The Crawford County Fair had a good run this past weekend in Gays Mills, according to most everyone who attended and those responsible for organizing the event.
Things launched smoothly on Wednesday evening with a mellow, but enjoyable Kickapoo Taste featuring some local foods and good music. There was also a moving tribute to 2015 Fair Ambassador Bridget Achenbach, who died in an auto accident last spring.
On Thursday, things got into full swing with some animal and exhibit judging, and a lot more. The day ended with a full-scale truck and tractor pull in the grandstand put on by SWWI Pullers that was well attended.
Then, the Friday rain arrived and stayed all day. Under umbrellas and in rain gear, the fair went on as best it could. Unfortunately, the rain would not subside and forced the cancellation of the Blessed FMX Stunt Show. The band ‘Menace’ was forced to perform in the Friends of the Fair Tent to a much smaller crowd than would have filled the grandstand.
On Saturday, things restarted with a good dairy show, a well-attended meat auction and much more. The Hard Hit Demo Derby played to a packed grandstand crowd.
The fair finished Sunday on an up note with plenty of good entertainment including the Surf Boys in the grandstand hosting a talent show and then reliving the 50s and 60s for an appreciative crowd. Monte Berger and his band played country music in the Friends of the Fair Tent and a spirited ranch rodeo was held in the horse arena.
If you missed this year’s Crawford County Fair, you better mark your calendars for next year because you certainly don’t want to miss all that fun with family, friends and neighbors at the fair.
The 2015 Crawford County Fair results were:
Dairy
Supreme Champion, Dairy Female: Claire Teynor
Junior Champion, Registered Guernsey: Miranda Randall
Grand Champion, Registered Holstein: Claire Teynor
Intermediate Showmanship, Dairy: Cathleen Anderson
Junior Showmanship, Dairy: Makayla Steger
Senior Showmanship, Dairy, Sarah Kearns
Junior Champion, Grade Ayrshire: Laura Cornwall
Junior Champion, Grade Holstein, Avery Toberman
Reserve Junior Champion, Grade Holstein: Avery Toberman
Junior Champion, Grade Jersey: Reagan Kramer
Reserve Junior Champion, Grade Jersey: Luke Kramer
Junior Champion, Registered Holstein: Sarah Kearns
Reserve Champion, Registered Holstein: Brooke Moret
Reserve Junior Champion, Registered Holstein: Sarah Kearns
Grand Champion, Registered Jersey: Kal Randall
Junior Champion, Registered Jersey: Kal Randall
Reserve Champion, Registered Jersey: Kal Randall
Reserve Junior Champion, Registered Jersey: Miranda Randall
Junior Champion, Open Holstein Reg: Arnie Klema
Nathan Brown Memorial Award: Caleb Folbrecht
Reserve Champion, Registered Red And White Holstein: Caleb Folbrecht
Reserve Junior Champion, Registered Red And White Holstein: Jessica Steger
Dairy Member, Herd: Jessica Steger
Beef
Herdsmanship: Nate Toedter
Intermediate Showmanship: Hallie Toedter
Junior Showmanship: Lily Mitchell
Senior Showmanship: Kelsey Achenbach
Top Rate-Of-Gain: Blake Mitchell
Reserve Champion, Commercial: Chad Achenbach
Grand Champion, Commercial: Kelsey Achenbach
Reserve Champion, Dairy Steer: Brook Moret
Grand Champion, Dairy Steer: Eric Nolan
Top Rate-Of-Gain, Dairy Steer: Sarah Kearns
Swine
Champion, Market Barrow: Lily Mitchell
Reserve Champion, Market Barrow: Chad Achenbach
Champion, Purebred Market Barrow, Regan Kramer
Herdsmanship, Swine: Tyler Nagel
Intermediate Showmanship, Swine: Chad Achenbach
Junior Showmanship: Marie Achenbach
Senior Showmanship: Kelsey Achenbach
Reserve Champion, Purebred Market Barrow: Lucas Kramer
Sheep
Champion Market: Joey Oppreicht
Herdsmanship: Joey Mezera
Intermediate Showmanship: Chad Achenbach
Junior Showmanship: Lindsay Nolan
Senior Showmanship: Rachael Nolan
Reserve Champion Market: Emma Hady
Horse
Showmanship Reserve Champion: Blake Mitchell
Halter Grand Champion: Olivia Loos
Showmanship Grand Champion: Olivia Loos
Equitation Grand Champion: Olivia Loos
Pleasure Grand Champion: Olivia Loos
