McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

September 9, 2012

Saturday at the Pittsburg County Free Fair

By MJ Brickey Staff Writer

McALESTER — On Saturday, at 11 a.m. the Pittsburg County free fair was in full swing.

Under a shade tree close to the agriculture barns a fat nine month old Brahma bull named “Buddy” stood with his showman Levi Stowers.

Stowers said this is the second year he’s participated in the Future Farmers of America portion of the fair and said he intends to continue till he graduates.

Levi said his dad, Bobby Stowers, participated in the fair when he was in school as well. Levi Stowers said he lives in Alderson, but attends Canadian, because his mother Jammie works there.

The fair is something his family enjoys doing together.

In the barn that housed chickens and bunnies stood Hartshorne’s 12 year-old Skyla Edwards selling rabbits.

Edwards said she loves the rabbits and her favorite, and was her first bunny, is Benjamin who she said she named after U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin.

Edwards said, “I brought 10 chickens and 9 rabbits to show this year.”

When asked what Edwards feels people should know about bringing bunnies and chickens to the fair she said, “The bunnies are fun! I won Reserve, Best of Show, a couple of firsts, a couple of second and I think a third place.”

Edwards said that bunnies make good pets for children and said she’d sell everyone a bunny for $30 to $35 a piece.

Edwards said this is her third year to participate and when asked if she intends to do it gain she said, “Oh yes! And again, and again!”

Miss Teen McAlester Jessie Matthews was in attendance dressed in western wear and adorning her sash and crown.

Matthews said her “Ag” teacher has been supportive of her roll as Miss Outstanding Teen McAlester and encourages her to wear her sash and crown.

She said she does not have animals to show at his fair but will show pigs in October.

She said she has been in the FFA since the eighth grade and that has been four years now.

“I enjoy meeting with people here,” Matthews said. “The FFA people are very friendly.”

The McAlester Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s Vicki Jones was sporting a large foam fork that was approximately 6 foot in length and asking people if they’d like to take a picture with the fork.

Jones said September is Hunger Action Month and the giant fork is a way for the new food bank in town to bring attention to the issue of hunger in our community. She said the fork belongs to the food bank, but she is working with them to raise this awareness.

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