It’s hard to miss the similarities between Fred and Jared Anderson, especially the smile that appears when talking about the Antelope County Fair.
Jared, 29, all but grew up at the fair as he tagged alongside his dad, not knowing that one day he would hold the same position as one of nine directors of the Ag Society, the organization that oversees the Antelope County Fair. This marked Jared’s first year on the board and just the second fair since Fred’s retirement. “It wasn’t planned or expected for him to take over my spot,” Fred said Sunday afternoon. “But I think he always wanted to do this.” Jared admitted the only thing keeping him from running for election earlier was his address. He and wife, Brittany, had been living south of Pierce. Not being a registered voter of Antelope County, he couldn’t serve on the board. But he could help with the fair and dedicated time each August helping his dad. After building a home north of Neligh, Jared met the requirements to be a director. But even so, he hadn’t planned on putting his name on the ballot. “When you help out around here at the fair, they invite you to the annual meeting,” Jared said. “I just happened to show up at the meeting last December, and one of the board members approached me. I was a little hesitant at first because we had a new baby and just moved into a new house, but I figured if I didn’t take this opportunity, there might not be another one for a while.” With no one else running, Jared was guaranteed the position — as long as his wife approved. Brittany — daughter of Tim and Vickie Mosel — was ill at home, so they spent 15 minutes on the phone discussing whether it was the right choice. Together, they decided it was. Like Father, Like Son As a former agriculture teacher, Fred Anderson has a long-standing love for fairs, which has made his involvement invaluable over the years to Antelope County. After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Fred started his teaching career at Columbus Lakeview in January 1979. He then taught at Newman Grove and Creighton. Like most ag teachers, he was involved in the fairs at each county — Platte, Madison and Knox. It was during his stint at Creighton that he met his wife, Linda, who still teaches there. Ironically, both were originally from St. Edward but didn’t know each other. “When I had my senior picture in the annual, she was clear back in the sixth-grade picture,” Fred said with a chuckle. “We didn’t run much together and didn’t meet until we were in Creighton.” The Anderson moved to Neligh in 1993 and raised three children — Jared, Emily and Clayton — with Fred then working in the private sector selling insurance. About eight years later, he decided to run for a position on the Antelope County Ag Society. Jared, who was in sixth grade at the time, said their neighbor, Paul Fullerton, was president of the Ag Society and encouraged Fred to run. “I was on his coattails down here ever since,” Jared said. “As a kid that age, I wanted to follow my dad everywhere he went. I was probably a little annoying sometimes, but I think I ended up being pretty good help.” Although his interest was with the livestock and 4-H shows, Fred ended up working more with the entertainment events as the grandstand chairman, but spent every spare minute with the livestock and anywhere he was needed. Wherever he was, so was Jared. Although he didn’t realize it then, those years were preparing him for his time as a director. “It’s been a huge advantage because I’ve been around this so long,” he said. “I know what needs to be done, so the transition as far as knowing where to be and what needs to happen the week of the fair came naturally. The learning process is with the meeting side of things.” Multi-Generations Although Jared, a 2007 graduate of Neligh-Oakdale, has nearly two decades of experience with the fair, he only participated in 4-H for a couple of years with shooting sports. Most of his time was spent working at the fair, not necessarily through 4-H. “When dad got on the board, I just started tagging along with him,” Jared said. “It started with little jobs like sweeping out the grandstand or running here and there to now being part of the whole thing.” Although Fred is officially retired as a director, he’s still very involved with both the Ag Society and the fair. He manages the schedule and keys for the fair building and also lines up the flag corps before the team penning event. This year, Fred was also a grand champion in the open class — twice. He won top prize with a rocking horse and a leather gun case. While he’s proud of both entries, neither outshine what he feels for his son. “I’m proud of him,” Fred said. “You don’t have to tell him what to do. He’ll find it himself, so it’s been fun watching him.” A third generation Anderson also took in the fair last week. Erich, Jared and Brittany’s 1 1/2-year-old son, spent the week with Grandma Linda. Fred said he can’t wait to see which 4-H events spark his interest. Jared agreed because although the entertainment events are fun, the fair is really about the 4-H youth and their families. That’s what makes the year of planning and week of no sleep during the fair worth it. “This is what it’s all about,” Jared said, pointing out a group of 4-H kids. “All of these kids work hard on their projects and animals all year long. This is their chance to show the rest of the county and state what great stuff we produce here in Antelope County.” Saturday at the Antelope County Fair can turn into a long day for some people. With animal shows in the morning, the animal auction in the evening and the demo derby to cap off the night; Saturday can really wear out a person.