Trail Grand Champion: Dylan Ghormley
Gymkhana Grand Champion: Dylan Ghormley
Sportsmanship: Elizabeth Carlson
Barn Award: Keegan Eberling
Halter Reserve Champion: Blake Mitchell
Equitation Reserve Champion: Dylan Ghormley
Pleasure Reserve Champion: Blake Mitchell
Trail Reserve Champion: Brennah Ghormley
Gymkhana Reserve Champion: Kylie Heisz
English High Percentage Award: Dylan Ghormley
Western High Percentage Award: Kylie Heisz
Goats
Champion, Dairy Goat: Marie Achenbach
Reserve Champion, Diary Goat: Marie Achenbach
Intermediate Showmanship: Chad Achenbach
Junior Showmanship: Marie Achenbach
Poultry
Champion, Chicken: Rachel M. Kramer
Reserve Champion, Chicken: Casey Ostheimer
Champion, Waterfowl: Chad Achenbach
Reserve Champion, Waterfowl: Emma Hady
Junior Showmanship: Emma Hady
Intermediate Showmanship: Casey Ostheimer
Champion, Bantam: Emma Hady
Reserve Champion, Bantam: Emma Hady
Rabbit
Best In Show: Casey Ostheimer
Best Opposite In Show: Alex Morga
Intermediate Showmanship: Casey Ostheimer
Junior Showmanship: Alex Morga
Top Meat: Elizabeth Carlson
Senior Showmanship: Keegan Eberling
Best In Class, Awards: Chad Achenbach (3), Casey Ostheimer (3), Marie Achenbach, Faith Morga, and Alex Morga
Dogs
Pre-Novice A, Dog Obedience: Gracie Sime
Novice, Dog Obedience: Rachel Kramer
Pre-Novice B, Dog Obedience: Marie Achenbach
Intermediate, Showmanship: Tyler Heinz
Junior, Showmanship: Gracie Sime
Grand Champion, Small Animal: Casey Ostheimer
Exotic Animals
Intermediate, Showmanship Alpacas: Aubree Larson
Champion: Aubree Larson
Reserve Champion: Aubree Larson
Indoor Exhibits
Animal & Veterinary, Science Best In Department: Elizabeth Garfoot
Animal And Vet Science Merit Award Winners: Gracie Sime, Connor Stenner, Casey Ostheimer, and Elizabeth Garfoot
Plant And Soil Science, Best In Department: Emma Hady
Plant And Soil Science Merit Winners: Skyler Achenbach, Lillian Draka, Casey Ostheimer, and Christopher Reising
Plant And Soil Science Superintendent Award Winner: Avery Toberman
Flower, Home Grounds and Plants Best In Department, Benedict Galligher
Flowers and Plants Department, Best In Class, Winner: Benedict Galligher
Flowers and Plants Merit Winners: Taylor Snyder, Rachel Kramer, Alexis Snyder, Dawn Baker
Natural Sciences, Best In Department Flowers and Plants Rachel Kramer
Natural Science Merit Award Winners: Ethan Dull, Faith Morga, TJ Clark, and Joseph Kramer
Natural Science Superintendent Award Winner: Joseph Kramer
Younger Youth, Best In Department: Brooke Mitchell
Younger Youth Best In Class Winner: Brooke Mitchell
Younger Youth Department Merit Winners: Archie Mickelson, Melissa Sletten, Grant Sime (2), Brooke Mitchell, Jack Draka
Younger Youth Superintendent Award: Mitchell Mickelson
Cultural Arts, Best In Department: Sadie Hooker
Cultural Arts Department, Best In Class, Winners: Samuel Gallagher, Sarah Bransky, Casey Ostheimer, Veronica Kramer
Department Merit Winners: Jayden Glassbrenner, Rachel Kramer, Joanna Blake, Marie Achenbach, Cassandra Becwar (2), Hannah Naas, Helen Carstens, Kylie Zimmerman, Becca Cornwall, Casey Ostheimer, Gracie Sime, Rosemary Gallagher, Lindsey Nolan, Cody Sime
Cultural Arts Superintendent Award Winners: Andrew Horner, Marisa Rew
Photography, Best In Department: Veronica Kramer
Photography Department, Best In Class, Winners: Department Merit Winners: Jayden Glassbrenner, Nicholas Walz, Mckenzie Olsen, Olivia Loos, Hannah Naas, Adam Martin, Theresa Kramer, Rachel Kramer, Hannah Naas, Adam Martin, Travis Zach, Daniel Naas, Veronica Kramer, Joel Martin, Casey Ostheimer
Photography Superintendent Award Winners: Travis Zach and Adam Martin
Photography: Kathleen Pulda - weather lightning
Computers, Best In Department: Gracie Sime
Computer Merit Winners: Casey Ostheimer, Lucas Kramer, Lily Mitchell, Mckenzie Olsen
Computer Superintendent Award Winner: Becca Cornwall
Woodworking, Best In Department: Casey Ostheimer
Woodworking Department, Best In Class, Winner: Casey Ostheimer
