Horse Show

HARRODSBURG - Mitch Clark will be here no matter what, and he hopes the Mercer County Fair & Horse Show will be as well. Like many others who came to the opening night of the horse show Tuesday, Clark couldn't help but notice how quiet it was at the Mercer County Fairgrounds, where a schedule change this year has separated the horse show from the rest of the fair for the first time. The move was made in large part with horse owners and trainers in mind, and Clark, a Danville-based trainer with a long personal and family history at the show, said he appreciates the effort by fair officials to make things better for them but also realizes that the show's future is tied to the overall success of the fair.

Twenty-two members of the Clark County Ponies and Partners 4-H Club participated in the State 4-H Horse Show in Louisville. Of these 22 4-H members, four youth received high or reserve high point in their respective divisions. Miranda Richardson received the Linda Kohnhorst Memorial Scholarship. She will attend the University of Kentucky this fall.  Ten members rode in the Drill Team competition. The team, led by Chelsea Haddix and Sarah Geddes, earned 10th place. Team members included: Sarah Clark, Carrie Cockerham, Andrea Crawford, Caleb Everman, Katelyn Fraley, Sarah Geddes, Tiffani Goodwin, Chelsea Haddix, Caycee Shimfessel and Megan Stults.

The horse show has long been the signature event of the Mercer County Fair and Horse Show - after all, it's right there in the name - but this might be the first time the horses will have the stage to themselves. No carnival lights, no truck pull, no demolition derby. Nothing at all, in fact, for the entire five-night run of the horse show. Mercer fair officials have separated the horse show from the rest of the fair, creating what is essentially a two-week, two-part fair. So while most of the fair activities will be held this week, one week earlier than usual, the horse show will remain in its traditional spot on the calendar, beginning July 24. “This is definitely something different for us,” horse show manager and fair board member Brad Noel said.

The highlight of any summer is the annual fair and the warm nostalgia it brings. This year will be no different, though things may look a little different. “We've changed the appearance and the layout of the fairgrounds,” Jessamine County Fair president James Bruner said. “Some new colors for the livestock building, a few things rearranged, and we've moved where the demolition derby will be.” Though things on the grounds may be slightly altered, this year the Jessamine County 2012 Fair will still be held at the same location down Longview Drive on Park Drive in Nicholasville.

Seventeen members of the Clark County 4-H Ponies and Partners Club have been very busy this month preparing and participating in the District 4 4-H Horse Show. Twelve members received High Point or Reserve High Point Award honors in their respective divisions. Sixteen youth will be showing at the Kentucky State Horse Show the first week of July in Louisville.  At the District show, members showed their 4-H Project Horses in either Hunter, Western Judged, Contest, Saddleseat or the Walking/Racking/Mountain Horse Division.

June 20, 1987 Sgt. and Mrs. Douglas R. Crowe and daughter, Ashley, left Thursday for their home in Blytheville, Ark., following a several days' visit with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Castle, Colby Hills, and Mr. and Mrs. Benny R. Crowe and family, 224 Short St. The 1987 Clark County Fair and Horse Show is right around the corner. Opening day is July 13 and entries in the Home Economics category will be accepted that day. Clark County residents are encouraged to participate.

Fair time in Clark County is coming a little earlier this year. The annual Clark County Fair, which begins this weekend, is opening about six weeks earlier than usual. The move was made, Fair Board President Melissa Clark said, to try to avoid conflicts with other county fairs and to try to boost attendance. “One of the main reasons we moved it up earlier this year is that the Montgomery County fair has been the same week as ours the last five or six years,” Clark said.

The Kentucky Equestrian Center on Kiddville Road is hosting a Fun Show today at the center. The fun begins at 10 a.m. with the American Competitive Trail Horse Association ride. Signup begins at 8 a.m. with a riders' briefing at 9 a.m., concluding with the awards presentation at 1 p.m. A fun horse show begins at 4 p.m. with 24 categories open to all breeds. The event continues on Sunday with another trail ride beginning at 11 a.m. Cowboy Church will be before the ride at 10 a.m. For more information contact Julia Bowen at 327-9089 or by email at julia@kentuckyequestriancenter.org, or Mikie Bowen at 771-4692.

HARRODSBURG - About 30 firefighters squelched a blaze this morning that destroyed one of the oldest buildings at the Mercer County Fairgrounds. About 2 a.m., Harrodsburg firefighters responded to a call regarding the fairgrounds on Linden Avenue, said Fire Chief Chris Dean. When officials arrived, they saw a barn fully engulfed in flames. The flames were extinguished within about 13 minutes with the help of Mercer County and Burgin firefighters, Dean said. No people or animals were hurt in the fire.

Alltech invited 500 Clark County students to join more than 2,300 students at the Alltech National Horse Show Nov. 3-4 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Along with the show, the students from Conkwright Middle School,  Trapp Elementary and Pilot View Elementary went through the Alltech Experience where they learned about sustainable agriculture, aqua science and the Haiti project. They also visited the educational expo at the Horse Park's Equus Pavilion where they learned about the different horse breeds' size, jumping capabilities and markings, as well as how horses give birth, types of feed, college equine programs and more.