Kids Gear Up for Fair
Volunteers donate time, expertise to make Junior event a success
By Johnny McDonald

An exhibitor leads her pig out of the show ring. Photo by Carol Kinney

For some, the Ramona Country Fair means months of preparation, assorted projects and plenty of volunteering.

Such is the life of 4-H, FFA and Grange kids who will work or compete at this year's Junior Fair at the 36th annual Ramona Country Fair, Aug. 3-6.

For Kelsey Watson, a Ramona High senior, the fair means rounding up her three animals for her last show. Watson hopes to continue her schooling in Texas and aspires to be an ag teacher.

Then, there's Julian's Rowlynda Moretti, who will enter a steer, sheep and a goat, plus seven or eight home economic entries.

Or, it could be Levi Gasoway, a senior at UC Davis, who takes time from his studies to be a judge. In high school as a state ambassador, he was a 4H representative in Washington, D.C.

Still, there are others, like steering committee members Joe Brewer, Ashly Nihart and Samantha Fink, a college junior who comes back to organize the ribbons and trophies.

"There is much more than just animals at the Junior Fair," said Ramona Stars leader Beth Prinz. "There are some who have never owned an animal but they enter exhibits in technology, Web site design, bicycle safety, leadership, cooking and baking...all sorts of things."

Prinz acquired her early 4-H experience in New York. She and her family moved to Ramona six years ago. Naturally, her teenage daughter and son, are becoming involved, too.

Prinz stresses the importance of the volunteer judges who spend hours making tough decisions.

Junior fair officials are Crissy Tobiason, president; Darci Hannum, vice president; Samantha Fink, secretary; John Scott, treasurer; and Lynne Kotas, secretary. Others include Kelley Hayes, Angus Tobiason, Colleen Fink and Carol Yanez.