That is what makes Sunday morning’s annual pancake feed popular because it is a good meal to start the day, already prepared and costs as much as a person wants to pay. “The proceeds go to 4-H and the FFA,” Abigail Frank said. “It’s free for all 4-H and FFA members and a free will donation from everyone else. I’m a big supporter of 4-H. I was in 4-H and I work in 4-H as well. I love 4-H and we (Abigail and her husband Cody Frank) are big supporters of it. We believe in what they do, we come out and support it.” Abigail and Cody took over the pancake feed this year from Tina and Jay Snider, who had been running the annual breakfast. “We want to thank Jay and Tina Snider,” Abigail said. “They ran it for many years and we appreciate them passing it down to us. We heard Sniders wanted to pass it down to someone and we wanted to do it. It’s a good cause.” The Franks wanted to give back to the agricultural community besides writing out a check or donating. “It’s not just donating money, it is nice to come out and physically be out helping,” Abigail continued. “I like for kids to see my face associated with 4-H.” Along with the Franks, the Neligh-Oakdale FFA and a few volunteers were at Riverside Park bright and early Sunday morning to help prepare the sausage and pancake breakfast. Countless other sponsors and supporters donated time, money and resources to help make the pancake feed a success. “We were kind of at the forefront of all it, but got a lot of supporters,” Cody said. “Farmer’s Pride donated, Seagate donated, the fire department was helping out with the pancake griddle and the FFA alumni helped out. It’s a good cause to come together and help the kids. It’s good to see a lot of businesses wanting to help out. A lot of ag businesses helped kick in some donations and different things for the event. It’s a nice group effort.” Proceeds from the meal go to the Neligh-Oakdale FFA and local 4-H clubs. The Franks are hoping the FFA steps up and takes over the annual breakfast, but will still be there to help out. “We wanted to help with the transition,” Cody said. “The FFA is going to help sponsor it going forward. It’s a good fundraiser for them, a good way to help out. It helps get them (FFA) involved in the community, meet people and grow support for the chapter.” Youth in Antelope County are gaining another gateway into 4-H thanks to the creation of a new club earlier this year.
Sandy Spurs, a 4-H club created by Kara Pelster, officially started as a club in April of 2018. Since its creation, the club has hosted a bucket calf clinic/show and has been involved in multiple community service projects and showing in the fair. Pelster said she started the club because she saw the kids working together and knew the benefi ts of them being in a club. “I decided to form a club because most of the children were already doing projects together and I feel that children that are involved in 4-H can gain so much more by being in a club. Learning from others, doing the community service, being a part of something, gaining self confidence...” After its creation in April, the club elected it’s executive council. Officers for the club are president, Lucille Koinzan; vice president, Jacob Henery; treasurer, Isaac Hemenway; secretary, Lynae Koinzan and news reporter, Sam Hemenway. Besides the election of officers, Pelster said that they have also gotten members involved in numerous activities to help the kids be accustomed to 4-H. “We have gone through the election of officers, started parliamentary procedure in our meetings,” she said. “We have had the clinic and we have done some community service around the fairgrounds. We were also in the Fourth of July Parade.” In June, Sandy Spurs hosted a bucket calf clinic/show at the Antelope County Fairgrounds in Neligh. Participants were instructed on the proper techniques for showing bucket calves and participated in a show to test their learning before competing in the fair. According to Pelster, many of the kids may have had prior knowledge from their parents showing when they were younger, but needed a refresher before showing in the fair. “Many of those children, they might have had parents who showed, but it has been a long time,” she said. “I felt that bucket calves are the future of the beef showing industry, and sometimes the children don’t know how to show, don’t know how to show properly or the techniques.” Pelster said that Antelope County has an impressive amount of bucket calves. “Antelope County has a tremendous amount of bucket calves. I think last year there were between 50 to 60 (bucket calves), and I would assume the same this year.” Because of the amount of bucket calves in the county and the lack of knowledge on showing them, Pelster said the club decided to host the clinic. “As a group, we decided to hold a clinic for the