Saturday July 27th at 7pm come out and enjoy the Saturday Night Screamin’ Diesel Spectacular! Come check out the Semi’s, Diesel pick ups, and mini modified tractor pull! Sponsored by Scofield Transfer & Recycling
Thursday was a bittersweet day for 4-H members at the Genesee County Fair because it featured the market animal auction—a successful fundraiser and culmination of so much hard work but also perhaps some unforgiving emotional investment.
There’s Chase Zuber of Byron, who raised Big Papi, named after his favorite Red Sox baseball player, David Ortiz, and “watched him grow from the soil” from a cute piglet to an enormous 288-pound oinker.
And Kaidan Hofheins of Batavia, there with her grown bovine, who she had just shown on Sunday and placed sixth overall, doing “pretty good,” she said.
“His name's Miko. I raised him at our house, actually. Usually, we all raise them on the fourth-generation farm back on Grandpa's, but I had a calf born at our house, so Grandpa let me use him this year. So it's been a little different,” she said just before the auction started at the Batavia fairgrounds. “But it's been really good. I've been able to bring him out to some other shows. I actually did really well. It's certainly an honor. I mean, to be in this program. It's taught me a lot. But it is a hard night; it's also one of my favorite nights, seeing how everyone just kind of comes together to support each other and the community we have.
“But I mean, it's hard knowing I've raised him since a calf. So it's hard to say goodbye and to let go,” she said. “But we were always taught it's a circle of life. It's okay. So it's hard, but it's good. It teaches you a lot of valuable lessons. So I'm really grateful for this program and everything I've learned.”
Tim Call, a longtime member of the farming community and owner of Empire Tractor in Batavia, has also been a supporter of 4-H and has participated in the auction. He has bid on animals that he shares with his company employees, he said.
This is an important program for what it teaches the kids beyond the basics of care, Call said.
“Teaching them how to grow, how to raise animals, how to understand economics, you know, you’ve got to pay, you get the money, you’ve got to pay for it all, and hopefully there's something there at the end. And you have to go out and market it, because you'll see, there are some kids, for a cow or a steer they'll get two bucks, other kids will get 10 bucks (per pound). Well, the guy that did 10 bucks went out and marketed it better; they asked more people to buy their animal as part of their learning process,” he said. “And when they see other people getting more money, the next year, they know how to go out and try to ask people to buy them.”
Some 4-Hers have regulars, such as Todd Jantzi, who comes to the auction to bid on his neighbor’s livestock to support her, he said.
“She has a great spirit and is a hardworking young lady,” Jantzi said. “It’s a great aspect of growing up in life being responsible for your animals, that those animals are needing her. And it just creates a tremendous amount of responsibility at a young age."
He appreciates the 4-H program, he said, and seeing the kids reap the benefits of hands-on labor and experiencing success from their efforts.
“It brings a warm feeling to my heart,” he said. “You like to see the smile on the kids and the reward for their hard work over the last, say, six months. So it’s a neat process.”
There were 227 animals in Thursday's auction. A sheet of Auction Terms & Conditions explains how it works, from how animals are sold—goats, lambs, steers, and hogs are sold whole, live by the pound versus market chickens and rabbits are sold in lots of two, with the chickens already processed and frozen—to pricing, making payment, selecting a processor, transporting the animal, and where proceeds go.
All but a 5% commission to Cornell Cooperative Extension for auction and program expenses goes back to the youth participants for their own programs.
Although the 4-H program focuses on caring for and showing animals, other aspects are involved, such as public speaking and marketing, said Cooperative Extension Executive Director Jocelyn Sikorski.
“It’s learning how to work as an individual, building a skill set on how to care for something, right? Learning how to make money and how to sell your product, they have to go through public speaking. There are many different layers of education with 4-H when it comes to youth development; it really hits on almost all of them,” she said. “And it’s cumulative throughout the course of the programs … so truly, this is our culminating event for most of the kids unless they go on to compete at State Fair.”
There are several other non-animal programs in 4-H, including Family and Consumer Sciences and Junior Master Gardener Club, she said.
“So there’s all different life lessons on whether it’s maintaining an animal for the health of the animal and for the betterment of the animal, to how to plant and grow your own food and how to make your own food, how to do all of those things are built through 4-H,” she said.
Playing a set of classic rock and country hits, the Rochester-based band Another Vice entertained fairgoers on Thursday evening at the Genesee County Fair.
