WELLSBURG — A variety of fun and games and a fair share of learning were all a part of the Brooke County Fair this weekend, with attendees of various ages participating in assorted contests and many attractions offering a look at agriculture, nature and history.
About 20 area residents turned out early Saturday morning to take part in HealthSource Chiropractic of Wellsburg’s 5K Color Run, with proceeds going to Blueprints, a Washington, Pa., based nonprofit organization that trains foster parents, among other services.
It was the third year HealthSource Chiropractic has held such a race at the park to benefit a nonprofit cause, but the first-year nontoxic colored powder was thrown at participants as they passed several stations in several areas of Brooke Hills Park, the fair’s location.
As noon approached, children from Brooke Intermediate North and Brooke Intermediate South primary schools arrived to demonstrate their strength and determination in the fair’s annual tug of war.
Emerging the winner after several rounds was a team from Brooke Intermediate South comprised of Cain Bennett, Levi Conley, Ella Gagich, Darrell Longmire, Audry Mitchell and Kaylee Ripley, many of them pupils in Haley Bowman’s homeroom.
Coached by principal Scott Donohew, physical education instructor LuAnn DiRemgio and others, the team cemented the school’s right to display the competition’s traveling trophy for another year, the school having won last year.
While the rounds revealed tensed muscles and gritted teeth, there also were moments of levity, as the Brooke Bruin mascot and even a group of adults stepped in for some unofficial rounds.
The adults lost their round, though it could have been because they were outnumbered by their youthful opponents.
“This is one that draws everyone out — parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, friends and classmates,” said volunteer Norm Schwertfeger who coordinated the event with the help of Gerry Fluharty.
The event was one of many contests held during the three-day fair.
There also were the Brooke County Queen of Queens pageant, a talent show, mud volleyball tournament involving high school students, corn hole tournament, truck mud race, demolition derby, assorted eating contests and new this year, a hula hooping contest organized by Jessica Strader and contest judging the best mullets worn by men, women and children held by Hair by Heidi Wood.
When they weren’t engaging in or observing such contests or viewing an assortment of entertainers, visitors could learn about various aspects of nature or history from such guests as falconer Mick Brown, the blacksmiths of 2 Dogs Forge and various re-enactment groups.
Diane Lucero and others with the Brooke County West Virginia University Extension Service offered youth a unique way to create their own smoothies: pedaling one of four bicycles to power a blender attached to the backs.
Fruits and other materials for the smoothies were obtained through donations by Costco, Target and Riesbeck’s Food Stores.
Funded by a grant from the West Virginia University Health Rocks program, the bikes also have been brought to local schools, said Candy Gray, a volunteer with the extension service.
“There were kids who said they didn’t like exercise but they got on those bikes to watch the blender go,” she said, adding many who said they didn’t like “healthy food” were surprised by the taste of the smoothies and asked for more.
Staff with the extension service also distributed free children’s books left over from the Energy Express summer reading program and free fruits and vegetables produced by vendors with the Brooke County Farmers Market.
Also on hand were the owners of Family Roots Farm, who again brought many activities designed to teach children about the role of farms in producing many of the foods we eat each day.
Visitors to their Agriculture Pavilion could try their hand at “milking” a fake cow or view a handful of real young turkeys, for example.
Britney Hervey, co-owner of the farm, said the birds mature quickly, with hens growing to as much as 20 pounds about 20 weeks following their birth and the males, called toms, growing to about 30 pounds in that time.
Hervey said many have asked if baby chickens and turkeys can be raised together. She said it’s not recommended because each species is prone to their own diseases.
“Temperament wise, they do OK. It’s the diseases we have to be concerned about,” she said.
There also was a petting zoo, with an alpaca and other animals, and pony rides at the fair.
Janet Crawford of Wellsburg, who was among many visitors to the fair, was asked what she enjoys most about it.
“The food, the entertainment — I love it all. And I am thankful to the Lord for the good weather,” she said.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)
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