newman FFA members Francisco Navarette and Cameron Rocha had their inauguration show Monday when they walked the arena with their meat goats for the first time. Their fellow members supported them from the rim of the arena as the two newcomers nervously but successfully followed the judge’s instructions and patiently waited for the results. Navarette earned a gold fourth place standing for his meat goat in the 82-87 pound weight class.

Veteran FFA and 4-H member Carlee Sterling said she is definitely having the best fair year of her life. “This week started off really well for me!” she exclaimed.

As of Monday afternoon, Sterling had won top prize in the advanced poultry showmanship and the advanced rabbit showmanship. She received grand champion single fryer (rabbit) and best of breed in Californian (rabbit) as well as division champion pigeon. She still had six dairy cattle and one market lamb yet to show on Tuesday and Wednesday.

And… an additional satisfying feat for Sterling this year was winning best of show for the leather stool she crafted. “This is my final year in 4-H,” the 2008 Orestimba graduate pointed out, “I have never won best of show in the 10 years I have been in 4-H so that was particularly exciting for me!” she described.

‘Nuts are Dino-mite’

This year’s theme, “Nuts are Dino-mite,” is carried throughout the fair celebrating county commodities of almonds and walnuts with a spectacular dinosaur twist. In addition to the Jurassic Journey dinosaur exhibit and paleontological dig site, fair visitors will find plenty of nuts to sample and amazing prehistoric displays throughout the fair grounds.

The county fair opened last Friday, and continues its 10-day run through Sunday, Aug. 3.

Fair officials reported that opening weekend was great with many families visiting from all over the county and even some from as far away as Hawaii, Alaska and Guam. “Families (have been) enjoying everything from music to exhibits to livestock and animals,” Communications Director Pennie Rorex stated.

In a change from last year, the headline entertainment concerts are included with the price of gate admission.

“The free celebrity concerts have been more than fantastic. It’s great to see moms, dads and kids all joining together in the audience tapping their toes, waving their hands, and clapping to the music,” noted Rorex. “Our concerts are included with the price of admission, so we encourage our fair guests to plan their fair schedule accordingly, as seating is on a space-available basis and varies from act to act.”

Another highlight of the 2008 fair is the hands-on activities available for kids, for example, the dig sites where the young fair-goers can dig for dinosaur bones, the craft tables where they can make and take projects and the 4-H Farm Experience building which offers a baby animal petting farm among many other activities.

The fairgrounds open at 5 p.m. today and Friday, and noon this weekend.