Sheep steal show at otherwise sleepy La Plata County Fair

Thursday, Aug 6, 2020 5:03 AM Updated Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 11:55 AM

Most activities canceled because of pandemic, but livestock competitions can’t be stopped

Annabel Carithers, 14, competes Wednesday in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair in the pavilion of the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Like many, Carithers bemoaned the fair’s lost traditions, like seeing many of her friends compete, but felt happy the youth events could take place.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Annabel Carithers, 14, competes in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Maryann Fassett, 11, left, who won the grand champion, and her sister Emma Fassett, 8, won reserve champion, both in the grand champion drive market sheep class, hug their mom Kali Fassett during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Blaine Gillen, 2, walks around the La Plata County Fairgrounds Pavilion on Wednesday with his rope as family members compete during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Paige Porter, 16, left, with Clyde, Maryann Fassett, 11, center, with Sammy, and Madison Mortimer, 18, with Mojo, compete in sheep market class as judge Daniel Melendrez looks them over during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Judge Daniel Melendrez looks over sheep in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Competitors line up for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Buckles and ribbons during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Competitors line up for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Competitors fill the arena for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Family members watch the sheep competition during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

La Plata County Fair royalty presented awards during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Madison Mortimer, 18, left, congratulates Emma Fassett, 8, who won reserve grand champion, and her sister Maryann Fassett, 11, winning the grand champion in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Emma Fassett, 8, who won the reserve grand champion ribbon in her division gets a hug from her dad Brad Fassett during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Emma Fassett, 8, who won reserve grand champion, and her sister Maryann Fassett, 11, winning the grand champion in the grand champion drive market class hug their mom Kali as dad Brad looks on during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Laura Pargin, superintendent of the home ec entires, and Jared Carrillo, a judge of the cake decorating category, look over the entries during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Entries in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Leighton Engle won the grand champion ribbon in the food preservation category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Katalina Lopez, 7, and her brother Zane, 4, hang out with her lamb Zeke, that she will show in the breeding and catch-it project during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Katalina caught a lamb last year in the catch-it contest and then bred it and will now show the ewe and lamb together. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Payton Martinez won the grand champion ribbon in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Denise King-Stovall judges the horseless horse catagory in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Sydney Flores won the grand champion ribbon in the knitting category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Matt Fuher holds his son Bodie, 2, on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Competitors keep their eyes on the judge while competing in showmanship Thursday at the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Family members cheer on contestants while they show their cattle Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Brad Pontine trims the back of Baloo, a steer that his daughter, Kylee Pontine, 13, will show showed during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category Thursday a the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Laura Witt, 16, blow dries Danny, a Hereford that she showed Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Gary Wright, 15, blow dries Red, which he showed Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Matt Fuher holds his son Bodie, 2, on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Cattle had their day on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Cole Swanemyr washes Shamus, which his daughter Mackenzie will show in market beef during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Cattle had their day on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The signs of a coronavirus-adapted county fair were evident Wednesday by the sounds, or lack of them: an odd quiet except for the bleating of sheep, mask-muffled conversations and a loudspeaker announcement about face coverings.

“Everybody’s been social distancing pretty well,” said Vern Peterson, an event greeter at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Pavilion entrance.

The La Plata County Fair, gutted by the pandemic, felt bittersweet to many attendees. But overall, they were just happy the youth livestock shows could take place, they said.

County fair organizers restructured the entire weeklong event to comply with public health requirements during the coronavirus pandemic. The only in-person events were 4-H and Future Farmers of America livestock shows and a Junior Auction Saturday. Wednesday was sheep day – the end of a month’s worth of work for about 30 young competitors.

Annabel Carithers, a 14-year-old student enrolled with Durango School District 9-R, won first place in her group.

“To begin with, I chose the right body type,” she said – stout and muscular with long, thick legs. To prepare the animals, she ran a quarter-mile with them, walked them and trained them in showmanship techniques each day.

Emma Fassett, 8, and Maryann Fassett, 11, hug their mom, Kali, as dad, Brad, looks on Wednesday during the La Plata County Fair. Both girls were celebrating high achievements at the fair: Emma won reserve grand champion, and Maryann won grand champion in their divisions.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

During the market sheep, small groups of young farmers led semi-unruly sheep into a pen. Judges were looking for the right combination of body structure, muscle and conditioning, said Isaac Greer, a 14-year-old competitor and judge from Hesperus.

After the judging, the first-place winner in each division competes for the grand champion title. Then the young farmers turn their attention to Saturday’s Junior Auction.

Greer said he’d be happy to walk away with $4 per pound, or about $4,800 for a 1,200-pound steer. That money goes straight to his college savings, he said.

Carithers said two years ago, she earned $2,160 for her lamb in the auction – money she used to support her ski racing activities, buy new livestock and save for college. This year, she’s just hoping for a buyer.

“I just hope … everyone makes sale because everyone’s been working so hard,” Carithers said.

The auction will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday, with pre-registration requested. In all, 215 young farmers signed up for the fair, which kicked off Monday with poultry and Tuesday with goats. The livestock shows will continue Thursday with beef and swine showmanship, and Friday with the market swine show.

Other events, like the demolition derby, carnival and dance, were canceled; however, organizers also adapted some of the annual non-livestock projects. About 75 young people, from ages 5 to 18, submitted Lego spaceships, woodworking projects, shooting or archery presentations, cake creations and more.

“Normally, it’s a couple of hours of chaos,” Fountain said. Hundreds of kids would be milling around. This year, the room was quiet and empty, except for judges roaming among the presentations.

“It’s very calm today,” Fountain said. “All of the judges were obviously very sad about not being able to interview the kids. That, of course, is their favorite part.”

Blaine Gillen, 2, walks around the La Plata County Fairgrounds Pavilion on Wednesday with his rope as family members compete during the La Plata County Fair. Young farmers, ages 5 to 18, participated in various livestock and non-livestock events through 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Despite the lost events, 4-H Club leaders, parents and organizers were all glad the youth shows could take place.

Without the fair, most kids would lose their investment in their livestock, said Jenna Greer, a parent at the show. It’d take away an opportunity to learn and grow their craft.

“They work with them every day ... so it’s really nice for them to be able to show them and learn a little bit more,” Greer said.

smullane@durangoherald.com