To the cheers of his parents and dozens of other onlookers, 4-year-old Colten Jones struggled and strained to pedal a green and yellow John Deere pedal tractor down a track Sunday at the Waterford Fair.
Just across the way, a slightly larger crowd was cheering on much older boys, who were also on tractors attempting to pull heavy sleds as far as possible.
Colten didn't quite make a full-pull, but he seemed quite content with the lolly-pop and ribbon for his efforts. He also suggested it might be the tractor's fault. He's something of an International Harvester fan; and has little use for a John Deere.
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BRAD BAUER The Marietta Times
Luke Stollar, 5, of Waterford, attempts to make his way down the pedal pull track during a competition Sunday at the annual Waterford Fair.
"They're better," he said.
The boy was one of about 75 who took turns Sunday during a more than two-hour pedal tractor pull, sponsored by Waterford High School FFA.
Colten's mother, Alecia Jones, 29, of Waterford, said events like the pedal pull are what make going to the fair special and fun. She said she also likes International Harvesters better than a Deere.
Fact Box
Fair results:
Royalty contest: 2010 Jr. Fair Queen Kalleigh Mason, 2010 Jr. Fair King Levi Holbert, Dairy Princess Faith Weyant, Goat Princess Alexis Coffman, Poultry Princess Madison Gebhart, Rabbit Princess Emma Maddocks, Sheep Princess Emily Mason, Swine Princess Katherine Wagner.
4-H Booths at Waterford Fair: First - Churchtown Community Crew; Second - Churchtown Shining Stars; Third - Waterford Warriors; Honorable Mention - Buckeye Buddies.
Hog Skillathon (Sponsored by Broughtons Foods): Junior Division: First - Josie White, Second - Andrew McCutcheon, Third (Tie) - Shelby Wayne & Cole Riffle; Intermediate Division: First - Hunter Smitley, Second Haley McCutcheon, Third (Tie) - Cassandra Campbell & Josh Winstanley; Senior Division: First - Jennifer Smitley, Second (Tie) - James Giffin & Brady Campbell, Fourth - Kaitlin Pottmeyer.
Hog Showmanship: Junior: (First through fifth places) - McKenzie White, Travis Pottmeyer, Sydney Huffman, Issac Huffman, Abigail Huffman; Intermediate (1-5) - Weston McAfee, Madison Dailey, David Schaad, Clayton Lang, Jessica White; Senior (1-5) - Brady Campbell, Blake Campbell, Casey Brannon, Austin Henthorn, Olivia Sprague.
Premier Hog Exhibitor (A combination of total scores for showmanship, skillathon and market class sponsored by Farm Credit Services) Brady Campbell, Waterford FFA.
Annual Waterford Fair hog sale: Total hogs sold: 158; Total weight: 39,657; Total sale: $108,847.10; Average price per pound: $2.74.
Source: Ohio State University Extension.
Pedal pull winners:
(Classes are by child's weight)
30 to 45 - First: Emma Amrine; Second: Luke Kutscherenko; Third: Judson Cooper.
46 to 60 - First: Jacob Lang; Second: John Heiss; Third: Christian Schwenderman.
61 to 75 - First: Dylan Chart; Second: Brady Kutscherenko; Third: Issac Lang.
"I can't blame him," she said. "He did the best he could with what he had."
Fair board vice-president Dennis Martin said it's important to keep the fair focused on kids.
"That's why were here," he said. "This is all for the kids in this community."
