Fair wraps up its 92nd year

Memories were made as crowds of children and adults enjoyed the final day of the 92nd annual San Benito County Fair on Sunday, which was also Cultural Day at the Bolado Park Fairgrounds.

The day featured livestock judging, 4H and FFA award presentations and a Pee Wee Showmanship event. 

To rousing laughter, Glen Gregston started the lineup of races between tiny pigs. He also held races between a troop of turkeys and a gaggle of ducks and before the start of every race, he led the audience in singing barnyard songs.

Donnette Silva Carter, CEO of the fair, reported that attendance at the four-day event was approximately 17,500 people — down from 18,907 last year — and $910,000 was raised from the livestock action, which brought in $865,000 in 2015.

The Heritage Hog Foundation took in a record $82,000 and is still counting, Carter said.

Happy children were kept busy playing in the Kids’ Corral on Sunday.

“We set the Kids Corral up to give a creative area to keep them busy and to give their parents a break,” said Chairwoman Nicole Shelton.

Children were involved with arts and crafts, and games, and a baby station was provided to give mothers a place to nurse their babies and change diapers.

A tasting area from a variety of caterers, and a produce company enticed fair attendees with tastes of salad, meat dishes, sauces, cheesecake, tea and wine.

The food court satisfied the tastes of discriminating foodies. One spot was the Hula Hut that was brought to San Benito County from Tracy, Calif., by owner Teri Valera. It featured Filipino food.

Children and adults often checked up on their animals while taking part in the ongoing activities.

One of those was Noah Janzing, a San Benito High School student who was selected to raise and sell this year’s Heritage Hog.

“I am very excited to be chosen for this, and hope to have a good year as the representative,” Janzing said.

Cathy Alameda, who heads up the Heritage Hog program, explained how it works.

“Kids are selected through oral and written interviews and that person becomes the next spokesperson for the project. They go to clubs to talk about the Heritage Foundation and help raise funds that are then used to support and maintain Bolado Park. The representative receives a scholarship,” as well.

Janzing hopes to use his scholarship at Colorado University in Ft. Collins, Colo. after his graduation.

The sounds of fowl could be heard coming from the shed that also housed rabbits. Carter related that there were 310 rabbits this year, which was a record number.

Mona Hayford’s huge, seven-month-old turkey became a favorite at the fair as he strutted around and basked in the attention he received from children and adults alike.

“Phantom 1” so charmed his way into an elderly couple’s heart that they purchased him. According to Hayford, Phantom 1 will be treated well on the couples’ ranch as a pet. “He will escape the Thanksgiving table.” Not so with many other turkeys.

A flower display in the horticulture area featured arrangements in large and small containers.

One flower arranger, Sandee Kadluboski, showed several of her artistic talents. One of those was a book theme dedicated to the memory of her mother, Carmen Van Horn. The book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was used for her floral display. It was the book that was made into the movie “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory,” starring the recently-deceased Gene Wilder.

Kadluboski’s mother and Wilder attended the same school. Both Van Horn and Wilder had Alzheimer’s disease, and both died within eight months of each other.

“My mother loved the book and the movie and was a fan of Wilder,” Kadluboski said.

Carter said that the annual celebration of the county’s agricultural heritage enjoyed a successful run.

“We received many positive comments about the newest addition to the grounds entertainment, the kids extended play area and the second year for the amusement section,” she said, giving credit to the participating partners, “for their talent, time and treasure that contributed to the success of the fair.”