Kiowa County CSU Extension Office

The 2026 Kiowa County Fair is in the books, and the Open Class Exhibit Hall once again gave the community plenty to celebrate. Kiowa County is a blessed community filled with talented people, and we are fortunate whenever they share those talents during the fair. Just under 600 entries were entered and displayed this year!

The “Teen” department saw increased participation this year, continuing a trend in which the departments for ages 18 and under grow every year. Thank you to Kemma Alfano, Kathy Specht, and Reona Eikenberg for taking on this big undertaking and displaying all our youth exhibits so beautifully!

The “Hobby” and “Nursing Home/Sheltered Care” departments are growing, too. We owe special thanks to Nursing Home Activity Director Brenda Leon for encouraging the residents to participate and bringing their entries in for display. The Hobby section was another standout, offering an array of handmade items from local community members. Susan Greenfield and Valorie Briggs oversaw both departments, along with Art & Photography, and made everything flow smoothly and come together so nicely.

One thing is guaranteed every year: the Fancy Works area will be beautifully displayed. We appreciate Carole Spady and Dana Brown for taking the extra time and effort to showcase the beauty of every item made.

We also cannot thank our returning volunteers enough for the work they contribute to their departments year after year. Mrs. Alice Glover has served as a Superintendent in Baked Goods for over 50 years and is still going strong. We appreciate Alice for bringing her daughter, Peggy, to help, and Cleta Engelhardt for rounding up the Baked Goods volunteers. Terry Laird and Tanya Lane make a wonderful team in Garden and Field Crops. Amy Weirich and new volunteer helper Jacob Weirich are our superstars in Flowers, House Plants, and Flower Arrangements. Food Preservation is fortunate to have Debbie Gooden and Vickie Rogers. The Antique/Vintage, Collections, and Furniture departments are led by Fair Board Open Class Liaison Areta Blooding-Laird and Cindy Pitman. Commissioner Donald Oswald is always willing to jump in wherever help is needed, and we appreciate him.

A huge shout-out goes to Areta, Terry, Cindy, Cleta, Alice, and Commissioner Oswald for sitting inside with the Exhibits during the fair.

Our Judges for Open Class Departments were as follows:

• Vivian Day – Antiques/Vintage, Collections, Furniture,
• Berta Downing – Flowers, House Plants, and Flower Arrangements,
• Ariel Eddings – Baked Goods,
• Shellie Engelhardt – All Youth Departments,
• Katie Kopasz – Garden and Field Crops,
• Vickie Nestor – Art, Photography, Hobby, and Nursing Home/Sheltered Care,
• Mary Rhoades – Fancy Works,
• Abby Weber – Food Preservation.

Thank you, Judges.

The Extension Office does not focus only on Open Class. The biggest and brightest spotlight during the fair is the Junior Livestock Shows and Sale, and we are alongside the Kiowa County Junior Livestock Committee through it all.

The incredible volunteer committee members are Tim Trosper, Junior McDowell, Mark and Michelle Nelson, Nathaniel and Holly Mitchek, and Dally Lessenden. FFA Instructor Mr. Justin Lenox is right there the whole time, too. These individuals are the first to jump in and help wherever anyone needs assistance with their livestock. They keep the Shows and Sale moving by making sure each member is where they need to be with the animal they need to be showing.

We were fortunate to have our Southeast Area Director, Brooke Matthew, and Southern Region Director, Jeramy McNeely, running around and helping with livestock as well. The LCC Livestock Judging Team, led by Dr. Haleigh Prosser, judged our Round Robin Show. Continuing our long-standing relationship with LCC. David Crossland judged our Poultry Show with the Superintendent help of Michelle Nelson.

Rounding out the livestock judges, the big Shows of Goat, Swine, Beef, and Sheep were judged by Kaley Carwin from Prichett Colorado.

CAF Media provided live coverage of all the shows, and we greatly appreciate Cory and April Forgue for supporting our youth agricultural programs just as much as they support our local sports teams. Thank you to our Show Sponsors: Agri Tech LLC, Eads School, Kiowa County Commissioners, Kiowa County Fair Board, Kip & Dawna Peck, Plainview School, Prairie Pines Assisted Living, and Tri County Farms.

The sale would not be possible without the volunteer help of Flock Auctions and owner Charlene Flock for Clerking, along with some of our biggest auctioneer supporters: Les Ohlhauser, Ronnie Hoefler, and Todd Natale.

Then there is Miss Nancy Walker, who keeps the Extension Office in order at the Show ring, making sure every placing is correct and the ribbons are distributed. We could not do all that we do without her help!

Gloria Trosper for always keeping the 4-H concession stand going and the delicious food moving out the door. The Kiowa County Road & Bridge Crew for all the set up and take down all around the grounds! The Kiowa County Maintenance Crew for helping move the Extension Office to the grounds and back again. Eads FFA Chapter for setting up and taking down livestock pens.

And most importantly, 4-H and FFA parents, members, and supporters, thank you for showing up, working hard, and dedicating so much of yourselves to keeping our youth agricultural programs alive! Being a Junior Livestock Member and parent isn’t easy, but every year you all prove that it is worth it!

CSU Kiowa County Extension