Genesee County Fair

Demolition Derby driver at fairgrounds said to have a neck injury

By Billie Owens
Jul 15, 2016, 8:55pm

A person who participated in the Demolition Derby tonight at the Genesee County Fairgrounds on East Main Street Road in Batavia reportedly suffered a neck injury. Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 8:59 p.m.: The driver is conscious and alert and does not appear to be seriously injured. He is being transported to UMMC for evaluation.

4-H'ers display their hard work at Genesee County livestock auction

By Zachary Lee
Jul 15, 2016, 4:10pm

(Tyler Jirovec with his Grand Prize steer.)

Wallets heavy, hands at the ready; enthusiastic buyers weren't holding much back Thursday night. Buyers showed up in numbers for the 4-H livestock auction ready to see the best lambs, goats, hogs, and steer available at the Genesee County Fair.

Bill Hayes, owner/president of Turnbull Heating & Air Conditioning, won the Market Steer Overall Project Champion and Jr. Showmanship Champion for $2.20 a pound or an estimated $2,800. He then donated the steer right back to the 4-H; the champion steer weighed in at 1,390 pounds and was raised by Oakfield resident Tyler Jirovec.

"I come to the auction every year to support these good kids, parents and staff," Hayes said.

This is the first year the 4-H has allowed you to donate your winnings back to the program.

"I can see myself donating the animal back to 4-H, the program is so great," said Genesee County resident Bill Baskin. "I come every year, haven't missed one in a long time."

The 4-H champions are determined by a point system; points are added up based on your participation in 4-H meetings, community service, your overall placement, and showmanship. The individual with the most points by the Genesee County Fair date is Project Champion; the winner gets a large ribbon to show off.

"If you win Grand or Reserved Project Champion when you step into that ring, everyone wants to bid on you," said Tim Adams, 4-H swine club leader.

The 4-H Swine Club raises show hogs. The club has around 20 members ranging in age 8 to 19 years old. At initial weigh-in, a student's hog cannot weigh more than 80 pounds and must weigh between 210 and 285 pounds by the time of the fair. Adams says he donates roughly four hours of his time to the 4-H daily, and during fair week even more.

This year was special for the Swine Club, members were able to get rid of their wood pens and install metal ones, which are more sanitary for the animals and people.

"4-H is so much more than just marketing animals; it's a small family," Adams said.

The 4-H takes devotion and a lot of effort on the students' part. Some kids spend two or three hours a day grooming, walking and feeding their show animals. The learning experience doesn't stop at the children either; parents learn a lot about what it takes to raise a hog, cattle, goat or lamb.

"It's nice to have kids and friends to learn and grow with you," said Kevin Bezon, parent of Tucker and uncle of Leah and Ashton Bezon -- all 4-H participants.

"I easily spend three or four hours a day to the animals," said Tucker Bezon, proud owner of an impressive 1,208-pound steer.

Fourth-year 4-H participant Shianne Foss from Corfu placed fourth overall with a 1,300-pound steer. Much like other 4-H'ers, Shianne doesn't just go to the Genesee County Fair, she travels all over Western New York to show off her livestock and hard work.

Overall Project Champion, Rate of Gain Champion, and Reserve Project Champion Miasy Ross was ecstatic after her lambs sold for top dollar. Placing one and two overall, Miasy is a very dedicated 4-H member and has been in the program for years.

"I actually gained so many friends, I wish more people did this," Miasy said.

4-H Livestock Auction is a great place for local farmers and livestock owners to display the results of their toil. You can feel the good spirits and pride of showmanship that abound while walking the auction grounds.

(Micheal Ermantrout had the Grand Champion goat.)

(Shianne Foss completes some final grooming before the auction.)

(Peggy Shuknecht, of Elba, holds Helena Kotarski, 2, so she can pet a cow.)

(Cole Phelps relaxes before the auction.)

(Photos by Howard Owens.)

