With a forecast that calls for 70 and 80 degree temperatures all week, the 2012 Jackson County Fair is just warm enough to feel like summer, but not too hot to get out and enjoy the wide variety of activities taking place at the 212-acre Expo.
The Fair opened Tuesday with the first round of many multi-day events, including the hilarious Mutton Bustin’ (where kids ride sheep to see who comes out on top, literally), the X-Treme AirDogs community K-9 competition, and the Lego Robotic Sumo Challenge.
The Open Competition presented awards to the Grand Champions and Reserve Grand Champions in a wide variety of Amateur, Professional and Junior (under 17 years old) categories that include Photography, Fiber Arts, Crafts, Art, Textiles and Land Products. Award winners and others will be on display all week in the exhibit buildings located throughout The Expo.
Also getting underway are the 4-H and FFA exhibits and livestock competition. Over 1,000 4-H and FFA youth are participating with their cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats, as well as information about local agricultural and horticultural at this year’s fair. Livestock will be auctioned at the Junior Livestock Auction on July 18 and July 21, giving valley residents a chance to puts local, sustainably-raised meat on the table, and support the ongoing efforts of these programs to provide valley youth with invaluable life skills.
Courtney Farmer, a 2012 Ashland High School graduate, shows her horse and enters her photography in the open classes every year. Farmer says, “It’s so fun to see all the people who walk through the livestock pavilion to learn about the animals! Part of what we do is to educate people about what goes into taking care of all the animals you see at the fair.”
Foreigner kicked off the Concert Series on Tuesday night, sharing the stage with South Medford High School’s Chamber Choir to perform their huge hit “I Want To Know What Love Is,” for the final song of the show. Wednesday night Bret Michaels, the former front man of Poison, will rock the house at the Lithia Motors Amphitheater. Tickets are also still available for Cody Simpson, LeAnn Rimes, and the Wiggles. Saturday night also includes a free concert with TALLBOY, Dryseason, and Stephanie Hirche.
Discount fair tickets are still available between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday – Friday for the following groups:
Wednesday July 18 – Seniors day $3-for 62-74 yr. old
Thursday July 19 – Kids Day! $3-for 6-11 yrs. Olds.
Friday July 22 – 2 for 1 Fair admission all day
Get a schedule, a map, and all the details at www.atthexpo.com and click on Fair.
2012 Jackson County Fair Open Class Winners
Photography (Amateur)
Grand Champion: Kalynn Wangle
Reserve Grand Champion: Chari Ansary
Photography (Junior)
Grand Champion: Natalie Ayala
Reserve Grand: Isaiah Lundberg
Baked Goods (Amateur)
Grand Champion: Karen Gordon with her decorated cake
Reserve Grand: Christina Bennett with her decorated cake
Baked Goods (Junior)
Grand Champion: Joslyn Vargas with her theme cake
Reserve Grand: Sarah Lundberg with her yeast rolls
Technology (Amateur)
Grand Champion: Tyler Brotherton
Technology (Junior)
Grand Champion: Kyra Briggs
Land Products
Grand Champion: Tessa Locket with her market basket
Reserve Grand: Leo Smith with his lemon
Land Products (Junior)
Josie North (5 years old) with her market basket
Food Preservation
Grand Champion: Betty Henagin with her strawberry tomato peach salso
Reserve Grand: Vicki Belknap with her dried onions
Fiber Arts (Amateur)
Grand Champion Linda Roberts with her crossstitch picture
Reserve champion Barb Camarata with her reversible afgahn
Fiber Arts (Professional)
Grand Champion: Gail Anderson with her pine needle weaving
Reserve Grand: Liisa Shunn with her crocheted shawl
Crafts (Amateur)
Grand Champion: Iris Glanzman with her ABC Album
Reserve Grand: Jon Tallman with his war wall hanging
Crafts (junior)
Grand Champion: Bradley Reed with his model
Reserve Grand: Joshua Hennes with his Lego
Art (Amateur)
Grand Champion: Kolten Anderson with his pencil sketch of a lion
Reserve Grand: Scott McCaw with his watercolor
Art (Junior)
Grand Champion: Macy Aguirre with her etching
Reserve Grand: Ellie Strause with her watercolor
Textile
Grand Champion: Janis Simms with her quilt
Reserve Grand: Barbara Masters with her clothing
Textiles (Junior)
Grand Champion: Elijah Lundberg
Reserve Grand: Karry Olsen
