MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon-Knox County Chamber of Commerce raised $1,600 on Wednesday at the chamber’s annual Junior Fair Luncheon, held at The Dan Emmett Conference Center. The luncheon has been a pre-fair event for more than three decades.
Surrounded by 4-H club posters displayed on the walls, the attendees enjoyed lunch and a welcome by Holly Quaine, chamber president. Ben Bennett, vice president of the Junior Fair Board, was master of ceremonies.
Recognized were Junior Fair King candidates Steven Norris and Curtis Ashcraft; Queen candidates Linda Weber, Lesley Hall, Chelsey Lupher and Sarah Hohman; Beef Queen Katherine Graumlich; Jim Shinaberry and Dorinda Jessee, sheep ambassadors; Pork Queen Kelli Myers; Pork Princess Chelsea Carpenter; Cierra Bennett, Dairy Princess; and Amy McElhaney, avian ambassador.
Several 4-H’ers spoke about their projects, and the experience of raising and learning about various animals and showing at the fair. Travis Day spoke about market beef and Thad Tuggle spoke about market hogs; Abby Pozderac’s topic was market lamb and Courtney Strait’s was market rabbit. Mike Phillips spoke about turkeys.
Anevin Tharp spoke about dairy market feeders and said, “I’ve taken every kind of animal to the fair in my six years, but I like dairy market feeders the best.”
Joshua Mikulec’s project is broilers; he has shown poultry at the fair for five years. Speaking of his experience with broilers, he noted that turkeys are “smelly” when they’re wet, but have to be washed and clean for judging. He called his time in 4-H “a lifelong positive experience.”
“And I enjoy it,” he said.
Dan Hohman shows market goats and told the audience about his experience.
“Thank you all for taking the time to come to the luncheon,” he told the chamber members.
The reigning Knox County Fair King, Austin Hamilton, reminded the audience that when their companies purchase an animal on sale day at the fair, “you’re not just buying an animal.”
“You are helping students learn,” he said.
Hamilton, who recently completed his first year of college, likened the intense preparation for college with the preparation necessary for showing an animal at the fair.
Auctioneer Tom Scott donated his time to conduct the traditional auction of donated items such as cookies, gift baskets, concert tickets and more. The bidding was enthusiastic and generous, and Scott — who playfully opened most of the bidding at $1,000 — raised $1,600 for the benefit of the Junior Fair Board and Buyers Club.