The Garden City Telegram
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A fair dose of fun
Published 7/22/2009 in Local News
By MONICA SPRINGER
CIMARRON — They ran in circles in the show ring at the Gray County Fairgrounds, kicking up dust as their little feet chased chickens and pigs, little girls' ponytails bouncing up and down in the air.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram — From the left: Tanner Toothaker, Ashtynn Burns and Boo Dupree, all 13, enjoy a ride on the D & J Shows Scrambler on Tuesday night at the Gray County Fair.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram — Sevyn Caro, 4, takes a big bite from a hamburger Tuesday night at the Gray County Fair. The fair continues through Thursday.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram — Andrew Bogner, 4, Cimarron, competes Tuesday night in the 4-and-younger Pedal Pull at the Gray County Fair.
On Tuesday, Gray County kids enjoyed a full day of fair events, including a pig and chicken chase, along with a pedal tractor pull.
Other events on Tuesday included a pancake and sausage feed in the morning; swine, sheep and goat shows; a hamburger feed and ice cream social; as well as a carnival.
Most kids at the fairgrounds could be seen watching the tractor pull and crowding around the fair arena Tuesday night, waiting for their turn to chase piglets and chickens to claim a prize.
Both events are sponsored by the Gray County Farm Bureau Association. Mark Busch, president of the organization, said around 100 people gather for the two events each year.
Winners of the tractor pull receive a medal, and winners of the pig and chicken chase receive $1. Participants in the pig and chicken chase also get a lollipop for participating.
The goal of the pig and chicken chase — younger kids chase chickens and older kids chase pigs — is to retrieve a red bow that is tied around the pig or chicken. Each age group, ages 2 to 12, took turns in the ring, and adults also got to participate.
"When you see it, you have to dive," said Amy Berry, whose kids, Jack, 11, and Emily, 10, also participated in the event.
Amy Berry, from Ensign, was one of several adults to chase a pig and one of several who chose to dive for the pig.
Her kids said they've done the chase in years past. They said their technique for catching the pig is just to run and keep on running.
"You have to run as fast as you can," Emily Berry said, adding that she liked the exercise.
Trae Bleamer, 11, from Ingalls, said his technique involved running after the pig and cornering it.
"You get to have fun and get dirty," he said.
Depending on the age group, anywhere from three to about 10 kids participated at one time. Many ran around the area numerous times trying to catch the pig.
"It's a popular event for kids and parents alike. And it gives them something to do during the fair," Busch said.
Families stood on the bleachers to see the kids chase chickens and pigs, and onlookers also crowded near the metal fence to get a glimpse of the event.
The Gray County Fair continues until Thursday. Today there are several events, including a beef barbecue at 5 p.m., and the last night of the carnival begins at 7 p.m.
Thursday, there's a pancake and sausage feed at 7 a.m., a 4-H and open class pet show at 8 a.m., team olympics at 10 a.m., children's games at 1:30 p.m., Lions Club Feed at 5 p.m., awards presentation at the livestock pavilion at 7 p.m., and a livestock premium sale at 7:30 p.m.
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