DETERMINATION — Four-year-old Kaylee James of Follansbee exerted much energy in the pedal tractor pull held during the Brooke County Fair. She was one of many young contestants in the event, which was launched by 6-year-old Grady Farris of Family Roots Farm with help from his family and others. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — For the many who turned out for the Brooke County Fair this weekend at Brooke Hills Park, there was much to see and do and many opportunities to encounter and learn about animals.

Four local farms came together to display an alpaca, a goose, pigs, goats, chickens and ducks in the fairground’s Ag Area and to offer young attendees a glimpse of farm life through various activities.

They included a children’s tractor pedal pull launched by Grady Farris, son of Charlie and Britney Farris, who operate Family Roots Farm with Britney’s parents, Fred and Cathy Hervey.

Six-year-old Grady was attending the Ohio County Fair when he observed its tractor pedal pull, a contest in which children pedal a toy tractor hitched to a sled as far as they can go.

The event had been held in past Brooke County Fairs but not in recent years, so Grady raised more than $1,400 through the sale of lollipops and other treats for toy tractors and materials needed to build the more than 30-foot-long track.

A WINNING COMBINATION — Children in Melissa Border’s class at Brooke Intermediate South emerged the winners in the Brooke County Fair’s tug of war competition between third- and fourth-graders at the county’s two intermediate schools. The team included, from left, Hunter Phillips, Jack Barlow, Roselyn Sparks, Taylor Durbin, coach LuAnn DiRemigio, Katherine Farris, Border and Jameson Stevens. -- Warren Scott

He also assisted Fred and his uncle, David Hubbard, in building it, while his 4-year-old sister, Mylah painted it.

Grady said he worked with his grandfather and uncle after school and on weekends through several months and after seeing the track completed, said, “I feel really good.”

“It was a family project we all worked on at some point,” said Cathy, who noted the sled was built by Russ Hervey — in memory of his grandfather, Bob Quattrocchi — to resemble a manure spreader used by farmers to fertilize their acreage.

The contest was one of several ways the farmers attempted to expose fairgoers to farm life.

Tia Graham of Graham Acres also invited youth to try showing one of the farm animals as is done at fairs with many farm-based competitions.

ANIMALS AND MORE — Jim Kamerer of Wild World of Animals of Eighty Four, Pa. shared information about a peregrine falcon and several other creatures Saturday during the Brooke County Fair. Through his presentation and the Ag Area presented by four local farms, fairgoers had an opportunity to encounter and learn about a variety of animals. -- Warren Scott

There also was a rooster calling contest in which youth were encouraged to do their best imitation of the barnyard fowl, including flapping their “wings” and scratching their feet on the ground.

Bonus points were offered to those who elicited a vocal response from rooters on the premises.

Sharing some details about roosters, Graham noted they may crow at any time, not only morning; may live five to 10 years and are a protective mate, ensuring the hens eat before they do.

The Ag Area included the West Virginia Conservation Agency’s Soil Tunnel Trailer.

From wall to ceiling, the box trailer offered visitors a look at the many living things, as well as pollutants, that affect the quality of soil and water, noted Victoria White, administrator for the Northern Panhandle Resource and Conservation District.

The regional agency arranged for the trailer’s visit as well as sponsoring one of the pedal tractors.

The Ag Area was supported by Hood’s Pharmacy, Traubert’s Pharmacy, Wheeling-Nippon Steel and Tractor Supply Co., the latter lending fencing for its display areas.

Among many guests at the fair was Jim Kamerer of Wild World of Animals of Eighty Four, Pa., who brought several exotic creatures, including a two-toed sloth, three-banded armadillo, New Zealand tortoise and a binturong.

Kamerer noted the binturong is better known as a bearcat because its face is similar to a bear’s and it purrs like a cat, though it’s not related to either animal. He added it differs from either in having a long tail it uses to clutch onto tree limbs.

Kamerer also brought a legless lizard, which resembles a snake but has eyelids and ears, which snakes lack, and a tail it can regenerate if it’s lost.

His menagerie also included a peregrine falcon which, when in flight, is the fastest creature on earth, clocking at 230 miles per hour, and also has a couple of the sharpest eyes on the planet, able to see things a mile away, he said.

From the monarch butterflies found in the tent of local butterfly breeder Heather Tokas to the horses and bulls of the Lucky E Rodeo appearing on Sunday, there were many other creatures for fairgoers to see.

There also were amusement rides, demonstrations by re-enactors and other historical groups and many contests.

A highlight of each year’s fair is the tug of war tournament between third- and fourth-graders from Brooke County’s intermediate schools.

Four teams from Brooke Intermediate North (to be renamed Jefferson Intermediate next year) and Brooke Intermediate South (to become Franklin Intermediate at the same time) faced each other in a series of hard-fought rounds.

Emerging the winner were pupils in Melissa Border’s class at Brooke Intermediate South. Coached by LuAnn DiRemigio, the team included Hunter Phillips, Jack Barlow, Roselyn Sparks, Taylor Durbin, Katherine Farris and Jameson Stevens.

A second tug of war competition involving second graders from Brooke Primary North and Brooke Primary South was won by pupils in Kelly Horvath’s class. Coached by Faith Magnone, they were: Keegan Thomas, Dominic Minor, Kason Cox, Caroline Campbell, Camdyn McClain, Shalyn Showalter and Landry Gilchrist.