The 169th Tuscarawas County Fair opens
Justin Scott and Megan Murphy were named the Tuscarawas County Fair king and queen on Sunday, Sept. 15 in prefair activities in the main arena at the fairgrounds.
Murphy, 17, of Mineral City is the daughter of Don Murphy and Carla Hammel. She is a member of the 4-H Heartlanders 4-H club and attends Tusky Valley High School and Stark State College.
Scott, 19, of Port Washington is the son of Tim and Summer Scott. He is a member of the Stone Creek Peas & Carrots 4-H club and attends Indian Valley FFA and Kent State Tuscarawas.
Contest organizer Wendy Vogel said the selection of winners this year was the hardest ever. “Everyone was so close,” she said.
Other contestants, with their parents, club and school, were Alayna Long, 18, of Newcomerstown, daughter of Andy and Amanda Long, Thunder Valley Pioneers 4-H club and Indian Valley FFA, Stark State College; Justine Hershberger, 17, of Sugarcreek, daughter of Gavin and Valerie Hershberger, Sweetwater Shamrocks 4-H club, Garaway High School; Madison DeVault, 16, of Dover, daughter of Keith and Stephanie DeVault, Brandywine 4-H club, Dover High School; Mikayla Horn, 19, of New Philadelphia, daughter of Jerry, Jr. and Melissa Horn, Town & Country 4-H club, Ashland University; Vidalia Porter, 17, of Strasburg, daughter of Charles and Mandy Porter, Happy Harvesters 4-H club, Strasburg Franklin High School; and Alexander Allen, 17, of Mineral City, son of Emilene and Darren Allen, Atwood Lakers 4-H club, Buckeye Career Center.
Fair board member Steve Cronebaugh named Greg Kimble as the first Tuscarawas County Fair Supporter of the Year. “He always shows up when we need help, and he brings more help with him,” Cronebaugh said.
Four veterans were presented quilts as a token of appreciation for their service. It is the second year for the Quilts of Valor Under Our Wings program.
The Above and Beyond 4-H club presented a quilt to Charles “Monty” Davis, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he earned numerous medals.
Donald Stephan, a life-long resident of New Philadelphia, was the recipient of a quilt from the Town & Country 4-H club. Stephan was an Army staff sergeant during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart, along with many other awards and medals during his time in the service.
Tom McQueen of New Philadelphia was presented a quilt from the Kendle family. As a member of the U.S. Army, McQueen served his country as a radio operator in Seoul, Korea. He ended his service at the rank of corporal.
A quilt created by many hands at the 4-H Create Day last March was presented to Alan Metzcar, who serves as an advisor for the Atwood Lakers 4-H club. Metzcar served for 31 years in the Ohio Army National Guard and other units. He was deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm and to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“As a representative of the Quilts of Valor Under Our Wings program, I salute the men and women who have served our country, performed their duty and fought for the freedoms we enjoy today,” Chris Kendle of the OSU Extension office said.
The men received a standing ovation from the crowd.
The number-one fair plate was purchased this year for $425 by Mark and Jamie Beaber in memory of Joanne Beitzel and Jim Cargnel. Last year the number-one plate went for $500.
Other winning bidders were number-two plate, $275, Dr. Chismar and family; number-three plate, $200, Lauren Renniker; number-four plate, $225, the Fowler girls; number-five plate, $225, Ryan Cox; number-six plate, $250, Chase Allen; number-seven plate, $275, Cronebaugh Auctions, Sophia and Sybil; number-eight plate, $275, Jamie’s Apple Treats; number-nine plate, $275, Kurtt Peters Horseshoeing; and number-10 plate, $500, MF Ag Repair.
The number-11 plate, which supports the Fair Royalty program, went for $500 to the family of the new queen. The remaining plates will be for sale at the fair board office.
A new competition was announced this year, and it’s one no one wants to win. The Kiss a Pig competition will raise money for the 4-H program to purchase supplies. The “winner” will kiss the grand champion pig at the sale on Thursday. The sale will begin at 4 p.m. in the swine arena.
“We have to buy all the supplies we need for the fair, and we don’t have the money. We are always asking the 4-H committee for money,” Kiersten Heckel of the OSU Extension office said.
The supplies needed include brooms, shovels, zip ties, printer paper, toilet paper and paper towels, among other items.
The photos of the competitors are atop a donation box outside the 4-H office on the fairgrounds. Anyone can vote by placing money in the slot below the photo of the person they want to see kiss a pig. The person who collects the most money “wins.”
Contestants are fair board members Reb Billman and Scott Grove, Heckel, Michele Specht of the Farm Bureau, Tuscarawas County Commissioner Joe Sciarretti, Dave Stiles of the Indian Valley FFA, Heather Coletti of Buckeye Career Center, and Mark Murphy, superintendent of Tusky Valley Schools.
Awards also were presented to companion animal, miscellaneous and FCS project winners after the plate auction. Makayla Miller, the 2018 Tuscarawas County Fair queen, was presented with the Sandy Wardell Award.
The Tuscarawas County Fair will continue through Sunday, Sept. 22.
