78th Butler Farm Show officially opens with traditional worship service
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Festivities for the 78th annual Butler Farm Show got underway Sunday, Aug. 9, as families led their prize animals into their respective tents, and concession stand operators placed trucks into position for a long week of thirsty patrons.
The centerpiece of Sunday’s activity was the annual opening service, which marks the unofficial start to the Farm Show. As usual, Zelienople minister Dan Schall was the headliner, performing a sampling of his Christian music as well as covers of popular songs such as Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
“Agriculture is our number one industry, and tourism ranks right up there as number two,” said Ken Metrick, chairman of the farm show board. “So what better way to promote agriculture than through our county fairs? Through tourism, people come in from out of town to visit these fairs every year.”
Sunday was the day for exhibitors to unload, check in, and weigh in all cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, and other animals to be entered into the farm show. It’s an arduous task each year, especially for Kummer Farm, which brought 11 dairy cows. Some of the cows are maintained by the Kummer children to be entered in 4-H competitions.
“All summer long, we've been preparing these animals to come to the farm show,” said Jean Kummer, whose family has a long association with the event. “We work with them at home and clean them and clip their hair. And the kids work really hard all summer long for the 4-H show.”
Prior to Schaal taking the floor at the opening service, the farm show board announced the recipients of this year’s grants from the Community Outreach Committee, which was established at last year’s event. Grants this year were awarded to the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center, Inspired Hearts & Hands, and the Butler County SWAT Association.
The opening service was also an introduction to the new Little Miss 4-H Butler Farm Show, 8-year-old Mila Monday, and Little Miss Butler Farm Show, 9-year-old Ramona Wilhite. Both were named at a contest held Saturday.
Sunday’s opening service may be one of the few chances that farm show attendees get to see sunshine during this year’s event, as forecasts call for four straight days of rain for Butler County between Monday and Thursday. Whatever the conditions, the show will go on, according to Metrick.
“The events will go on, we hope, without a hitch,” Metrick said. “Our show is going on, rain or shine. We'll be here all week.”
Admission: $10 (includes rides and some grandstand events). Select grandstand shows cost an additional $5. Sales of the limited-quantity wristbands for grandstand events open at 5:30 p.m.
Those younger than 3 enter free, unless they want to ride the rides.
No admission refunds. Rain or shine.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily through Saturday
Rides open at 4 p.m. Monday, then daily at 1 p.m. Rides close on a rotating basis one hour each day for safety inspections.
— 4-H and adult baked goods auction – 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10 in the Dairy Pavilion.
— Cheese auction – 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12 in the Dairy Pavilion.
— Annual junior livestock auction – 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13 (Opening ceremonies start at 5:30) in the Livestock Barn.
Koi Drag Racing – 7 p.m. Monday
Pedal Tractor Pull for ages 3–9 – 1 p.m. Tuesday
Truck & Tractor Pull – 7 p.m. Tuesday
4-Wheel Drive Pulling Contest – 7 p.m. Wednesday
Figure 8 Races featuring the Pickup Truck Derby – 7 p.m. Thursday ($5 entrance price)
World's Largest Demolition Derby – 7 p.m. Friday ($5 entrance price)
Road Semi and Tri-Axle Truck Pull – 7 p.m. Saturday
