MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon-Knox County Chamber of Commerce and local businesses hosted a luncheon for participants in the 2009 Junior Fair on Wednesday at The Dan Emmett Conference Center.
Carol Grubaugh, manager at the chamber, welcomed the guests, then turned the event over to Ben Bennett and Bernie Douglas, president and treasurer, respectively, of the Junior Fair Board.
Bennett introduced the speakers, each of whom spoke about their projects in the upcoming fair and explained a little bit about what it was like to raise the different kinds of animals.
Caitlyn Gaddis explained some of her experiences with raising market beef.
“Last year I took one steer. I worked hard training it. I did well,” she said. “I didn’t place, but I did well for my first year showing.”
Devani Adam, Chelsea Carpenter and Ashley McCann will be raising and showing market hogs at the 2009 fair. The three did a skit about how to show hogs at the fair. Carpenter played the part of the judge, Adam portrayed the exhibitor and McCann took the part of the hog.
Other speakers included Gavin Rundell, speaking about raising market lambs; Lauren Harvey, explaining the pitfalls of a market rabbit project; and Adam Rine, listing his experiences with dairy market feeders.
Douglas talked about raising turkeys, Amy McElhaney explained how to feed and raise broilers, and Carlie Hashman described raising market goats.
An auction of donated items fattened the Junior Fair Board’s coffers by $800. Apprentice auctioneer John Ruckman held forth with a little help from long-time veteran auctioneer Jerry Scott.
Ruckman conducted a professional auction, often cajoling buyers to pony up just a little more money. Items for auction were donated by local businesses.