educational component of it and then do a show following the clinic to let the kids practice what they had learned that morning,” she said. According to Pelster, 25 participants were involved in the clinic/show, and the group used the event as a fundraiser for their club. She went on to say that the knowledge gained at the clinic and other activities was evident at the fair and that she is in awe of their enthusiasm and pride in the club. “They did exceptional,” Pelster said. “It’s been amazing to see how they have come together as a group and the pride that they have to be together and hold relationships. Many of the youth, they knew each other, but they have really formed a closeness and a bond within the group. Their enthusiasm and their dedication is outstanding.” She said that, although the members might not have done as well as they had thought, their excitement did not drop. “All of them had quite a few projects, quite a few different animals… those animals might not have done as well as they had thought, but they are dedicated and continue to show and work with them. I never saw anyone complaining.” The club plans to continue working on projects as a group throughout the year and hopes to tour agriculture businesses around Antelope County in the near future. Pelster said that she hopes that club will continue to grow. “I hope that we are self sustaining and the we are not just here for a year. I hope we continue to grow and branch out and challenge the youth in things they haven’t been a part of before.” In this summer’s tin can challenge, about 25 4-Hers and about 13 Clover-Kids put their creativity to the test.
They used cans to construct a variety of projects, including tea light holders, a drum set, cutlery holders, an iPod dock and more. This is the second year the project challenge has been done, according to 4-H youth development coordinator, Tessa Hain. “Last year was kind of our kick-off,” Hain said. “We did our palette challenge, sponsored by Blackburns, they provided the palettes. And so, this year, we kind of wanted to keep the tradition alive to keep something going with a certain material.” With tin cans being an accessible material, Hain said they selected them so they could see what the kids’ imaginations would come up with. The challenge was presented to members of 4-H and Clover-Kids in early June and they had until July 8 to say what they would bring to the Antelope County Fair. Three judges from Grand Island decided the winners of the most creative, best workmanship and most unique tin can challenge. According to Hain, they wanted to get this project started because of the immense creativity it brings out in the kids. “These kids are so creative and there’s so many different ways you can take one certain thing and make a multitude of all of these different projects,” she said. With the versatility of these project challenges, not only do the kids enjoy it, but the public does as well. “I think the kids have a blast with it and it’s really cool for the public to kind of see what the kids come up with,” Hain said. Ethan Hinkle – iPod dock and amplifier In his first year in 4-H, Elgin Public eighth grader Ethan Hinkle won the purple championship ribbon in the most unique category of the tin can challenge. He constructed an iPod dock and amplifier, an idea that was inspired by pop can speakers that he found online. “We went on the internet a little bit and I found some can speakers made out of pop cans and I decided it would be cool to make one out of tin cans,” Hinkle said. His project’s completion took him three to four days because the first time he did it, he put on too heavy of a coat, causing it to crack and need replacement. Materials he used included two tin cans, a pvc pipe and blue and black spray paint, as well as cardboard and paper to create a phone visual. For Hinkle, the most difficult part was shaping the hole in the pvc pipe for his phone, and the easiest part was putting everything together. With that, he learned that sometimes success requires some trial and error. “Sometimes it takes a couple tries to get things right, and it’s not always going to be right the first time,” Hinkle said. Being able to see the finished product made all of the work worth it. “I like seeing it all come together and look pretty good, and then getting the ribbon on it,” he said. “It felt pretty good considering it was my first year.” Austin Hinkle – Silverware holder Austin Hinkle, who will be in sixth grade at Elgin Public, also placed in the tin project challenge in his first year in 4-H. For his silverware holder, Hinkle earned a purple championship ribbon in the best workmanship category. While browsing Pinterest, the idea hit him. “My mom and I were just looking on Pinterest and stuff, and we just found this and we wanted to have it for our camper to