Tots bring home the bacon at Derry Township Agricultural Fair

Renatta Signorini, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·3 min read

Jul. 12—Three-year-olds Kyler Bishop and Sofia Cline went home with blue ribbons Monday from the Derry Township Agricultural Fair.

It was their first time showing pigs and they went head-to-head in the ring, guiding their animals around with a small whip while judge Sean Gallagher watched closely. He gave both of the competitors some constructive feedback in addition to sharing top prize for their age group.

"They're both having a good time and that's what it's all about," Gallagher said.

Fair president Brandon Komar said children as young as 2 can get their start in the ring at the annual event, gaining experience working with animals before they can join 4-H clubs or participate in other fairs. The Derry Township Agricultural Fair kicked off Sunday at the fairgrounds along Route 982.

"We're more of an agricultural fair for the youth," he said.

There are about half as many entries and exhibitors as normal this year, Komar said. The coronavirus pandemic shut down the fair in 2020 and made it difficult in early 2021 for organizers to make a decision about the July event.

"We didn't get the green light to go until the beginning of May," Komar said.

That put many potential entries behind as children typically need as much as a year or more to prepare an animal for the fair. But for others, it's in their blood.

Youngsters at Monday's pig showmanship competition were prepared for the ring with a small towel and brush in the back pocket of their jeans. They weren't much taller than their animals and the pigs far outweighed them.

Gallagher was pleased to see young competitors.

"I told both of them they shouldn't be upset because you're about a quarter of the size of your projects," he said in a match that 6-year-old Kamden Bishop won.

For Kamden and his younger brother, of Creekside, taking care of their pigs is second nature. They also were showing goats at the fair, according to mom and dad Natoshia and Andy Bishop. It was Kamden's second year at the fair.

"They love it," Natoshia Bishop said. "It's in their blood."

Andy Bishop grew up showing animals and now works with a 4-H club, giving his two boys lessons along the way. Sofia Cline's mom, Laura Cline, also grew up showing animals, according to husband Adam Cline of South Bend, Armstrong County. Sofia is planning to participate in the steer show later this week with help from her mother.

There are several new attractions at the fair, including donkey races at 7 p.m. Tuesday and the Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show nightly at 8. Fireworks will be set off at 10 p.m. Friday and the fair wraps up on Saturday.

For more details on the daily schedule, visit derrytwpagfair.com.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .