Turley Publications photo by Ruth M. Lyon

Hannah Elwell grooms her 6-year-old Chincoteague pony, “Shamrock” at Camp Marshall’s 4H Fair held last weekend. “Shamrock is a little training project,” says 12-year-old Hannah.

4H members display heads, hands, health and heart at Camp Marshall Fair

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

SPENCER – Worcester County 4H Camp Marshall proudly lauded the accomplishments of youths from across the area this past weekend in a celebration that has continued for more than sixty years at that location.

White-clad youngsters lead their livestock to small show areas, where the animals, groomed within an inch of their lives, were shown with pride by their owners. Most of them had raised the animals from birth, officials said.

Watchers smiled as teen and pre-teen girls, mostly with stylishly braided hairdos, and spiffily attired boys lead, petted and occasionally wrestled their animals to the forefront. Ten and twelve-year-old girls displayed their mastery of show techniques, knuckling precisely the right spot on the cow’s backbone to present the finest prize-winning alignment, holding the animals’ head high, smiling and nudging and offering an affectionate scratch behind an ear on occasion. Senator Stephen Brewer observed, “This is so much more than showmanship, or even about raising animals and food. These kids work, and through that work they learn so much and offer so much to our future. They can shovel manure, curry a horse and milk a goat, but they learn responsibility and real life skills like managing their time and money and balancing a checkbook. They are the cream of America’s crop.”

Rep. Anne Gobi added, “There’s the four clover leaves, the four H’s, which stand for head, hands, health, but especially heart. I am so proud of this camp and these youngsters.”

The fair officially opened Saturday at 9:45 a.m., with Lorraine A. Kiritsis, 4H Club Educator for Worcester County, welcoming 4H, families and friends, and introducing Nathan L’Etoile, Assistant Commissioner of the State Department of Agricultural Resources. He offered words of praise for the quality and variety of livestock and other exhibits, commenting that such displays across the state “bodes well for the future of agriculture in the Commonwealth.”

Exhibits in the hall proved eclectic and commanded interest throughout the weekend. Ranging from arrangements of vegetables and flowers to zippy artwork and thoughtful displays, there was something for every taste. Attracting attention was a large, close-up photograph of a sheep’s eye, with drooping lashes. “Eye Love Ewe,” the caption read.

Alexandra Hebert was proud to win the grand championship for her 6-month-old bull named Valentino. He is, she said, 25 percent Belgian Blue, 25 percent Charlolais, and 50 percent Hereford. His black coat shone handsomely.

Thirteen-year-old Monica Howe wrangled, rather than led her “frisky” Scottish Highlander heifer to the ring. The large shaggy bovine was an attention getter. Monica impressed watchers as she maintained her calm and controlled a very large animal who “might,” said a judge,” be in heat.”

Hannah Elwell, 12, busily curried her horse’s coat as she discussed the gelding’s lineage. “Shamrock’s a 6-year-old Chincoteague horse.”

The Chincoteagues are horses that make their home on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. They are wild horses; ownership is shared by, on the Maryland side, the National Park Service, and on the Virginia side by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Each year, at “pony penning” time, the Virginia horses swim across the channel between the islands, herded by “salt water cowboys,” and sold at auction for the benefit of the fire company. The carnival, held in July, attracts thousands of visitors. The spectacle inspired a series of popular books and films (by Marguerite Henry) on a wild pony, Phantom and her foal, Misty.

According to Hannah, Shamrock is “a little training project.” He is being trained to jump upon command rather than whim, and to make flying lead changes, which involve making footing changes midair while cantering. “Shamrock and I have high hopes,” Hannah smiled, “but we may not share the same hopes at the same times.”

Saturday’s schedule was busy, with animal fittings and showmanship, a dog show, a goat agility course demonstration, and visual presentations and public speaking competitions. Lawn and garden tractor pulls drew a crowd of participants and onlookers.

Adding to the fun of the evening was family fun night, a costume class for animal and exhibitors, and of course, an opportunity to browse the exhibit hall and patronize the snack bar.

Sunday’s weather inherited Saturday’s sunny skies. By 8:30 a.m. the horse show had begun, with dairy, beef, swine and goat shows to follow. From the 10 a.m. corn shucking contest, through the fashion revue and the Cloverbud (ages 5 – 7) rabbit and cavy workshop, to the noon-time chicken barbeque, through the raffle drawing and presentation of awards and auction, the fair maintained a constant attendance and appreciative commentary from participants and guests.

Brewer and Gobi presented awards from the Senate and the State House to John “Ricky” Hardaker, to whom this year’s fair is dedicated for his thirty years of work for Camp Marshall and the 4H, and especially for the annual chicken barbeque. “Ricky,” said Gobi, “You have the best buns in the world.”

Brewer announced to the crowd that he and Gobi had recently achieved a goal five years in the making – “We’ve assured that this camp will hold a 25 year lease.”

In a later conversation, he explained that leases on state land expire in five years. “After that, the lease is up for grabs,” he commented. “We wanted to assure that Camp Marshall will be here for 25 years at least. That will allow the fair committee and the camp directors to plan much needed improvements knowing they’ll have the opportunity to benefit from those improvements. Finally, the bill has been passed. It’s a win for everyone involved.”

One problem that may turn out to be a gift in disguise was the fact that a fair favorite, the chicken barbeque, might have ended last year. “We thought it would take place as usual, but six weeks ago, the people who’d done it for years canceled. We tried some other folks, we even tried to rent or purchase the equipment the former people had used, with no success. Then, we were loaned the equipment free of charge by Tony Piteci of Barre,” said Richard Standish as he sat near the smoking pit. “Now, my son David is planning to build one that will be camp equipment, it’ll stay here. So, the door closed, but the window opened.”

Standish said he last headed the barbeque about forty years ago.“This year we’re just a bunch of guys in a collaborative effort.”

That effort used 210 chickens and several hundred pounds of charcoal. The substantial line of diners, four abreast and extending around the central area of the camp, savored chicken, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, rolls and watermelon. The featured beverage was, unsurprisingly, milk. “No soda for this group,” pronounced Brewer.

A visitor remarked that chicken at such events is sometimes undercooked and/or burnt on the outside, Standish revealed his time-honored trick – just twist a leg. If it won’t twist, it’s not done. Keep turning the meat, so it doesn’t burn, and control the fire. And, the barbeque sauce is something my wife’s been using for fifty years.”

The fair closed with the traditional auction of vegetables, flowers, food and other available items.

As tired family groups loaded animals and supplies into trailers and trucks, the farewell greeting most commonly heard was “see you next year.”

For further information regarding 4H or the fair, visit www.WorcesterCounty4-H.org.