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Photos: Thursday at the Genesee County Fair

By Howard B. Owens
Jul 14, 2016, 11:06pm

Here are a few photos from Thursday at the Genesee County Fair. We'll have more photos and a story about the 4-H Livestock Auction sometime Friday afternoon.

Draw schedule for Genesee County Fair Races available

By Billie Owens
Jul 13, 2016, 11:12am

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs will once again be conducting the Genesee County Fair races which feature the New York Sire Stakes Fair Series.

This special day of racing is slated for Monday afternoon (July 18) with post time for the first race set at 2 o'clock.

The race secretary for this event is Donna Kerr and she can be reached via phone at 716-338-5387. The entry box closes Thursday (July 14) at 10 a.m., but entries can be made in advance of that date.

The 2016 live meet at America's oldest lighted harness track features a Claiming Championship Series this year and kicks off on Monday (July 25) with the New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Live racing will continue through Saturday (Dec. 10).

Questions concerning any event of the upcoming racing season should be directed to Todd Haight, director/general manager of Live Racing, at 585-343-3750 or racing secretary Joe Zambito at 585-344-6161.

Photos: Genesee County Fair Parade 2016

By Howard B. Owens
Jul 13, 2016, 9:27am

To purchase prints, click here.

Here's the 4-H schedule for the Genesee County Fair July 12-16

By Billie Owens
Jul 6, 2016, 2:07pm

Press release:

Remember to visit 4-H at the fair! This year’s 4-H fair theme is “4-H Grows Here” and local 4-H’ers have been working hard all year to show the community what 4-H means to them. Check out the 4-H exhibits, club displays and animal shows at the Genesee County Fair July 12-16 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, located at 5056 E. Main Street Road in Batavia.

Genesee County 4-H Schedule (dates and times subject to change):

Tuesday, July 12th

9 a.m. 4-H Market Hog Show (Show Ring)

12 p.m. 4-H Market Goat Show (Show Ring)

2:30 p.m. 4-H Market Lamb Show (Show Ring)

4 p.m. 4-H Market Steer Show (Show Ring)

6:30 p.m. Fair Parade – 4-H Theme: “4-H Grows Here”

Wednesday, July 13

9 a.m. 4-H Goat Show (Show Ring)

10 a.m. 4-H Livestock Judging Contest (Show Ring)

1:30 p.m. 4-H Breeding Sheep Show (Show Ring)

4:30 p.m. 4-H Goat & Sheep Costume Contest (Show Ring)

4:30 p.m. 4-H Cloverbud Activity (Kennedy Building)

6 p.m. 4-H Hog Show (Show Ring)

6:30 p.m. 4-H Rabbit Show (Merton Building)

6:30 p.m. 4-H Poultry Show (Merton Building)

Thursday, July 14

9 a.m. 4-H Dairy Cattle Show (Show Ring)

10 a.m. 4-H Horse Show – English Classes (Horse Ring)

2 p.m. 4-H Goat & Sheep Quiz Bowl (Merton Building)

5:30 p.m. 4-H Horse Hullabaloo Contest (Horse Ring)

5:30 - 7 p.m. 4-H Market Animal Auction Buyer’s Dinner (Kennedy Building)

7 p.m. 4-H Market Animal Auction (Show Ring)

Friday, July 15

10 a.m. 4-H Horse Show – Western Classes (Horse Ring)

11 a.m. 4-H Beef Cattle Show (Show Ring)

12 p.m. 4-H Livestock Skillathon (Location TBA)

1 p.m. 4-H Sheep & Goat Obstacle Course Contest (Location TBA)

2 p.m. 4-H Energy Bike Activity (Location TBA)

3 p.m. 4-H Sheep Blocking and Trimming Contest (4-H Sheep Barn)

5:30 p.m. 4-H Tractor Driving Contest (Kennedy Building)

7 p.m. 4-H Energy Bike Activity (Location TBA)

Saturday, July 16

10 a.m. 4-H Horse Show – Gymkhana & Games Classes (Horse Ring)

