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Community Corner

Sheep and goats and cows: Time for the Loudoun County Fair

Livestock judging, 4-H exhibits, carnival, rodeo, demolition derby at the Loudoun County Fair west of Leesburg continue through Saturday

 

In 1963, when Bill Harrison arrived in Loudoun County, there were 163 grade A dairy farms in the county. Today there is one, the Pottsdale Holsteins at Dogwood Farm in Lincoln.

Were it not for Nancy Potts and the rest of her family, there might not be a Dairy Show at the Loudoun County Fair. But Nancy sponsors a non-ownership club, makes her heifers available to youngsters all over the county, and on Tuesday, July 26, they showed their talents at the Loudoun County Fair Dairy Show.

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The judge was Eddie Potts, another branch of the same family, and 10th generation to farm Orchard Crest Farm in Hillsboro.

He pointed to Hayley Potts and Pottsdale Jet Sable for first in Senior Showmanship. “She kept her under the best control, had the four feet placed right all the time, and kept her alert – that’ll get first place every time,” Potts told the audience in the exhibition barn at the Fair Grounds on Dry Mill Road West of Leesburg.

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Five looked for a ribbon in junior showmanship, and the blue ribbon went to Nicole Beard and Pottsdale Picolo Mariah.

In Novice Showmanship, Eddie Potts found his winner in Amelia Bailey with Pottsdale Phoenix Zahara. These three competitors, Potts noted, have much less experience in the ring, and Amelia was the ablest at keeping her heifer posed and in keeping her eyes on him.

Harrison eventually served as Loudoun’s Cooperative Extension Agent for 30 years, and was attending his 48th straight Loudoun County Fair. The Loudoun D4-H Dairy Club placed first in the nation this year, Harrison told the audience, in the Hoard’s Dairyman judging competition.

Harrison also has a nice young bull at home who’s looking for a new home – 10 month old Blackberry from the Pottsdale herd. His price tag is $1,200 and he’ll be ready to start breeding heifers in two months, Harrison said.

Over in the goat arena, competition was fierce in both showmanship and in the market goat classes. In showmanship, judge Rob Rynarzewski evaluated the skill of the youngster presenting the animal. In the market classes, he looked for the goat that best personifies the ideal structure and development of an animal bred for meat.

Cristina Guerra’s 57-pound Boer goat was Champion in the lightweight division, with Erin Gaylord in reserve Champion with her 51-pound entry.

In the middleweight classes, Rebecca Payne, 16, of Hamilton took Champion with a 74-pound entry, and reserve went to second place in her class, Ryan Virts with a 72-pound goat.

Kat Ashby took first in the first heavy weight class, and second place in the second class, and got the nod for Champion with her 80 pound entry. Nathan Stewart, winner of the second class in the heavy weight division, held on over Kat and her second place entry for Reserve Champion.

And at the end of the day, the 2011 Grand Champion Market Goat went to Rebecca Payne’s Typhoon.

The Loudoun County Fair continues all week with activities for small children and large adults and everyone in between. One of the 4-H clubs serves dinner each afternoon at 5 p.m. in Sykes hall – Wednesday, July 27, the beef club offers roast beef, baked potato, green beans, dinner roll or cookie and a beverage; then on Thursday it’s time for the Sheep Club – lamb barbecue on a bun, baked beans, cole slaw, pickle and beverage; the Poultry Club takes over Friday, July 29 – ¼ barbecued chicken, corn on the cob, salad, cookie and beverage; and finally, on Saturday, July 30, the Swine Club mans the grills and serves up pork barbecue sandwich, cole slaw, baked beans, green beans,  cookie and beverage.

When the clubs aren’t serving dinners, food vendors offer everything from gyros to hot dogs and hot sausages, cold drinks and barbecues.

4-H club competitions in swine, sheep, goats, dairy and beef cattle, rabbits and poultry go on all week during the day, climaxing with the Livestock Auction at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 29 in the show barn: Here’s a chance to fill the freezer with top quality beef, lamb, pork and goat for the year to come, and to reward a hard working 4-H youngster at the same time.

Wednesday, July 27 is Children’s Day and the carnival opens at 1 p.m.

Not to be missed special attractions: Masters of Chainsaw, Freestyle BMX Bike Show, Egg Toss Contest, Hansen’s Spectacular Acrobatic Sensation, Professional Rodeo, Agricultural Magic Show, Fire Fighter Training Show for Kids, Great Little Bear Show, Camel Rides, Super Farmer Competition, Outhouse Race.

Saturday closes out the week with a livestock obstacle course in he morning, carnival opens at 1 p.m., and the evening brings animal dress up, Karaoke contest, Professional Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. just after the crowning of the 2011 Kiss-A-Pig winner (which raises money for the youth activities and fair buildings), and an old fashioned barn dance at 8:30 p.m. in the Show Barn.

Go to http://loudouncountyfair.com for complete event and schedule information. The fun won’t be back until the end of July 2012.

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