Residents@JV

Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair

The 87th Annual Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair was being held the week of July 23-28, 2007. Summer time and country farm life is what the residents of Jacob’s Village prefer, the great outdoors. What would Summer be without attending a fair? County fairs are another of life’s bonus adventures that need to be experienced so, the guys of Jacob’s Village (JV) went to the animal fair hoping the Cows & Pigs would be there. The JV bunch of Mike, Michael, Scott, and Home Coordinator Barry left for the fair at 5:30pm, Thursday evening just in time for another rush hour. Add rush hour to the widening construction project of Diamond Avenue and one should allow plenty of time for arrival to any destination. Highway 41 is a busy thorough-fare any time of day but more so when there is an event being held out at the Vanderburgh County-Scott Township 4-H Fair Grounds. The traffic was slow with bumper to bumper conditions of a snail’s pace all the way out to the Main Gate off of the Boonville-New Harmony Rd. The JV bunch, playing follow the leader, traveled around the grounds and found cars & trucks parked in every venue on both sides of the drive not leaving a patch of grass to be seen. Finally, being directed to the West side of the arena’s Grandstand, a few open spots were sighted. There were all kinds of activities going on around the 4-H Center and in the arena on this night were various pull competitions. Michael, not having been to a live tractor pull, was fascinated with the good-looking paint jobs, raw power, noise, and different types of units pulling the weight sled. With engines blaring, sparks, and flames shooting from exhaust pipes, the antique, modified, and kit tractors were bringing cheers from the crowd as well as the pickup’s and large semi-trucks. The live-stock barns were near by and seeing the Cows, Pigs, Goats, Chickens, and Bunny Rabbits were at the top of the list. They didn’t make it to the Horse barn, but while strolling through the other barns and inspecting the livestock, Barry was snapping a few photos. Mike wanted a picture of him petting a Cow, Michael wanted one with a Pig, and Scott wanted a group photo with a train that was rolling along Hwy 41 behind them in the background. The Bunnies were some of the biggest and the Chickens were some of the funniest looking they had ever seen. The JV bunch finally made it to the Goat barn and happened to see Angela Goedde, and her two children Rachel and Michael, hanging out with Jack and Sharon Krohn’s Goats. They had a new-born, 7-day old baby Goat that wanted to be in a JV photo and it sure was nice of the Krohn’s to allow the baby Goat to be in the picture. Angela is the Activities Director at Woodbridge Healthcare Care Unit & Rehab in Evansville and a FOJV. She stops by JV with her kids and Karaoke equipment sometimes and provides a little music for the residents. Other times, she just stops by on her way from one place to another to say ‘Hi, how ya doin’?’ Across the way from the livestock barns, Young McDonald’s Farm had a menagerie of baby farm animals to get close and personal with in addition to a couple of Llamas and Alpacas to pet. The JV bunch found some antique tractors, equipment, machines, and cars to look at; that’s always a preferred attraction. A few of the models on display were some they hadn’t seen before. As crowded as it was on this night, there is usually 2 or 3 times the people walking around during ‘The Frog Follies’ that are held the last weekend of August. The JV bunch didn’t feel like riding any ‘Roller Coasters or Swings’ so the Midway wasn’t explored. The Exhibit Hall drew an interest for reasons other than the fair, but while in there, they did check out all of the 4-Her’s arts, crafts, and vegetable projects. Some big and colorful vegetables were on display, photography exhibits, good-looking plastic models, wood working craft designs, knitting, sewing, and clothing patterns could all be seen with their respected placement ribbons to the side. There were so many people entering and exiting the building, the doors should’ve been left propped open as much as they were swinging. Darkness was near, and the JV bunch had seen most everything they wanted to see, and it was time to journey back home. Heading back towards the van, walking past the last food stands, a Nutty Ice-Cream Bar vendor couldn’t be passed by. On a warm Summer evening at the 87th Annual Vanderburgh County Animal Fair, in which the Cows and Pigs were there, a Nutty Bar for Mike, Michael, Scott, and Barry was a good way to sit back and watch others at a picnic table.

posted by J V Resident Blog @ 12:49 PM