hold silverware,” Hinkle said. He said he spent about a couple weeks putting together all of his materials – four tin cans, stickers, reading “forks,” “knives,” “spoons” and “napkins,” some wood and a handle on top. “The most difficult part was probably painting the cans with spray paint because green is a light color, so it takes a couple coats,” Hinkle said. “And then, the easiest part was probably putting it all together and screwing it on.” He said his favorite part was putting the stickers on and he learned that it can take a few tries before getting a project right. After the fair, his silverware holder will find good use in their camper. “We’re going to put it in the camper so we can use it when we have picnics out at parks and stuff.” Aidan Gregory – Drum set Neligh-Oakdale eighth grader Aidan Gregory put his love for music into his tin can project – a drum set. He was initially going to create a stove but realized the idea was already taken by his brother. “So, I decided to go with the drum set since I really like music,” Gregory said. “I listen to it and I wanted to make some.” He said the drum set was an easy decision because it would be easier to create than other instruments. Gregory spent a day setting up the drums and then another day painting it. He also used a pickle jar, which he said is like a snare drum but at a higher pitch. For cymbals, he stacked can tops, and for his bass drum, he utilized a tuna can. Creating the drums was easily his favorite part of the project, he said. “It was a lot of experimentation and I just really like experimenting; I like tinkering. It’s just really fun,” Gregory said. He will bring his drum set back home and keep it in his room as a reminder of his accomplishment, as his project earned him a championship purple ribbon in the most creative category. While this was his first year taking part in the project challenge, Gregory said he learned some valuable lessons from it. “I learned how experimentation can get you far, and that trying and re-trying and failure doesn’t mean you’re bad,” he said. “It just means that, ‘Hey, it just takes a little more practice and more experimentation.’” Bailey Ahlers – Tealight holders After searching online and realizing her mom, Amy, has tea lights, Clearwater Public School sixth grader Bailey Ahlers quickly decided what she would make for the tin can project. When putting together her tea light holders in the two to three days it took, she used an ample amount of spray paint, a drill, wood and three tin cans. “It’s kind of like a night light, I would say,” Ahlers said. “And, my mom just decided to put it on a board because it was really hard to hot glue the cans together. And for the ombre, I used spray paint, but it was hard because if you just sprayed up, it would just go all the way up the side of the can.” Her mom helped her drill the holes, which Ahlers said was her favorite part. Amy then took it to her work where they grinded the inside of it to smooth it out. Ahlers said she got the cans from her grandma, who uses a lot of cans for the family. “It took a while to find the right cans because my grandma saves so many,” she said. After the fair, Ahlers said she might give it to her grandma or grandpa because they just moved into a new house. Her tea light holders earned her a red award ribbon at the Antelope County Fair this year. This was her second time doing the project challenge, as she did last year’s project with pallets. “I had written my last name on it with rocks. “It said ‘Ahlers,’” she said. “And then, I gave it to my grandma, Kathy, so they can hang it up in the house by all of the kids’ pictures.” With two years already under her belt, Ahlers said she will likely continue to participate in the project challenge in future years. “I might because it just gives me more stuff to do,” she said. For the first time in history, the Antelope County Fairgrounds has an official exterior sign.
Construction began this summer and was completed a week before the fair. The sign was built in loving memory of Dallmont and Bernadine Erickson, who were heavily involved in agriculture and 4-H in Antelope County. Korene Erickson Fehringer, Dallmont and Bernadine’s only child, donated the money for the new sign. “When her father, Dallmont, passed away, they donated $5,000 just for 4-H to use as we wanted,” said treasurer of the 4-H Council, Anne Meis. “And then, when Bernadine passed away a few years later, they gave another $5,000.” Before her father passed away in 2013 and her mother passed away 10 months later, Erickson Fehringer said her parents gave her an idea of what they were comfortable supporting, which included the 4-H Council. “When I talked with Anne Meis and gave her money for the 4-H Council, I told her that I would like for it to go for scholarships for youth that would want to