Butler Farm Show avoids rain on Day 1
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Despite its potential to impact attendance, farmer and Butler Farm Show board secretary Ken Metrick never worries about the weather forecast.
“It’s like today, with this storm coming through, it sprinkled out there a little bit,” he said. “We didn’t get that much.”
He said last year the weather was perfect, with no rain for six days the week of the farm show. Some rain is expected this year, but the weekend looks mostly clear, Metrick said.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday are when the crowds tend to be the largest anyway. It’s usually the quietest on Monday, such as on Aug. 10, which was Day 1 of the farm show this year, but a sunny Tuesday will still bring out a crowd at night, he said.
“I like to see the crowds coming through the gates, to see the crowds leaving with a smile on their face,” Metrick said. “That tells me that they’ve all had a good time.”
This year, the event fielded the largest number of dairy cows it has had since 2016, Metrick said. It has 165 dairy cows, which is up by about 35 from last year.
It also fielded more than 200 goats and around 300 chickens and turkeys, which were temporarily banned from farm show grounds two years ago due to widespread avian flu. This is their second year allowed back, with some restrictions.
Angel King, 15, was preparing to show her 11 birds in the poultry show, which takes place at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
“It’s fun to compete,” she said. “You get to support each other, help each other out and encourage them when they get a good place.”
Before the competition, Angel said she bonds with her birds by bathing them, carrying them and showing them to others. The objective is to demonstrate the bird is well-behaved. Angel was nervous but excited to compete, she said.
The farm show has a 17-member board of directors and a 17-member junior board of directors. Junior board members range in age from ages 16 to 28 years old. Metrick touted it as one of the most active junior boards in the state for 4-H and FFA.
“They’re learning what it takes to put on a fair and they’re learning the values the farm show was founded on,” Metrick said. “I think any organization needs that. (You) can’t wait until all your board members are 80 years old then hand it off to people who have no training.”
The junior board prepares most of the grounds before animals and vendors arrive, raises money and hosts events outside of farm show week.
The farm show also features food, shopping, live music, rides and free shows each day.
Metrick said one of his other favorite events will be the 42nd annual Old Time Fiddling, Banjo, Mandolin and Flat Top Guitar Contest at 5 p.m. Saturday at Armstrong Auditorium. He said the contest always has a big draw, with people coming from as far as Maryland and West Virginia.
Farm show gates are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. rain or shine. Daily admission is $10. Rides for the rest of the week open at 1 p.m. Rides close on a rotating basis for an hour each day for safety inspections.
Those who couldn’t attend Monday morning and afternoon missed the rabbit, goat and market hog shows and hog showmanship.
