Regional (af)fair

Kayla Moore, 14, is on the grounds of the Monroe County Fair by 6:30 a.m. every day and doesn’t leave until about 11 p.m.

Moore and about 850 4-H members this year practice a routine of watering, feeding and pampering their livestock for show.

“We’re here from early in the morning until late at night,” said Moore, who, along with her brother, will show three cattle and seven rabbits. “We have to take care of our animals really well. Their first day out here, all the calves are getting used to their
environment, but a few days out here they’re calm as can be.”

Each year, the number of residents who attend the fair to munch on elephant ears, drive in the derby or show livestock fluctuates between 2,000 and 10,000. And this year the board is expecting about 10,000, said Wally Hamilton, first vice president of the fair board.

Based on the current economy, the board has made a few changes to ticket prices raising the cost of a daily parking pass from $2 to $5 and a weekly pass from $10 to $15, Hamilton said. Contestants entering the demolition derby will also experience a $5 increase in entry fees, and spectators will pay $3 more this year.

Hamilton said the increase in prices is because of rising building insurance each year and the cost of maintenance on the grounds.

“By raising a few prices, we’re able to freeze the prices of other events,” Hamilton said. “We tried to do it minimally to cover our expenses.”

Despite the increase in prices, Hamilton said he still expects shows such as the baby contest and queen’s contest to overflow. Saturday night’s queen contest was soldout.

“I believe it started as an oversized family reunion where people can show and share their skills,” Hamilton said. “I think it has grown from the early beginnings of that type of activity. There are people who plan to be in Bloomington or meet family members the week of the fair.”

Along with all the traditions of the fair, a minivan demolition derby is being added this year and will take place Thursday evening at the Grandstand.

Thursday’s carcass show is an Indiana rarity, in which 4-H members show their sheep and goats in the Livestock Arena, and the animals are judged based on their meat.

The livestock are judged again after they’ve been sent to the slaughterhouse, and their carcasses are hung on rails and judged based on how much marble and red meat they contain. 4-H members later receive the market price of their animal.

“There are very few counties that have a carcass evaluation show,” said Jeff Holland, 4-H youth educator and county extension director. “There are only two individuals in the state who can evaluate carcass, and we have someone coming from South Bend.”

Caroline Funkhouser, 14, who was playing sudoku while sitting near her cattle Saturday evening, said despite the long week, it’s worth it.

“The work is pretty easy, but it’s not so fun when they get excited and take a run with you,” she said. “I like seeing all my friends too because we don’t always get to see each other during the summer, and the fair is a chance to catch up.”