be going to 4-H camps and also for general improvements for the 4-H grounds,” she said. For the second donation, Meis said they wanted to put it toward a lasting structure that would recognize their family and get good use. “We didn’t want this to go into operating expenses,” Meis said. “We wanted something that would honor the family and have some permanence with the fair and 4-H.” Erickson Fehringer said she had no clue the structure was being built, but she was extremely happy with the results. “When someone sent me a picture of it, I was very, very pleased with what the council had done, and I feel that it’s a great memorial to my parents,” she said. Meis said the new sign was inspired by a similar display in Dodge County that they liked. Its display is made out of brick, and the sign was designed by a company that 4-H youth development coordinator, Tessa Hain, found. “Roger Legate does masonry work, and so he laid the brick,” Meis said. “And then, Tessa found a company to design and print the sign. So, those two took it from there.” Hain had the company, Love Signs of Norfolk, design and print the sign. “For the design, we just wanted something simple, but yet that would represent agriculture and the life of the 4-Her,” Hain said. The wooden sign that was hung in the show ring had been used for about 35-40 years for pictures of livestock winners, so it was time for an improvement, she said. When she was younger, Erickson Fehringer was a 4-H member and showed cattle at the Antelope County Fair. Her parents farmed and raised and fed registered angus cattle on their farm located west of Elgin. They were also 4-H leaders and great promoters and sponsors for youth in the community at the fair. “They felt that 4-H taught you responsibility, leadership, accountability and gave you good work ethics, too,” she said. In about 1963, her father, Dallmont, was instrumental in starting a new class in the beef show. “My father promoted there being a class of what they called at that time stocker feeders, which I think now they call it bucket calves, so that youth could have a smaller calf to start with in showing,” Erickson Fehringer said. She and her husband, Jim, have continued the tradition of continuing to attend the Antelope County Fair, where they attend the beef show, see other exhibits and renew old friendships. Jim and Korene Erickson Fehringer live in Columbus, but still spend a lot of time in Antelope County because Korene, who is a fourth-generation owner of her parents’ land, still manages the farm west of Elgin and another one south of Clearwater. She has passed on some of the same ideals her parents taught her to her husband’s five children. “We have shared with them how important it is to me to carry on the traditions of supporting the small communities in Antelope County,” she said. For Erickson Fehringer, it’s a privilege to be able to honor her parents’ wishes and support organizations that were near and dear to their hearts with the new fair sign. “My parents were very kind of behind the scenes,” she said. “They were ambassadors for the small communities, but they were promoters and supporters of the youth in the community, so I think they would be very humbled to see this.” Meis said she’s thrilled with the new sign and looks forward to seeing pictures taken this year of livestock winners in front of it. “I’m excited for nice, bright pictures that can be taken next to that steer that they have worked all summer with and they’re so proud of,” Meis said. Erickson Fehringer also hopes the new sign will continue to honor her parents’ legacy. “It’s just my hope that the structure will serve as a backdrop for pictures of exhibitors and their livestock, and just to kind of serve as a memory for someone who had a great interest in the fair, in youth in the community and for promoting agriculture,” she said. “Because, really when it comes down to it, that’s what the fair is all about.” This new fair sign will continue to preserve the memory of Dallmont and Bernadine Erickson for years to come. “We’re not planning on replacing it at all because we had some really good donations that came in through the Erickson family,” Hain said. “So, we want to honor them and to keep their memory alive here at the Antelope County Fairgrounds.” Riverside Park proved to be a hotbed for horseshoes on Saturday afternoon at the annual Antelope County Fair Tournament.
Dick Schrader and Nick Allemang finished first and second, respectively, to lead the field. 1. Dick Schrader, 2. Nick Allemang, 3. Chad Kaup, 4. Curt Anderson, 5. Joe Kepford, 6. Dawson Kaup, 7. Trent Hoefer, 8. Cris Kurpgeweit. After two days of horse events during the Antelope County Fair, Clay Curtis and Taylor Bolling took top honors in the senior showmanship category with grand champion and reserve champion, respectively.
