Cooling shower: First year Horse Project 4-Her Emma Davids got right to work when she arrived at the Porter County fairgrounds Sunday afternoon with her leased Arab-Quarterhorse Bubbie, age 25. Emma, age 12, a 7th grader at Chesterton Middle School, gave Bubbie a cool shower before settling him in his stall at the Fair. Emma and Bubbie will compete this week in Trail Class, Western Horsemanship, Showmanship and Pleasure classes, as well as English Showmanship. Emma is a member of Lakeshore Drifters. The 4-H Fair continues through July 27, with various 4-H classes and competitions daily. (Tribune photo by Margaret L. Willis)

Free admission for seniors (age 65+), veterans and active members of the military capped by a free patriotic concert by the Valparaiso University & Community band are part of Wednesday’s line-up at the Porter County Fair.

Pines Village will sponsor senior activities starting at 10 a.m. in the Buggy Wheel Pavilion, with free admission for seniors age 65 and over available all day. Heartland Christian Center is organizing the Veterans and Active Armed Forces Recognition program, starting with a free patriotic concert performed by the Valparaiso University & Community Band at 6 p.m. in the Radio One Park Place Pavilion. The recognition program begins at 7 p.m.

One Porter County resident looking forward to the patriotic celebration and recognition is Staff Sergeant Justin Burns of Valparaiso who recently returned from a year-long assignment in Iraq. He got back to Porter County on June 2 from Fort Lewis, Washington and told family he wanted to get home in time for the Porter County Fair.

Also featured among the special events Wednesday is the Celebrity Showmanship program, in its second year, to promote 4-H activities among the community. At 6:15 pm in the Livestock Show Arena, six outstanding Porter County citizens will be showing swine for the 4-H members. Don Asher of The Times, State Senator Ed Charbonneau, City Administrator Bill Hanna, Bob Wanek of the Valparaiso YMCA, retired school board member Lori Woycik, and Barb Young of the Porter County Community Foundation are the celebrity showmen in the contest this year. It’s a fun way for Porter County celebrities to interact with the community and also learn a little about swine.

According to event organizer Jane Maxwell, the purpose of the event is for well-known community members who may have never been involved with 4-H to see how hard the kids work to put on a good show. Each contestant will have a 4-H member as their mentor to tell them what to do and help them through the showing. Although the kids have had all summer to prepare and the contestants get only about five minutes, it is obvious that it’s not as easy as it looks to show animals.

Returning to the grandstand at 7:30 pm is the Combine Demolition Derby and Tractor/Truck Pulls. For the full line-up of entertainment and activities go to

www.portercofair.org

Posted 7/22/2008