No crowds, but still lots of enthusiasm for animal shows at Floyd County Fair
Contestants get ready for their next event at the horse show at the Floyd County Fair on Wednesday. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Matthew Schubert of Rockford closes the gate after opening it and riding through on the first obstacle in the Trail Class of the horse show Wednesday at the Floyd County Fair. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Rachel Paplow of Nashua maneuvers her horse, Heaven, through a right turn as part of the Trail Class in the horse show at the Floyd County Fair on Wednesday. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Riders and their horses wait their turn for the Trail Class event at the Floyd County Fair Horse Show Wednesday. Although the fair is not open to the public because of COVID-19, the livestock shows are still being held. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Rachel Paplow of Nashua rides her horse, Heaven, toward the next part of the Trail Class course in the horse show at the Floyd County Fair on Wednesday. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Equine show judge Meagan Murray, left, watches a contestant and her horse go through the Trail Class obstacles in the Floyd County Fair horse show Wednesday. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Many of the familiar attractions and events are missing from this year's Floyd County Fair, but the livestock shows are still going on this week to a small audience of mostly family members. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Among the obstacles in the Trail Class at the Floyd County Fair horse show Wednesday are retreiving an envelop from a mailbox, riding over a bridge and trotting through a series of logs. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Matthew Schubert of Rockford backs his horse through a turn as part of the Trail Class in the horse show at the Floyd County Fair on Wednesday. Press photo by Bob Steenson
By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com
Supportive parents, other family and fellow contestants are the primary spectators for the shows this week at the Floyd County Fair.
Entertainment, vendors, food stands and public exhibits are all missing this year as the county fair contends with the COVID-19 situation.
Fair President Amy Staudt said the numbers in the static exhibits were down considerably, with no live judging and therefore no interaction between the contestants and the judges.
Static exhibits for 4-H and FFA members were brought in early Tuesday, judged later, then released to be picked up Wednesday.
The livestock and animal shows are still taking place, with each contestant allowed to bring two other people with them and the events mostly being held in a “show and go” format that isolates animal species to single days without any being kept at the fairgrounds overnight.
Staudt said despite the changes the animal entry numbers had stayed solid.
Entrants in the many of the livestock categories had started working on their projects well before COVID-19 became a problem, and having these shows allows them to complete the process, she said.
Entries that do well at the county fair will still be able to compete at the state fair level, although the Iowa State Fair, like most of its county cousins, will also be closed to the public and will use “show and go” events with livestock not being kept overnight.
Wednesday began the week with the horse show classes.
Equine judge Meagan Murray was judging all the classes, including the trail class.
Murray explained that the trail class uses a series of obstacles that the chooses.
“We want to see what the horse and rider can do as far as if they were out on a trail, could they cross a bridge, could they open a gate with one hand, go over logs, open something similar to a mailbox, back up if they have to — those sort of maneuvers,” she said.
She said she was looking for how riders and the horses work together, taking their time and doing each obstacle correctly.
“Each person, every maneuver is scored, and whoever has the highest score wins,” she said.
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