THE PRICE IS RIGHT

After a week of long, hot days and lots of activities, the 2022 Kimball-Banner County Fair was brought to a close with the livestock sale on Monday morning. With a few days rest, the 4-H youth will head back to school.

The Kimball and Banner County 4-H and FFA youth entered everything from photography, food and sewing to fair animals and more.

The Dead Eye Shooters, comprised of BB and air rifle, compete in the fall and winter, while the summer is reserved for national matches. According to Nicole Snyder, the archery kids participate in the summer months.

Youth competed in archery, clothing judging, and the static exhibits on Monday and Tuesday.

The horse show was Wednesday with showmanship, halter, pleasure, reining, poles and barrels. Leader Lavelle Rehr said that she told the kids before fair, "Do the best you can do with the day that you have been given."

In the 4-H horse program, Rehr had five seniors participate, eight intermediates and nine juniors.

Thursday brought on the dog show as well as the small animal show, including rabbits and poultry. Luke Berger sold his Grand Champion goose for $300 at the livestock sale. The evening concluded with the gymkhana by the Colts and Fillies 4-H Club.

Sheep, hogs and goats had their day in the show ring on Friday. Market swine Grand Champion Overall and Grand Champion 4-H was exhibited by Hadley Carruthers; her pig sold for $1,000 on Monday. Trajan Johnson took home $900 for his Reserve Champion Overall and Reserve Champion 4-H project. FFA Grand Champion Trey Cook's market swine sold for $900, and Dakota Vrbas' FFA Reserve Champion market swine brought $800.

Dakota Vrbas' Overall Grand Champion and Grand Champion FFA market sheep sold for $1,100. Cashlyn Culek's Reserve Champion and Grand Champion 4-H market lamb sold for $1,000. Reserve Champion 4-H lamb raised by Jaspen Vrbas sold for $750.

With 29 meat goats entered and four weight classes, Makenna Thurin won Grand Champion Overall and Grand Champion 4-H; her goat sold for $800. Reserve Champion Overall and Reserve Champion 4-H meat goat, shown by Cashlyn Culek, brought $1,100. Banner County's Marie Hein Grand Champion FFA meat goat sold for $500.

Mini bull riding and mutton busting were a prelude to Southern Fryed and Josh Gracin on Friday night.

Mutton busting started on Friday and continued on Saturday and Sunday with 42 mutton busters. Jim and Julia McGinnis manage the sheep and the mutton busters.

On Friday, 20 mutton busters received a Susan B. Anthony gold dollar, while on Saturday and Sunday, the young sheep riders had a chance to win a pair of Justin boots. They also received a buckle and scarf for riding the wooly critters.

For the 5- to 7-year-old mini-bulls riders, Jude Elder won the beautiful belt buckle while riding Smurf. In a crowded field of 13 riders, Britton Culek rode Midnight Express to a belt buckle in the 8- to 11-year-old division, and Jax Toth rode Blue to win among 12- and 13-year-olds.

On Saturday, 30 4-H and FFA showmen competed in beef showmanship. See next week's Observer for results.

Kasyn Snyder's market beef won Grand Champion Overall and Grand Champion 4-H and sold for $3,600. Kale Schnell's Charolais cross was Reserve Champion Overall and 4-H Reserve Champion. Kale's beef racked up a price of $2,000. FFA Grand Champion market beef was shown by Aubrey Culek. She received $1,600 for her beef, while Wyatt Cook took home $1,300 for his Reserve