Fair earns blue ribbon

Rockcey McLean of Groesbeck, a member of the Prime Time Express Mounted Drill Team, enjoys a hot dog Thursday night while waiting to perform at the Limestone County Fair on Longbridge Road in Groesbeck. Journal photo/David Stone The crowds and the livestock are gone, the last ribbons have been awarded and the carnival has moved on, but memories of the 2009 Limestone County Fair will live in the minds of residents for years to come.

The 2009 fair ushered in a new era for the county's Youth Livestock Show. It was the first year at the fair's new location, which is now being called the Limestone County Fairgrounds.

Although heavy rains forced carnival cancellations for two nights and turned the parking lot into a mud pit, much more went right than wrong at the new venue.

This year's fair drew large crowds for almost all events, and many of those attending ate at the location, raising money for groups manning the facility's concession stand. More than $1,000 was raised at the concession stand Thursday night alone. On Sunday, the only concession stand item left unsold was a single lollipop.

Haleigh Hardin, Seth Coalter and Angel Carroll of Groesbeck take a spin on a carnival ride at the Limestone County Fair. David Stone Journal photo The fair's barbecue cook-off attracted a record 12 teams vying to become Limestone County's best in beans, brisket, pork ribs and chicken, organizer Donny Mayo said.

This year's overall champion was the D&S Smokers team, which placed first in brisket, second in ribs and seventh in chicken. Thornton's Bill Neason was the bean-cooking champion, and ribs title went to The Meat Slangers of Groesbeck. The Shiloh Cookers was the top team in chicken.

The new facilities show arena changed daily - sometimes hourly - as panels were reconfigured to meet the needs of the various livestock shows. With a little help from inmates at the neighboring Limestone County Detention Center - and a lot of help from Fair officials and volunteers - the full rodeo-sized area in the main show area was broken down into smaller arenas.

A smaller show area on the east end of the facility was transformed overnight from a rabbit show configuration to a paneledin hog show area complete with arena seating.

A NEW QUEEN IS CROWNED Limestone County Fair Queen Meagan Kluna is crowned by Brittany Hitchcock, last year's fair queen, last Wednesday at the H.O. Whitehurst campus of Groesbeck Elementary School. Journal photo David Stone The flexibility of the new venue was indeed impressive.

A nearby building that is usually used as a training center for the Limestone County Sheriff's Office was home to the fair's cooking and photography exhibits, and also was used as a judging room for the barbecue cook-off.

At one time, county officials talked of using the training center as offices for the Fairgrounds, but venue manager Kenneth Ellis said Sunday that a new office building likely will be built.

While most of the fair focused on youths and their livestock projects, three crowd-pleasing events were the greased-pig scramble, a goat-dressing contest and an exhibition by Steve and Beverly Rhidenour and their sheep-herding border collies - Roy, Cotton and Britt.

In the greased-pig scramble 16 young Limestone County residents attempted to catch 10 greasy, oily pigs and place them in a trailer. After a few minutes of comical misses and captures, the 10 lucky winners received certificates worth $500 that can be redeemed for heifers to show next year.

7-YEAR-OLD IS DOUBLE CHAMP Colton Agnew of Groesbeck won grand champion honors in both breeding and marketing swine categories with his hog, Piglet. Journal photo/David Stone The winners of the greasedpig scramble and their certificate donors were Ty Chiglo, 4-H Ag Mechanics team; Scott Smith, First National Bank of Groesbeck; Jeff Makavy, Chuck Radney; Tyler Glowski, Farmers State Bank; Jessica Funderburk, Henry Kelly; Brent Hastin, Rocking D Ranch; Cody Wilson, Johnny and Helen Amick; Kayne Partin, Joe McKee; Tyler Rader, IBEW Local No. 66; and Johnny Gomez, Ingle's Custom Bailing.

Groesbeck High singing sensation Emily Wilson opened the competition every day with the National Anthem. She entertained with other selections Thursday night. Also providing entertainment Thursday night was the Prime Time Express Mounted Drill Team.

On Sunday, the Limestone County 4-H Lil Dobbers took first place in the ag mechanics competition. The team's entry was a 10- foot custom utility trailer. Second place went to the Groesbeck FFA for its 16-foot trailer entry.

Three-year-old Raychel Rutherford takes a cruise on a boat ride at the Limestone County Fair. She was at the carnival Thursday night with her grandmother, Tommye Rutherford of Coolidge. Journal photo/David Stone Heavy rains forced the fair's carnival to close Friday and Saturday, but E&B Fun Time Rides tried to make the most of Sunday. The carnival was supposed to close at 6 p.m., but thrill-seekers kept it open much later. At about 9:30 p.m., a steady stream of cars were still entering the parking lot.

The final events for the fair - a dinner for project buyers, two raffles and the annual commission free auction - were held Monday night.