<p>The first fair element the hubby and I saw was an admiring crowd of children and adults petting three beautiful horses, simultaneously asking a multitude of questions of the Johnson County Mounted Patrol.</p>
<p>Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy Brett Davis, who serves the community as one of five Johnson County mounted patrolman, in addition to serving as a road deputy, explained they were working the fair all week long to provide security and “bring joy — the kids love the horses.”</p>
<p>Deputy Davis explained that each mounted patrol uses their own personal, highly trained horse — ‘Rowdy’ is Davis’ horse — for crowd control, search and rescue and public relations.</p>
<p>Deputy Davis shared (because I tried to pressured him for his opinion of best fair food) that he had eaten at the Kiwanis booth that evening, but quickly asserted, “they all have good food.”</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>When I pursued Davis for a “good story” encouragingly prodding if there had been any recent fairground scuffles, he laughed and candidly answered: “So far it’s been quiet — although the heat gets them fired up.”</p>
<p>After thanking Deputy Davis for serving the community and for only giving the hubby a warning ticket when he rolled through a stop sign on Thanksgiving evening four years ago, we bid him a good evening and went in search of more fair-goers.</p>
<p>A mere 20 steps took us to into the goat barn, where we interrupted Shannon Linville and her brother Brad Wall sitting in lawn chairs eating dinner. Their families had come to watch Shannon’s youngest daughter, Anne Linville, for the second-day of showing her meat and dairy goats.</p>
<p>Awesome job to Anne, who is a 9th-year 4-H’er and Franklin Community High School student. Happy anniversary to Shannon and J.C. Linville — Tuesday was their 25th wedding anniversary and the 15th anniversary celebrated at the fair eating their traditional combo plate.</p>
<p>Walking further into the goat barn, the hubby was intrigued and pointed out a 4-H mom who was multitasking. One minute the mom was instantly whisking her daughter’s hair into a stylish coiffure and fixing her collar, and the next minute she was back to grooming the goat, shaking baby powder onto it’s back and brushing the wether’s hair.</p>
<p>Leading into the show barn, I watched 4-H’ers line up with their goats waiting to be called for judging. I watched 10-year-old Elliana ‘Elli’ Cole smiling and talking to fellow 4-H’ers as she held her Boer goat close to her side. Elli’s uncle, Shawn Zollman, gave her a specific encouraging reminder in how to brace the goat so he looks his best in the ring to the judge.</p>
<p>As I watch Elli brace her quite spirited goat into good judging positions when the Boer didn’t have his hoofs lovingly on her shoulders, she seemed to have great poise for a young girls going into the fifth grade at Indian Creek.</p>
<p>After winning a first place blue ribbon, I asked Elli what judge Vic Lea said to her in the ring.</p>
<p>Elli smiled: “He said, ‘you did a good job, I’m proud of you. He has good muscles.”</p>
<p>As Steve and I walked back into the barn, I noticed a familiar face, Lisa Pettijohn Williams — a fellow Greenwood Community High School classmate and volleyball athlete. She was watching her grandchildren Grace Ison, 13, and Peyton Ison, 10, show wethers. As the judge pulled out a ribbon walking down the champion line, the anticipation grew — and erupted in cheers and applause when Grace was awarded the Reserve Grand Champion Meat Wether. If I heard correctly, (as an unknowledgeable goat-person), Grace was also the first to ever show the new breed ‘Kiko’ at the Johnson County Fair. Grace named her Kiko wether ‘Connor.’</p>
<p>Little brother Peyton also showed his wether well in the champion drive medium weight wether division. But my favorite photo is Grace and Kiko wether, while little brother Peyton proudly holds up his sisters’ Reserve Grand Champion banner.</p>
<p>I left the fair smiling, but also maybe because I had just purchased my traditional $1 chocolate milkshake from Melinda and Duane Plummer, who have volunteered at the Farm Bureau Milkshake Building for the past six years.</p>
<p>Although we didn’t get to check out 18-year old Laura Fundenberger’s 10 reserve and grand champion projects, including her favorite hand-formed ceramic with gold embossed paint or her embroidered leather — we did return Wednesday evening to watch Frank Hommel pitch horseshoes, Friday night for the Derby and . . . don’t forget today is the last day!</p>
