TORRINGTON – Activity always kicks into high gear at the Goshen County Extension office when fair season approaches. Staff members brace themselves for the flood of entries from Goshen County 4-H and FFA members, from cookies to ornamental birds.
When the July 7 deadline arrived, 273 exhibitors had registered 1,800 entries with the office.
These entries require ribbons, boxes of them. And they aren’t just the traditional purple, blue, red and white. A variety of pastels are also distributed.
According to Mercedes Powers, administrative assistant, the number of ribbons depends on the division and class, and whether for static or livestock entries. In some cases, there are as many as 10 places.
And it takes more than just the office staff to produce the fair. There are FFA advisors, the Youth Show committee, the Junior Livestock Sale board of directors, six junior superintendents and 17 department superintendents. These are just the official count. Dozens of other individuals are recruited on the spot, as needed, during the fair, July 20-29.
“Everyone is really busy now getting ready for fair,” Powers said, laying out a row of Champion ribbons on a table in the Extension office. “The kids are working hard, getting ready to show their animals.”
