|
4-H Fair Overcomes Weather Challenges and Puts on a Great Show
Fabulous food fuels fun for fair festivities
by Emily Stewart
The 35th Annual Putnam County 4-H Fair, held July 28 to 30, was a great success despite the strong windstorm that blew through the grounds on Friday afternoon, and blistering heat the rest of the weekend.
The fair was held in Putnam County Park, on Gipsy Trail Rd off Rt. 301. The theme for this year was "Celebrating 35 Youthful Years."
The mainstay of the fair was the many varieties of domestic animals, which were judged and awarded ribbons.
Student science projects and artwork were also on display, as were homemade games. A magic show tent, a small re-enacted civil war camp and live music, among other things, made the fair fun and interesting.
Possibly the most intriguing site at the fair was a tent called the "Discovery Depot." In it, non-profit organizations and clubs could rent a small table and display information about their activities. Ham radio operators, a falconer, The Society for Creative Anachronism, and Bob Morrison, collector and professional trout fishing instructor, were among those exhibiting.
The ham radio operators, who meet the first Monday of the month in East Fishkill, pointed out that, "when your phone doesn't work, amateur radio does." They cited Hurricane Katrina as an example.
The Society of Creative Anachronism had a display of games from the Middle Ages. Richard Solensky, whose SCA name is "Richard the Poor," instructed everyone in the rules of the games, and allowed people to play them. One of the games, he explained, is "a lot like checkers, only more fun."
Bob Morrison's table featured an assortment of animal bones he'd found over the years as he "trudged around." In his collection were a moose-jaw from Maine, an armadillo from Florida, and a deer skull from New York.
He awarded anyone who could identify a footprint of a red fox in pressed dirt with a special trout fly.
Donna Mitchell of Carmel, a licensed falconer, showed people her pet hawk, and explained the long process of becoming a falconer. North American Falconry and Hunting Hawks, by Beebe and Webster, she said, is an essential book for anyone interested in getting a falconer's license.
The food at the 4-H fair was reason enough to attend. Saturday's barbecue chicken dinner was great, as was the sweet grilled corn, drenched in butter. The burgers, hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy and ice cream were popular too.
The 4-H Fair (the "H's" stand for Head, Hands, Heart and Health) was hosted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County. An array of local businesses and politicians also sponsored the event. There are never entrance or parking fees for the fair, however those who wished could make a donation at the entrance or in one of the "cow tipping" stands around the grounds.
The spirit of volunteerism, the lifeblood of the 4-H fair, was tested late Friday afternoon, when a storm blew through the park. "It was unbelievable," said Helene Dunn, 4-H fair chairperson. "Horrific winds. It came through really fast." Several of the smaller tents were knocked down and larger ones needed maintenance. Everyone pitched in, though, said, Marjorie Keith, Executive Director for the Cornell Cooperative Extension. The place was back in order by 10 am, Saturday morning.
Anyone who didn't attend the fair missed a great time, and should come next year, to the 36th Annual 4-H fair.
Providing local news, information and opinions from
Philipstown and Putnam Valley, NY
Encompassing the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville,
and the hamlet of Garrison, Putnam County, NY.
This site is a publication of The Putnam County News and Recorder, the source for news and information of the Philipstown
and Putnam Valley area. The PCN&R is 139
years old, published in hard copy every Wednesday, and circulated throughout Putnam
County, NY.
The PCN&R prints LEGAL NOTICES
for: Putnam County, The Town of Philipstown, The Town of Putnam Valley, Village of Cold Spring, Village of
Nelsonville, the Haldane Union Free School District and the Garrison Union Free School
District.
Deadline for printed press releases, advertisements and classifieds is Monday at noon for
Wednesday publication. This site is updated on an as-needed basis with a minimum update
weekly on Thursdays. For further information or to request a subscription to the paper, please
contact us with your name and mailing address at:
(845) 265-2468 PO Box 185, Cold Spring, NY 10516, or e-mail us at editor@pcnr.com
If you see an advertiser on line, tell them! | Click ads below
for larger version
|
