WCYF ready to open gates on 33rd event
By SHANNON CRABTREE news@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Shannon Crabtree Darrel Kutach, fair president, discusses the lineup for this coming year's Wharton County Youth Fair.

As the Wharton County Youth Fair prepares to open the gates for its 2008 run, the focus will be on family.

From events and activities to special promotions, there will be plenty for the young, old and somewhere in between to do from May 4 to May 10, Fair President Darrel Kutach said during a media preview event Wednesday at Crescent.

But the real question, fair organizers say, is "Are you tough enough to wear pink?"

With the Fair Coordinator Cindy Blaha's diagnosis and ongoing treatment for cancer, the fair family has pulled together making Thursday, May 8, a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.

Blaha along with assistant Carrie Lopez coordinate events.

"They are what makes the organization stick together," Kutach said.

This year's fair is dedicated to former President Jodie Socha who has volunteered for 31 years.

The annual barbecue cook-off will be Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, on the fair grounds with a recordsetting 118 teams.

"I don't know where we're going to put them, we're running out of space," Kutach said.

Also during that weekend will be Go-Texans events including washer pitching, horseshoes and dominoes as well as a return of the tractor pulls and the Cowboy Cruisin 5K Run/Walk.

There were 75 entries in the inaugural event, Chairman Preston Dornak said, adding he's hoping for more this year. Although there is a charge to pull, he added, showing tractors is free.

New this year will be the First Annual Rocking W Rodeo Reunion on Sunday, April 26 starting at 1 p.m.

The Rocking W, which formed in 1949, has worked with the fair for decades supporting rodeo style events.

"Whatever goes on in the arena, that's why we're here," President David Rose said.

Kutach added, "If it wasn't for the Rocking W, we at the fair couldn't put on the rodeo events."

Fair events actually kick off Thursday, May 1, with check in for the Creative Arts entries. The 1,339 exhibitors will be presenting 5,944 articles, Chairperson Grace Glaze said.

Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3, will be the junior college rodeo.

"This is the final rodeo of the year. It will determine who will go on to the college rodeo finals," Wharton County Junior College coach Sean Amestoy said, adding several local students were in the running to advance.

Opening Fair Week Sunday, May 4, will be the first Cowboy Church service at 10:30 a.m. in Crescent Hall.

All fair pageants will again be held on Sunday along with many of the children's activities.

There are 10 Junior Miss and 8 Queen contestants this year, Dr. Keith Ermis said. The number of Little Mr. and Miss candidates hasn't been determined yet. "But if you want to see kids be kids and say what's on their mind, you've got to come out for that. Those kids are brutally honest."

An estimated 1,000 fairgoers attend just the pageants, Ermis said.

The Mighty Thomas Carnival will return for its 20th year at the fair while Midway entertainment will include Rainbow the clown, a chainsaw artist, hypnotist, petting zoo and a roping act.

The Ag Banquet, Thursday, May 8, will feature Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith as a speaker along with annual awarding of Ag Man of the Year.

Musical entertainment will have a more local sound this year, Kutach said.

"We decided to cut back on the dollars and go with local," he said.

Dances will feature Texas Legacy, Country Sound, polka bands, the Emotions and Wright Remedy with Aces Over Eights opening. The original plans for Tejano Night changed dramatically when news of headliner Emilio's life-threatening crash in Houston.

"We had Emilio booked - boy, we thought we had it made," Kutach said.

Now Ambixion along with Reflejo and D.J. Lazzer will take the stage Saturday night in the Johnson Arena.