At the fair grounds Sunday, a young boy sporting a cowboy hat
practiced his roping skills by lassoing his father while his
parents watched the produce auction.
Tres Pinos – At the fair grounds Sunday, a young boy sporting a cowboy hat practiced his roping skills by lassoing his father while his parents watched the produce auction.
The wafting aroma of fried fair food and farm animal manure at Bolado Park over the weekend meant the return of the fair to San Benito County. This year’s fair drew animal and agriculture lovers as well as teenagers just looking for something to do over the weekend.
The junior livestock auction had a lot of support this year, Fair Manager Kelley Ferreira noted. The auction raised $430,000 – up from $350,000 in 2006.
“We have a very supportive community,” he said. “We’re very grateful for that.”
With 20,940 in attendance over the three days, Ferreira said the event could be considered a success.
The fair saw a small decrease in turnout from the previous year – 21,800 people came in 2006 – but Ferreira said he considered the difference “very small” and noted that most fairs had seen a much larger decrease.
“In general, things went fine. The fair was well attended and we met our budget,” Ferreira said. “It was just a good fair.”
Most people in attendance over the weekend did not notice the decrease, either, and were instead preoccupied with the livestock and rides.
Lilianna Garibay, 5, was fascinated with a woman and man who had horse costumes attached to their legs, which Lilianna, wide-eyed, proceeded to pet.
She said her favorite part of the fair were “the ponies” and “the horsies” – both real and fake.
Her older sister, 8-year-old Karina said she liked watching the hypnotist. Even more, she enjoyed the people who had been hypnotized acting silly.
“It was funny when the woman danced,” she said.
The girls’ mother, Hollister resident Maria Garibay, said both she and the children had enjoyed the fair.
“This is our first time here,” she said. “I think it’s very nice, even though it’s not that big.”
Garibay said that she and her children had spent some time watching the Busy Bee Dogs show. The show attracted a crowd, especially of young children who laughed and applauded for the dogs as they performed tricks.
For the older children, the event was less about watching the shows and more about providing something to do with friends.
Melissa Goodwin, 14, said the best thing about the fair was the social part – going to the carnival and hanging out with friends. A freshman at San Benito High School, Goodwin said she typically went to the fair every year.
“There’s nothing else to do in Hollister,” she said.
This year, Goodwin gathered enough courage to go on the “scary ride” – a spinning ride called “Flippin’ Out.”
“I was cracking up and screaming at the same time. It was pretty bomb,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin was accompanied by two of her friends she knew through 4-H Club. Though Goodwin had opted not to enter anything this year, both Lauren Enz-Bowlus, 14, and Miranda Sanchez, 13, had entered sheep in fair.
“I got fourth in Thursday’s auction,” Sanchez said.
