4-H youth sad about fair cancellation
The decision Tuesday night to cancel the Big Butler Fair disappointed the fair-going public and vendors, who will take a financial hit, but no group is sadder about the situation than the youth who prepare for months to show their animals.
Brandon Rodgers, 17, of Penn Township, has been showing steers, lambs and pigs at the fair since he was 9 years old.
“We pour everything into these animals to get a little bit back,” Brandon said. “It's a good way to save up for college.”
He said he's glad he will have one more year in 4-H to show his animals at the fair and auction them at the Butler Farm Show, which he is holding out hope will be held in August.
“A lot of my 4-H friends are 18 this year, so they don't get the chance to come back next year with their animals,” Brandon said.
He planned to show a pig, lamb and steer this year at the fair and farm show.
“I do hope that we have the farm show,” Brandon said. “It's important that we get what we put into (the animals) back out of them.”
Still, the cancellation of the fair makes him nervous about the farm show.
“If you look at the (coronavirus) numbers, I don't think it's as serious as they are making it,” Brandon said.
Sabrina Sutej, 17, of Clinton Township, shows lambs and pigs with her brother, Paul, 14.
Sabrina has shown animals at the farm show since she was 8 years old, and the siblings planned to show them at the fair for the first time in July.
“It's definitely disappointing because you work so hard for those events, but we also understand it's for the safety of the public and for us,” she said.
Sabrina explained that 4-H youth choose a baby animal to raise for the next year's livestock events, such as the fair and farm show, and work to raise them to be champions for as long as a year.
“We are just continuing on like there's going to be a farm show, and I know the directors are trying as hard as they can to have the show,” she said.
<h3>Farm show waits</h3>Ken Laughlin, president of the Butler Farm Show Board of Directors, confirmed Sabrina's contention Wednesday regarding the 72nd show planned for this summer.“We're sure hoping to. It means a lot to not only the farmers, but the whole Butler community,” Laughlin said. “Everyone looks forward to it and to seeing the farm families.”He said while all the vendors, concessions and rides have been booked, it will depend on Gov. Tom Wolf's decision on large gatherings by Aug. 5, when the five-day farm show is slated to occur.The farm show board has purchased hundreds of gallons of hand sanitizer and has plans to follow social distancing guidelines during the show.“We have a lot of money already into the show, so we're hoping it goes,” Laughlin said.However, should Wolf still not permit large gatherings, the farm show will be canceled, he said.Laughlin explained that the Livestock Auction at the farm show includes the sale of chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs and steers raised by the county's 4-H youth.A cheese auction is also held, in which 4-H youth in dairy farming create baskets containing cheese products.Between animals, farm products and arts and crafts, the farm show sees about 4,000 entries each year, Laughlin said.“Entries are due the first part of July, so we'll play it by ear and, hopefully, the governor says go,” Laughlin said.Evelyn Minteer, who serves on the county's Farm Bureau board, is also disappointed the fair was canceled and that the farm show hangs in the balance.“With the (coronavirus) situation we have, nobody knows what the right thing is,” Minteer said. “Everyone is just plain disgusted, but we still want to be safe.”She said the pandemic has made the average citizen more aware of farmers and their importance in the food cycle.“It's a shame it took something like this to wake people up,” Minteer said.She is resigned to the fact that the fair was canceled, and hopes the farm show can go on.“I feel bad for everything that's happening, but what are you going to do?,” Minteer said. “Tragedies happen.”
<h3>Fair decision</h3>Harold Dunn, board secretary at the Big Butler Fair, said no vote was taken at the two-hour meeting Tuesday where the decision was made to cancel the fair.“We just agreed to comply with the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and Harrisburg,” Dunn said.He said a few board members were determined to hold the 165th consecutive fair, which was scheduled July 3 to 11.“There were people who weren't in agreement with the restrictions from Harrisburg,” Dunn said.In a statement Tuesday, Dunn noted that this year's fair was the first to be canceled since the Civil War.Dunn said the Livestock Roundup, an auction held by 4-H and Future Farmers of America each year, is still planned for August at the fairgrounds.“They're hopeful and we're hopeful that they'll be able to have that show and sale for the kids,” Dunn said.He said the organizers of the VNA Butterfly Release and dog shows held at the fairgrounds are holding out hope that restrictions on large gatherings will be lifted and they can have their events this year.“We are telling groups they must comply with the CDC and state guidelines,” Dunn said of those hoping to hold events at the fairgrounds this year.He said it took a short time Tuesday night for the board to make the decision to cancel the fair, and planning next year's fair was addressed.“We anticipate a great 2021 Big Butler Fair,” Dunn said.He said his own family is devastated by the cancellation of the 2020 fair.“My granddaughters were in tears this morning,” Dunn said. “It's just the highlight of their summer.”
