The 2019 Dallas County Fair opened Wednesday and runs through Sunday with its usual dizzying variety of shows, acts, food and fun for all ages.
Livestock shows by the Dallas County 4-H groups and Future Farmers of America drew appreciative crowds, with the young people’s hand-raised horses, hogs, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys and rabbits earning trophies and red, white, blue and lavender ribbons.
Among the regrettable absences from this year’s fair was Jim “J. J.” Walling of Lamoni and his pony rides, who was unable to make his eighth annual appearance. But the ever-popular Dallas County Little Critter Corner petting zoo included a dozen farm animals for youngsters to stroke and pet.
The Perry Pathfinders 4H club earned a number of awards in the static exhibits, judged Monday. Winners included:
- Marcus Nelsen entered photography projects and earned one lavender and three blue ribbons.
- Sierra Newton entered two visual arts projects and one baking project and earned one lavender and two blue ribbons.
- Lily Hollingsworth entered two home improvement projects, one visual arts project and one child development project, earning two lavender and two blue ribbons.
- Aleah Karolus entered one animal science project and one visual arts project, bringing home one blue ribbon and one red.
- Carly Pavlica earned one blue ribbon for her baking project.
- Christian Pavlica earned one blue ribbon for his baking project.
- Hanna Sucher entered one home improvement project and one baking project, earning two blue ribbons.
Perry Pathfinders leader Kendra Woehl said each 4H club is also kept busy helping set up the fair, working two-hour shifts as fair ambassadors — anwering questions, giving diections — working a shift at the foodstand and then helping with the tear down and cleanup on Sunday.
“I have to throw one thing out there about the kid’s projects,” said Woehl. “A special thank you goes to Carlene Mehls Coleman of Showtime dance and Tumbling Studio for her support of our club. Carlene has helped several members out with their projects this year.”
