Fairgoers, animals cope with heat advisory

Dangerous temps require care for humans and animals.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch Kids from the Sherwin Star Sports sports camp cool off by a fan Tuesday while visiting the Warren County Fair.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Staff photo by Greg Lynch

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 12:33 PM Thursday, July 21, 2011

LEBANON — Frozen water bottles, electric fans and caring 4-H Club members are trying to protect their animals from the dangerous heat this week at the Warren County Fair.

As temperatures climbed into the 90’s Tuesday during a heat advisory, shady barns at the fairgrounds offered some refuge. Chickens, turkeys and rabbits panted in their cages. Fat market hogs, regal show horses and people convalesced next to fans.

“I’d say these guys are pretty cool,” said New Horizons 4-H Club member Rachel Flake, as she misted with water Ed, Charlotte, Rain and Blacksmith – four large pigs as they napped in front of fans. “Pigs don’t sweat, so it’s hard for them to stay cool.”

The morning offered some relief in the form of rain showers, which increased the humidity later in the day. Denise Peters of Loveland, whose daughter is showing a horse as part of the Trailblazers 4-H Club, said she could feel the oppressive heat arrive mid-morning.

“You could feel this thick, weighted air move in on us,” Peters said of the moment while watching her daughter perform in the traditional English competition attire, long sleeves and boots, pants, helmet and gloves.

“It could be 200 degrees, they’d still show horses,” Peters said of the club’s enthusiasm. “Horses’ fans trump human fans. They’re more important.”

Not unlike people, when horses get overheated, Greta Coyle, Trailblazers member, said they get really sweaty and lethargic.

“They look like they’re not having fun. They’ll get kind of dull,” she said.

Fair Board member Jerry Chaney said the heat didn’t keep people from coming out on opening day. Attendance was higher than last year, he said.

“The heat, that don’t keep people from coming to the fair. But the rain does. We hope we don’t get both of them,” he said.

The forecast for today and the rest of the week shows temperatures remaining high in the low to mid 90’s with a chance of rain and thunderstorms each day, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or rwilson@coxohio.com.

Wednesday’s fair schedule

8 a.m.: Rabbit Showmanship (Rabbit Barn)

9 a.m.: Llama and Alpaca Show (Arena)

1 p.m.: Goat Showmanship and Market Goat Show (Building C); Harness Racing

5:30 p.m.: Market Beef: Steers and Feeder Calves: (Building E)

6 p.m.: Llama and Alpaca Fun Show (Building C)

7 p.m.: W.A.R. Wrestling (Activity Tent)

7:30 p.m.: Demo Derby (Grandstand)

9 p.m.: Karaoke (Activity Tent)

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