By Melissa Blackburn
After a very successful first day of the Lawrence County Fair, board members and county judge Phil Carter and workers geared up for horse and small animal livestock show.
While vendors like Randy Hall worked all afternoon preparing food he still would sell out. Over 200 entries at the horse show for the 10th annual Lawrence County Fair horse show. There was over $2500 in prize money offered to riders in different classes.
The most populated class was class 24 Open Pleasure Horse Championship with over 20 entries trying to win $500 in winnings. Taking home first place and the silver platter plus money and a halter was Sarah Martinez from Jackson KY on Pinapple Express. Reserve went to Louis Highfield from Manchester OH riding Jazz and third was Brandon Sparks from Martha KY riding I’m ZZ Top.
Not all the classes were serious. Class 11 the Baby bottle race, where riders double and the rider in the front steers the horse, transitioning through a series of gaits while holding a bottle of water for the rider in the rear to drink. First one empty, without cheating is the winner. Breanna Blevins and Haylie on Elvis won while Citori Branham and Ethan Salyer on Andy placed second.
The most precious class of the night was the very first class lead line. Thirteen up and coming horseman and horsewoman took in lead line. The judge couldn’t pick a winner among these beginners, therefore they all ended up with a trophy.
Riders got to ask horses for some speed during class 23 the Open Speed Racking Championship as the announcer would say they got to “turn ’em loose”. The class winner was James Music on Roaster followed by Ricky Deaton on Scooter.
There was a variety of classes for a variety of riding styles available to choose from. Mountain Horse Open Championship was won by Keith Perdue from Estill County on Perdue’s Sherekhan, second was Nick Bush from Morgan County on Major Payne.
Young and old were competing for championship titles. In the Youth Pleasure Championship Lane Tackett from Maggoffin County riding Black Betty would take home the title with runner up going to Brayden Sparks of Martha KY on I’m ZZ Top.
To end the night were the speed classes Ella Crum proved to be one tough competitor winning open poles, youth barrels, and open barrels on her horse Holly. Following Ella in open poles was Jamie Demps from Waynesburg KY on Mollie Firewater, and Alysha Carver of Boyd County on Dudley. In youth barrels Ella was followed by Citori Branham of Louisa KY on Andy and Jackie Beth Arnett of Magoffin County.
Final Class of the night was class 27 Open Barrels Ella Crum won with time of 15.045 followed by Jackie Beth Arnett with a time of 15.695 and Jamie Demps 15.795. This concluded the horse show.
While the horse show was going on in the arena in the livestock Pavilion small animals were being shown. Rabbits were first up in the arena with judge Riley St Clair evaluating. Mallory Hayes and Peyton Lewis took Best of Show in the cloverbud (under 9 years old) division. Veteran showman Sarah Brewer won the showmanship Class with her Holland Lop, Bugs Bunny. Abby Holly took overall market Grand Champion with her creme d’argent, Henry.
On to the Poultry division, where Kelsey Vance swept JR Showmanship and JR open class with her Silver Laced Wyandotte, Spots. Kelsey was followed by Braely Ward reserve with her Lavender Orphington, Oliver and Jackson Droze with Ricky Bobby placed third. In the JR showmanship class Jackson Droze placed reserve and Brailey Ward placed 3rd. Peyton Lewis won cloverbud top honors with Daisy the Long Island Red Hen Best in Show.
Rounding out the livestock show was the senior division classes where Abby Holley and her Rhode Island Red Hen, Tink placed third and twins Allyson Moore and Abygail Moore would split honors with Allyson winning SR showmanship with her Buff Orpington, Dolly and reserve in SR Open.
Abygail Moore won Grand champion in SR showmanship with her Sapphire Gem, Jim and was reserve in SR Open.
What we hadn’t mentioned so far was the mutton busting preliminary round was held during intermission of the horse show. Normally this would have taken place on Saturday however because it’s normally hot on Saturday the fair board decided to move it to Friday evening and then the top 10 contestants would move to the final round during intermission of the rodeo and those 10 contestants were Baylor Justice, Judd Staniford, Bryce Reed, Bentley Marcum, Johnna Montgomery, Easten Steinman, Mallory Hayes, Colt Auxier, Jensen Daniel, and Carter Auxier.
This concluded Friday events and lights were out at the fairgrounds around 2am as they prepared for Saturday’s events.