Kennedy Penne and Emily Ahlers finished as champion and reserve champion in intermediate while Lucille Koinzan and Breckyn Bergman were the top competitors in junior showmanship. Juniors Junior Showmanship Champion – Lucille Koinzan; Reserve – Breckyn Bergman Intermediate Showmanship Champion – Kennedy Penne; Reserve – Emily Ahlers Junior Horsemanship Champion – Emily Ahlers; Reserve – Kennedy Penne Walk/Trot Champion – Tyler Suckstorf; Reserve – Breckyn Bergman Junior Western Pleasure Champion – Kenney Penne; Reserve – Leevi Frey W. Pleasure 14 hands 2 inches Champion – Shilo Shabram; Reserve – Sydney Shabram Junior Reining Champion – Kennedy Penne; Reserve – none (no other purple or blue ribbons) Junior Western Riding Champion – Kennedy Penne; Reserve – None Junior Trail Class Champion – Josey Booth; Reserve – Emily Ahlers Junior Pole Bending Champion – Emily Ahlers; Reserve – Josey Booth Junior Barrel Racing Champion – Emily Ahlers; Reserve – Josey Booth Junior Working Stock Horse Champion – Emily Ahlers; Reserve – Josey Booth Junior Ground Roping Champion – Grady Drueke; Reserve – Josey Booth Seniors Senior Showmanship Champion – Clay Curtis; Reserve – Taylor Bolling Senior Horsemanship Champion – Christen Curtis; Reserve – Morgan Erhardt Senior Western Pleasure Champion – Christen Curtis; Reserve – Taylor Bolling Senior Reining Champion – Ashleigh Nelson; Reserve – Christen Curtis Senior Western Riding Champion - Christen Curtis; Reserve – Clay Curtis Senior Trail Class Champion – Ashleigh Nelson; Reserve – Clay Curtis Senior Pole Bending Champion – Morgan Erhardt; Reserve – Clay Curtis Senior Barrell Racing Champion – Morgan Erhardt; Reserve – Clay Curtis Senior Working Stock Horse Champion – Morgan Erhardt; Reserve – Clay Curtis Senior Break-away roping Champion – Chris Kester; Reserve – Austin Pokorny Senior Ground Roping Champion - Chris Kester; Reserve –Christen Curtis Halter Pony Champion - Trevin Hanson; Reserve – Shilo Shabram Halter Gelding Champion – Emily Ahlers; Reserve – Kennedy Penne Halter Mare Champion – Christen Curtis; Reserve – Ashleigh Nelson Senior High Point – Clay Curtis Junior High Point – Kennedy Penne In the final event of the Antelope County Fair – Round Robin Roping – on Sunday at 5 p.m., Paul Rudloff fastened a first-place finish in the number 6 headers and Trey Baum earned first place in the heelers.
Second place in the headers went to Darin Wickersham and Dave Mast won second in the heelers. Ryan Ahlers in headers and Lynn Rader in heelers were awarded third place. First-place winners earned $750 and a saddle, second-place winners earned $450 and a belt buckle and those in third place won $300 and a breast collar. In the number 3 headers, Mike Odell roped in a first-place finish, Lacey Anson earned herself second place and Shawn Coleman followed in third. For number 3 heelers, first went to Heath Groghan, second was awarded to Trevor Schumacher and third went to Brayton Croghan. In the number 3 group, first-place finishers earned $675 and a saddle, second-place winners received $405 and a belt buckle and those in third were given $270 and a breast collar. The saddle sponsors were Lazy T, Nielsen Insurance Co., Helena Chemical Co. and Rader Feed & Supply. Belt buckle sponsors were Randy Kaczor Cattle Buying ~ JBS Swift, Neligh News and Leader and Hilltop Auto Sales. Nebraska Vet Service and Distillers Grain Service were the breast collar sponsors. The Antelope County Fair drew to a close Sunday evening with its annual Truck and Tractor Pull in front of the grandstand.
The show was in doubt just hours before the first pull after heavy rain hit Neligh earlier in the day. However, the Antelope County Fair Board members did an excellent job of getting the track ready and drivable for the pullers. Duane Pfister opened the event by winning the Econo Mod class with a pull of 295.8 feet. Randy Slifer had the top pull in the Pro-Stock 4x4 Light division with a pull of 310.75 feet. TW Vasa bested John Kasper by two feet in the 3.0 Diesel Light class. Shawn Frerichs won the Two-Wheel Drive Mod with a pull of 339.46 feet. In the 466 Tractors Light class, Keith Keaschall was the top puller at 342.64 feet. Melvin Nelson won the Light Super Stock class with a pull of 302.76 feet. Dozens of honors were presented during the annual 4-H awards ceremony at the 2018 Antelope County Fair on Sunday.
Projects receiving honors included home environment, photography, heritage, engineering, woodworking, model building wildlife, crop production, leather working, veterinary science, electricity, welding, computer, livestock judging, shooting sports, cooking, food preservation, horticulture, sewing and more. Check out our photo gallery below: |
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