Photos by Howard Owens.
Friday, July 26th - BUBBA’S LANDSCAPING DAY at the Fair
• 8 AM – Summer Kickoff Classic Open Horse Show Hunt Seat & Halter (Horse Arena)
• 10 AM – 4-H Master Showmanship Contests (Show Arena)
• 10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• 12 PM – 9 PM—MIDWAY OPEN
• 1 PM – 4-H Working Goat Show (Show Arena)
• 3 PM – 4-H Livestock Judging Contest (Show Arena)
• 7 PM – Demolition Derby (Grandstands)
**FIREWORKS at the completion of the Demo Derby**
• 7 to 11 PM – BB Dang (Entertainment Tent)
• 10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close
The Midway was the Genesee County Fair's popular entertainment destination on Thursday, with families enjoying perfect fair weather for rides and games.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Joshua Budzinack, 18, of Batavia, is the winner in the adult category of The Batavian's eagle drawing contest at the Genesee County Fair.
Budzinack won a $100 gift certificate to Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford. He was selected randomly from among the staff's favorite drawings.
The winner of the 17-and-under contest will be announced on Friday during the BB Dang concert.
Meanwhile, voting in the People's Choice contest is open. The prize is a ukulele.
It was a busy day at the Genesee County Fair on Wednesday and there are plenty of activities for the whole family at the fair on Thursday, including the midway opening at 4 p.m., the 4-H livestock auction at 6 p.m., and the exhibit hall open all day.
Today, members of The Batavian's Early Access Program have a coupon for free entry to the fair, courtesy of The Batavian.
Also, stop by the Media Center (The Batavian/WBTA) to enter The Batavian's eagle drawing contest before 3 p.m. We are giving away a guitar to the 17-and-under winner (a random selection from among the best drawings) and a $100 gift card to the adult winner. After 3 p.m. through Saturday, voting for the people's choice award begins.
Photos by Kristin Smith.
The 100-Lap Enduro was held at the Genesee County Speedway on Wednesday at the Genesee County Fair.
The race pits drivers and their near-scrap-yard vehicles against each other and their ability to just make it through all 100 laps without breaking down.
We don't have information on who won.
The Demolition Derby is at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Photos by Debra Reilly.
Thursday, July 25th - FIRST RESPONDER’S DAY & BASKIN LIVESTOCK DAY at the Fair
*First Responder’s pay $5/carload from 11AM-4PM*
• 9 AM – 4-H Dairy Cattle Show (Show Arena)
• 10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• 4 PM – 9 PM—MIDWAY OPEN
• 6 PM – 4-H Market Animal Auction Sale Begins (Main Show Ring)
• 10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close
Daily at the Fair:
Future Farmers of America hosted two competitions at the Genesee County Fair on Wednesday, a tractor operations competition and a welding competition.
Photos by Debra Reilly.
More than 200 people gathered on Tuesday evening for the annual Genesee County Fair parade, which drew people from all around Western New York.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Howard Owens
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The Midway at the Genesee County Fair opened on Tuesday.
The schedule for the rest of the week:
Photos by Howard Owens.
While waiting for the Genesee County Fair Parade to start on Tuesday evening, Genesee County Legislator Gordon Dibble recalled what he enjoyed as a kid while visiting the summer fair.
“The rides, ice cream cones, it’s really a great place to go,” he said, adding why he thinks it’s an important event for the community. “Because it has its roots in the community, in farming, and that’s what we’re about. You know, the animals and all the shows, and it has something for everybody, with a demolition derby … the numbers go up every year here in recent history. So somebody’s doing something right.”
After the parade, Dibble joined his fellow legislators at the fair’s staple eatery, the Chuck Wagon, slinging burgers, calling out orders, and cashing out hungry customers. The group has done this for several years in a row now as a way to give back to the yearly event, right after walking in the parade, tucked between the newly crowned queen and some well-groomed farm animals.
Legislature Chair Shelley Stein was in charge of the fry station as she reminisced decades ago when she was growing up nearby.
“Probably when I came with my boyfriend back, you know, 40-some years ago to the Genesee County Fair. I grew up around fairs. My fair was Seneca County. So we always showed holsteins and were part of 4-H clubs,” she said, answering what most comes to mind when she thinks about those fairs. “The fact that we would go well prepared, and that our animals had good care at home, and they had a good time with us so that they led really well.
