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Free
vision screenings available Monday, July 23
It's fair time in Ripley County
Wanda English-Burnett, Editor
Cotton candy, corn dogs, laughing children, dazzling lights, mooing
livestock and sweet babies are just some of the sights and sounds
that fill the Ripley County Fairgrounds Park at fair time. The Ripley
County 4-H Fair will be center stage next week, July 22-28, at the
park in Osgood.
The park will be buzzing with excitement as 540 4-H members exhibit
their projects and compete for ribbons and the chance to go on to
the state fair. There are approximately 100 mini 4-H members as
well.
From one year to the next, organizers of the event work diligently
to make sure the next years fair is bigger and better than
before.
This year a new Youth Advisory Board has been implemented, according
to LouAnn Menchhofer, Purdue Extension Educator CFS, 4-H Youth Development.
She noted that the 12-member team comes from diversified 4-H backgrounds
and are giving feedback to the fair board. They range in ages from
fourth graders to seniors.
The official kick off to the Ripley County 4-H Fair is Sunday, July
22 at 6:00 p.m. where the crowning of the 2007 4-H Junior Leader
King and Queen will take place along with the presentation of Ripley
County Queen, Elizabeth Record, and her court, first runner-up Daniele
Wiedeman, second runner-up Lacie Cain, third runner-up Brittany
Joseph, fourth runner-up Natalie Neal, and Miss Congeniality Amanda
Hartman. Prior to the official grand opening of the fair, there
will be a 4-H horse and pony show at 9:00 a.m., a vesper service
at the Show Arena from 5-6 p.m. with all 4-H exhibits open to the
public from 5-9 p.m. A 4-H Banner Parade, fashion revue and style
show, along with a tractor pull will round out Sundays activities
at the fairgrounds park.
Popular nights at the fair for those who love the rides are Monday,
Wednesday and Saturday, when kids can ride all night long for one
price, $15.00.
Monday evening babies will take center stage at the popular Baby
Show, which will take place in the Show Arena beginning at 5:00
p.m. Also, on that night, the Lions Club Vision Van will be at the
fair, providing vision screening for adults and children from 5:30-9:00
p.m. The van will be parked at Building #14 across from the extension
office.
The screenings include a visual acuity test (both far and near vision
on each eye), a field vision test (how well a person can see motion
in their field of vision while looking at a fixed object on each
eye), and a pressure check (for the possibility of glaucoma). Other
eye problems may also be discovered during the screening.
While the screening is not to be confused with a complete eye examination,
it is extremely important in finding problems that need corrected.
The van is being sponsored by local Lions Clubs that include Osgood,
Milan, Batesville, Versailles and Metamora.
Also throughout the fair, the Lions will be collecting old eye glasses
at their food stand. Just look for the food wagon that says Osgood
Lions.
Tuesday evening an event growing in popularity is the National Pedal
Pullers & Racers at the free stage. The queen and her court
will participate in this event, along with whoever wants to just
have fun. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. with the Pedal
Tractor Pull starting at 6:30 p.m.
Each night the grandstand will feature an event you wont want
to miss. Monday night is the Motocross Races at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
night will feature a Figure 8 Race. Wednesday night will be the
Demolition Derby at 7:30 p.m. Contact Terry Eaglin for more information
at 689-1046 or 621-0259. Thursday night will be Quad & Cycle
Flat Drags at 7:30 p.m. and Friday night will be Truck Drags at
7:30 p.m. Saturday night at 7:30 there will be a Truck Pull at the
grandstand. Call Gary McCoy for more information on this at 756-4689.
To enjoy an antique tractor pull, come out before the 4-H fair officially
opens. This event will take place Friday, July 20 at 4:00 p.m. and
is sponsored by the Osgood Lions Club. For more information contact
Kevin Menchhofer at 812-756-0158.
There is something for everyone at the 4-H fair this year. In the
Open Class division the quilt categories have been expanded as well
as fresh produce categories added. From viewing all varieties of
farm animals to canned goods, the fair promises to be the event
you wont want to miss next week. See a complete listing of
daily events in this weeks The Versailles Republican.
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