Department Merit Winners: Noah Sprosty, Casey Ostheimer, Anastasia O’Brien, Rachel Kramer, Robert Ghormley
Woodworking Superintendent Award Winner: Rachel Kramer
Electricity, Best In Department: Ethan Dull
Electricity, Best In Class, Winner: Ethan Dull
Electricity Superintendent Award Winner: Alex Morga
Mechanical Projects, Best In Department: Emily Steger
Mechanical Projects Department, Best In Class, Winner: Emily Steger
Department Merit Winner: Isabella Rose
Mechanical Projects Superintendent Award Winner: Lucas Kramer
Food and Nutrition, Best In Department: Casey Ostheimer
Food and Nutrition Department, Best In Class, Winners: Emily Steger, Taylor Snyder, Helen Clark
Department Merit Winners: Casey Ostheimer (2), Cathleen Anderson, Lily Mitchell
Food and Nutrition, Open Class, Merit Winners: Nancy Dowling and Sondra Ostheimer
Food and Nutrition Sunrise Apple Award Winner: Cathleen Anderson (Jr), Nancy Dowling (Open)
Food And Nutrition Superintendent Awards: Aisja Achenbach and Jessica Valentine
Food Preservation, Best In Department: Rachel E. Kramer
Food Preservation Merit Award Winners: Marie Achenbach, Kelsey Achenbach, Kirsten Draka, Mckenzie Olsen, Chad Achenbach
Food Preservation, Open Class, Merit Winners: Elizabeth Garfoot, Hillary Bark, Beckey Kramer
Clothing, Best In Department: Lydia Kramer
Clothing Superintendent Award Winner: Jorja Clark
Knitting and Crocheting, Best In Department: Casey Ostheimer
Knitting and Crocheting Department, Best In Class, Winner: Casey Ostheimer, Jorja Clark
Department Merit Award Winners: Lillian Draka and Lucille Fillbach
Knitting And Crocheting Open Class Merit Award Winner: Dixie Dudenbostel
Knitting and Crocheting Superintendent Award Winner: Rachel Kramer
Home Furnishings, Best In Department: Casey Ostheimer
Home Furnishings Department, Best In Class, Winner: Casey Ostheimer
Department Merit Award Winner: Casey Ostheimer
Family Living, Best In Department: Casey Ostheimer
Family Living Department, Best In Class, Winner: Casey Ostheimer
Department Merit Winner: Casey Ostheimer
Family Living Superintendent Award: Casey Ostheimer
Communications, Best In Department: Rachel Marie Kramer
Junior Communication Merit Winners: Casey Osthemier, Mckenzie Olsen, Gabe Martin, Elizabeth Garfoot
Booths, Best In Department: Steuben River Runners
Jr. Booth Merit Winner: Steuben River Runners
Youth Leadership, Best In Department: Casey Ostheimer
Youth Leadership Merit Winner: Casey Ostheimer, Faith Morga, Rachel M. Kramer
Health, Social and Political Sciences, Best In Department: Elizabeth Garfoot
Health, Social and Political Science Merit Winner: Casey Ostheimer
Health, Social and Political Science Superintendent Award Winner: Jorja Clark
Open Class Exhibitors
Antiques, Best In Department: Sandra Jeffers
Antiques Merit Awards: Sandra Jeffers (2), Gail Grimsled, Lola J. Olson
Photography Open Class Merit Winners: Lisa Zach, Becky Nagel, Katrina Owens, Kathleen Pulda, Sherry Lechnir, Dawn Baker (2), Deanna Anderson, Nancy Dowling (3), Mishaela Dudenbostel
Blooming Baskets (Adult): Donna Teynor - 1st Bucket of Blooms; Merrilyn Norlin - 2nd Buckets of Blooms; Merrlyn Norlin - 3rd Bucket of Blooms; and Margaret - 4th Bucket of Blooms
Foods & Nutrition
Casey Ostheimer - Carnival Canoodle WI Apples; Cathleen Anderson - Twisty Pretzel; Casey Ostheimer - Food for Gifts; Lily Mitchell - Oatmeal Cookies
Foods & Nutrition (Adult)
Nancy Dowling - Angel Food Cake
Sondra - Bread Machine Bread
Group Herdsmanship
Dairy- Happy Hi-Liters
Beef- Steuben Hi-Liters
Swine-Eastman Cloverleaf
Sheep- Eastman Cloverleaf
Goats-Eastman Cloverleaf
Poultry- Country Cuzz
Rabbits- Country Cuzz
Ball Fresh Preserving Award
First Place: Sawyer Roberts - Pear Halves; Monica Horner – Salsa; Hilary Bark - Dill Pickles; Madonna Jelinekaa - Currant Jelly; Karen Kramer - Blueberries; McKenzie Olson - Green Beans
Second Place: Laura Naas - Dried Apples Slices; Kathleen Cloven - Green Beans; Arena Bark - Pickled Dills; Beckey Kramer - Raspberry Jams; Rachel Kramer - Pickled Beets; Joseph Mezera - Strawberry Jam