"I'm one of six. So we had to compete in an amongst us before we could even go to the fair, and compete against others,” Stein said. “So learning responsibility about caring for our animals and being responsible for yourself, those are really good character builders through 4-H. So those are my memories.”
And why do you think the fair is important for the community?
“This is a piece of our culture here. We are so rooted in our agricultural side of our county, and we really treasure and steward our land, our farmers, the career opportunities that that brings to our community,” Stein said. “You know, the Farm Bureau is important here, our Ag Society, the volunteers that work here tirelessly, all year long, everybody picks up their little piece. And this fair week offers opportunity to our 4-Hers, it is the culmination of their year here at the fair, and the fun that they have, but really learning about responsibility.”
Why does Genesee County’s fair seem to just keep growing when others have closed?
Stein’s answer is quick and to the point: The county’s Agricultural Society volunteers.
“That’s our secret sauce,” she said. “These folks don’t just volunteer for that for one week out of the year. There are horse shows here, there are beef shows here, there are car shows here. They use this facility and this resource to really help to put money back into our buildings the the grounds itself,” she said. “They’ve tapped into soil and water so that we could improve the drainage here, and we could put stacking pads here for the manure. They’re business people that are really interested in having this fair continue past them. It’s not going to fail on their watch. And they’re really incredible volunteers.”
Legislator Brooks Hawley agreed with that sentiment — it’s “the people behind the scenes” that keeps the place afloat, he said. He likes that sense of “everybody coming together,” and it’s not just the farming population but people from throughout the region who appreciate what Genesee County has to offer, he said.
“I’m also part of Cornell Cooperative Extension, which is a huge part of putting on this fair and helping it out with everything,” he said about the agency’s role in overseeing the 4-H program. “And being part of that committee, I learned everything behind the scenes and see how important this is. And it’s a great thing to see. I’m glad it’s very successful.”
Legislator Gregg Torrey, who grew up on a small dairy farm, remembers the fair as something his family always went to. His dad, having known everyone in the industry, could “always find a place for us to volunteer.”
“So that was always fun,” Torrey said. “My mom was the county Republican chairman, so we always volunteered to work the Republican booth. It’s always fun to come out and go on the rides as a kid and see everybody from the farming industry, cousins and neighbors and everybody you didn’t see here. So everybody seems to come out and have a good time.”
Visiting the fair, with its plethora of animal exhibits, gives Legislator Gary Maha more appreciation for farmers “and what they do with the food they grow for us,” he said. He did note a more recent trend of farmland being used for solar panels, and while “I understand the farmers’ point of view, you can’t tell them what to do with their land … personally, I hate to see all the solar farms going up on farmland.”
As for the fair itself, it’s more for the kids, he said.
“You know, getting the young kids interested in agriculture and farming,” he said. “A lot of these farmers have a lot of young kids, and they enjoyed this week; they spend the entire week up here.”
Wednesday, July 24th - KIDS DAY & CHAPIN MANUFACTURING DAY at the Fair
• 8 AM – 4-H Meat & Dairy Goat Show (Show Arena)
• 10 AM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Open
• 12 PM – 4-H Gymkhana Horse Show (Horse Arena)
• 12:30 PM – Small Fry Tractor Pull (Exhibition Building) Sponsored by Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Genesee County Pamona Grange, In Memory of Duane Schmigel
• 12 PM – 9 PM—Midway Opens, Kids 16 & Under Ride for $20/wristband 12 PM-4 PM
• 1 PM – 4-H Breeding Sheep Show (Show Arena)
• 2 PM – Color Wars (Grassy Area behind I-Got-It)
• 4 PM – 4-H Hog Show (Show Arena)
• 4 PM – Faith at the Fair (Entertainment Tent)
• 6:30 PM – 100 Lap Enduro (Grandstand)
• 10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close
Daily at the Fair:
The 4-H club held its goat show on Tuesday.
Photos by Debra Reilly.
The Genesee County Fair midway opened on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The schedule for the rest of the week:
The Genesee County Fair Parade is at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Photos by Howard Owens
The 4-H Market Hog Show at the Genesee County Fair was Monday.
Grand Champion Hog award went to Cody Carlson, and Reserve Grand was Jillian Weaver, both of Byron.
Photos by Laura Luft.
The Batavian staff is at the fair all week, so stop by and say hello, enter our eagle-drawing contest and sign up to get all of the best Genesee County community news with The Batavian newsletter.
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