12 p.m. High Tech S’mores with 4-H Biofuel Stove Activity (Location TBA)

2 p.m. 4-H Fair Tour hosted by the Cloverbud Club, for youth ages 4 - 9

2 - 4 p.m. 4-H Vegetable Art Contest (Kennedy Building)

2:30 p.m. 4-H Rabbit Knowledge Contest (Merton Building)

4 p.m. 4-H Market Program Master Showman Contest (Show Ring)

5 p.m. 4-H Livestock Master Showman Contest (Show Ring)

The complete 2016 Genesee County Fair Schedule is available online at: http://gcfair.com/Home/FairInformation/DailySchedule.aspx

Ag Society announces plans for 177th Genesee County Fair

By Howard B. Owens
Dec 3, 2015, 10:07am

Press release:

The year 2016 marks the 177th anniversary of the Genesee County Fair!

The Genesee County Agricultural Society is pleased to announce that the 2016 Genesee County Fair will be held on July 12th – 16th. Please note that the Fair dates have changed by one week to allow the Agricultural Society to secure a top of the line midway and entertainment. This date change will enable the Fair to continue to grow into the future.

Preparations have already begun in the planning of the 177th Genesee County Fair. The Agricultural Society welcomes the return of Midway Rides of Utica as the midway ride provider for 2016. This year, once again, admission to the Fair is only $5 per carload. Several of the popular Grandstand events will be returning this year, including the Demolition Derby, ESP Tractor Pulls & Stock Car Racing. Other returning events include the Genesee County Fair Talent Show, The Grand Parade, a classic/antique auto & farm equipment show, small fry tractor pull, 4-H livestock auction, 4-H animal exhibits and the Fair Queen Pageant.

For a complete listing of events during fair week, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.gcfair.com" gcfair.com

These are just some of the events happening during the 177th fair. With your help, the Agricultural Society hopes to make 2016 a memorable year for the fair by adding new and exciting events. The board of directors would like to extend a personal invitation to become a volunteer, exhibitor or a sponsor of the fair. Volunteers are needed not only during fair week, but also the weeks before and the week after the fair. Many hands make light work!

Becoming an exhibitor or a sponsor of the fair is a great way to promote your business to thousands of fairgoers that live and work in Genesee County and visit the fair every year. If you are interested in volunteering, exhibiting or becoming a sponsor of the fair, go to HYPERLINK "http://www.gcfair.com" gcfair.com to download all of the forms and for contact information.

The Agricultural Society would like to make the 177th fair special. In order for this to happen, your help is needed! The Genesee County Agricultural Society would like to thank everyone for their continued support of the Genesee County Fair over the years!

Race operator sought for dirt track at fairgrounds

By Howard B. Owens
Nov 3, 2015, 5:07pm

Press release:

The Genesee County Agricultural Society is accepting proposals to lease and operate the 1/3 mile dirt oval race track for the 2016 racing season. Detailed proposals should be sent to geneseefair@yahoo.com by Nov. 17th.

Photos: Tractor pulls at the Genesee County Fair

By Howard B. Owens
Jul 26, 2015, 7:54am

A few highlights from yesterday's tractor pulls at the Genesee County Fair, along with a couple of closing livestock shots.

Photos: Friday at the Fair

By Howard B. Owens
Jul 25, 2015, 7:43am

Janice Spagnola works on a balloon sculpture in the exhibit hall at the Genesee County Fair during Saturday's events. Among the events was the annual Demolition Derby, which drew a capacity crowd.

Today at the fair -- tractor pulls.

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Photos: Thursday night at the Fair

By Howard B. Owens
Jul 23, 2015, 10:52pm

Good weather and lots to see and do highlighted Thursday night at the Genesee County Fair.

There were stock car races, the 4-H livestock auction, rides and games, and music and the talent show (which was over before I got there).

Top photo: Brendan Pimm with his sheep during the auction. Brendan donated the proceeds to the medical care to his friend Buddy Oderkirck, also in the ring.