Despite on-and-off rain at the Aug. 13 Hereford Junior Farm Fair held at the Baltimore County Center for Maryland Agriculture in Hunt Valley, organizers said the 66th annual event was a big success.
"Even with the rain, the number of spectators was up over previous years," said Chairman David Cavey. "We were very pleased, especially since this was our first time at the Ag Center."
Signs along Shawan Road inviting the public drew the Wehman family from Hunt Valley to the event.
"We saw the signs and decided to see what was here," said Karen Wehman, who was there with her husband, Bobby, and three children. "The kids loved seeing the animals and I liked seeing the pride in the young people when they talked about their animals."
The animal judging included cows, swine, goats, sheep and rabbits. Alpacas were new this year, and chickens will be added to next year's fair. In all, some 120 animals were shown.
There were 833 indoor exhibits of flowers, vegetables, clothing, photographs, and arts and crafts, said Pam Spencer, the fair's treasurer, who awarded more than $2,200 in premiums to indoor and outdoor exhibitors.
The Hereford Junior Farm Fair, open to any Baltimore County resident younger than age 21, had been held at Hereford High School, and before that, at Sparks High School.