Judging underway at Oconto County Youth Fair

Main fair runs Aug. 18-21
By: 
Warren Bluhm
Editor-in-chief

A soaking rainstorm interrupted the horse show Aug. 13 at the fairgrounds in Gillett, one of the advance events connected with the Oconto County Youth Fair.

The four-day fair officially is scheduled to begin with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Aug. 18, led by local veterans. However, due to a lack of space, four judging events traditionally take place the previous weekend: horses, dogs, cats and small animals.

The storm, which dropped up to 2 inches of rain in some areas, turned the horse ring into a muddy mess. Fair organizers and parents met in the exhibition building as rain pounded the roof and agreed to postpone the Riding Class events until Aug. 16. Halter Class and Showmanship were moved into one of the barns, which have concrete floors in addition to shelter.

The other competitions went on as usual. In the beef barn, where 1,000-pound animals are being kept this weekend, the focus was on much smaller beasts, from caged birds to spaniels.

How do the judges decide which house pet gets a blue ribbon? After awarding Best of Show to Gibby, Reese Windus’ tabby cat, judge Heather Tetzlaff said there are a number of factors.

“Grooming, of course, is important — the ears, the nails, how clean the cat is and its body condition,” Tetzlaff said. Reese also had to describe the cat for the judge, and that presentation is a factor in determining the top prize.

That kind of judging has been going on all week. Non-animal exhibits such as crops, flowers and crafts were entered in Aug. 15-16, and youth checked their various farm animals into the barns during the afternoon and evening of Aug. 17 for their weekend stay. Judging is in progress Aug. 19-20, with the sale of champions planned for noon Aug. 21.

Mid-State Amusements opens its carnival rides and midway 5-11 p.m. Aug. 18, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 19-20 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 21.

Service clubs will be serving food all weekend, and music is planned each evening and weekend afternoons.

Admission to the fair is free, except for grandstand events that include a truck pull at 7 p.m. Aug. 19, horse and draft pony pull at 9 a.m. Aug. 20 and tractor pull at 6 p.m. Aug. 21. Those events are $9 adults, $5 ages 7-13 and free under 6.