STREET FAIR TRADITION CONTINUES WITH 4-H PANCAKE BOOTH

As the Bluffton Street Fair celebrates its 100th anniversary, it has many other traditions that go along with it.

One of those traditions is the 4-H Pancake & Sausage Booth located on Market Street
just northwest of the courthouse.

In fact, 2010 will be the 61st year for the 4-H Pancake & Sausage Booth. However, 4-H has an even longer history with the Street Fair. 4-H youth in Wells County first began exhibiting canned goods, corn and livestock at the 1923 Street Fair and continued until 1949.

In 1950 4-H switched to a summer fair in order to give youth an opportunity to exhibit at the State Fair which was held in late August.

Through the 61 years, the menu has not changed much. The volunteers still cook up some great buttermilk pancakes, whole hog sausage and ham. In addition, the booth serves grilled cheese sandwiches, sausage sandwiches and new this year will be a pork burger.

Volunteers all across the county help with the booth. This yearís shift chair people include: Lancaster, Rob & Jenni Hoover; Harrison, Janet Ramseyer; Liberty, Leah Sills; Chester, Aimee & Doug Paxson; PATRIOTS 4-H Club, Cindy Mossburg; Jefferson, Cindy Meyer and Ronda Flesch; Jackson, Kelly Jones; Nottingham, Shari Hook; Rockcreek / Union, Julie Smith; and Horse & Pony Club, Ray Carroll and Mary Nolan.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the booth should contact the Wells County Extension Office, 824-6412.

This yearís booth features new canvas sides and a new arching roof along with a fresh coat of paint to match.

The booth will open each morning (Wednesday ñ Saturday) at 7 AM and continue throughout the day and evening.

The purpose of the 4-H booth also has not changed through the years. The profit from the booth helps to support the 4-H program with the purchase of ribbons for the fair and sending youth on educational 4-H trips along with assisting with 4-H Park upkeep.

Many people make a traditional stop at the Pancake Booth sometime during the fair to enjoy food and to watch the volunteers turn out those pancakes and sausage.

So enjoy the 100th anniversary and help 4-H celebrate 61 plus years of being at the Street Fair.

Interurban complete

The replica Interurban rail car being readied for the 100th Bluffton Street Fair is finally complete. Get a sneak peek in this video shot by News-Banner Publisher Mark Miller:

Wanted: Your Fair memories

The News-Banner is soliciting written memories from readers concerning the Bluffton Street Fair. With the theme being “Timeless Memories,” reader submissions will be published during the week of the fair.

Memories can be submitted in person at the News-Banner office at 125 N. Johnson Street, mailed to “Street Fair Memories, c/o News-Banner, PO Box 436, Bluffton IN 46714” or via email: email@news-banner.com

It is requested that submissions be made by Monday, Sept. 13.

Heritage Quilt Show now at AC&VC gallery

Forty-one quilted items dating from 1885 to 2010 are now on exhibit at the Heritage Quilt Show at the Balentine Gallery at the Arts Commerce & Visitors Centre in Bluffton.

The show is part of the Bluffton Free Street Fair’s 100th anniversary celebration and will be viewable through Sept. 28th during regular  building hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and during extended hours during the fair.

Those having items in the show are Betty Johnloz, Carol Riley, Jane Griner, Sue Harris, Kris Decker, Jean Lemler, Susan Lesh, Carol Stern, Marlene Risser, Anita Haddix, Karen Rydman, Chris Williams, Carmie Anderson, Phyllis Genth, Carol Malone and Connie Frauhiger, all members of the Bee Happy Quilters group.

Others hang quilts in the exhibit are Heather Meisch, Merlie Ann Thinnes, Becky Ringger, Susan Schultz, Patty Makowski, Lena Knowles and Kathy Fritts. 

Quilt club members and CAC Friends will be staffing the gallery during the fair when the hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday (Sept. 21-22) and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Sept. 23-25). The gallery will be closed on Monday, Sept. 20.

Here is a new video of the Interurban car replica. Only a few more details need to be completed before it's ready to roll for the Street Fair

Agricultural exhibits, rules, announced

The Wells County Agricultural Exhibits for the Bluffton Free Street Fair will again be held at the City Building, it was announced this week by Street Fair officials
Brochures and entry forms are now available at the Street Fair office located at 113 S. Johnson Street, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 824-4351.
“Exhibits must be grown or made in Wells County and exhibitor must be Wells County resident,” a spokesperson for the fair emphasized.
The entries for Culinary & Needlework and Fine Arts & Crafts are to be delivered between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 20. Judging for these categories is at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21. Entries for Agricultural and Flowers are to be delivered between 8 a.m. and noon on Tuesday. Judging for these categories is Tuesday afternoon with exhibits open for viewing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
Entries are not to be removed before 4 p.m. but must be out of the Exhibit Hall by 8 p.m. on Friday. The Street Fair Association cannot be responsible for any entries not removed by that time, they noted.
The Wells County Democratic Party will be providing the security services during open viewing hours once again. Chairmen for these exhibits are Carol Meeks (Culinary, Needlework, Fine Arts & Crafts), Helen Witte (Flowers) and Bill Horan (Agriculture).
Any exhibitor with a large number of entries may bring their entry forms to the Street Fair office by Thursday, Sept. 16, for the office staff to pre-register them, which will speed up the process of registering at the City Building. Premium checks may be picked up Monday through Wednesday the week following the fair at the Street Fair office.

Big Changes for Street Fair Horse Show

The 100th year of the Bluffton Street Fair will bring big changes to the saddle horse exhibit at the fair.
Starting on Saturday, Sept. 18, the horses will begin showing halter and pleasure classes at 9 a.m.
A chili supper carry-in will be held Saturday evening for the participants. Past saddle horse fair participants are encouraged to join for fellowship and sharing of street fair memories.
The show will continue on Sunday with obstacle courses and contesting classes starting at 3 p.m.
Fun show classes will be held on the evenings as in the past, but with a rearranged schedule.
At 6:30 p.m. on Monday evening, Sept. 20, the young riders age 9 and under will participate in the Little Buckaroo Show. Riders 10 to 18 can participate in the Casey Biberstine Memorial Show on Wednesday evening starting at 6:30 p.m.
On Thursday, the final day of events will feature riders 19 and over in the Goodtime Charlie Show. The show will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a break for the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m.
There are a wide variety of classes offered for exhibitors and their horses, ranging from miniature horses to draft horses, mules and donkeys, driving, and timed events.
The saddle horses will be located at the 4-H Park from Saturday, Sept. 18 through Thursday, Sept. 23. As always, the public is invited to stop out at the park to watch the show and view the horses.