All summer long, the counties in the area take turns holding their fairs. At these fairs, 4-H and FFA youth show off livestock and non-livestock projects with hopes of taking top honors and advancing to a tougher competition. Top projects earn a trip to Des Moines to the Iowa State Fair.
    In our neck of the woods, there is another fair which gives exhibitors another chance at the state fair feel, the Clay County Fair. Touted The Worlds Largest County Fair on their website, the Clay County Fair acknowledges top projects which weren't able to advance to the state fair for reasons such as quota or the age of the exhibitor. The status at this fair in Spencer gives the exhibitors a chance for higher level competition not too far from home. Some of the projects are also entered in open class, not as projects which had advanced from a county fair.
    Mya Boyle, daughter of Mindy and Duane Boyle of Danbury was one of those exhibitors. With the Woodbury County Fair and the Iowa State Fair in the rear view mirror, Mya took her barrow named Harry to Spencer for that final taste of fair competition in the open class show. This pig which had gone to the Woodbury County Fair and placed somewhere in the middle due to his light weight back in late July, was named the grand champion market barrow at the Clay County Fair.
    "We decided to take him because he would have finally been about the perfect weight," Mya explained.
    The win put them in the competition for the grand champion market hog which encompassed all swine in the market division. Mya was given that banner, too. They still weren't done, though.
    During the swine show at the Clay County Fair, along with different divisions for the different kinds of swine, there are also different divisions for those who live in Clay County and those who are outside the county. Mya had taken the top honors within the non-Clay County exhibitors. She and Harry had one more hurdle to clear, competition with the champions from Clay County. The girl and her pig took to the arena to face the home-county winners. In the end, Mya was named the overall supreme grand champion market hog exhibitor.
    "I was shocked because I didn't expect to do so well since he didn't place super well at county," stated Mya.
    Incidentally, another Danbury student had also done well at the Clay County Swine Show. JT Fitzpatrick, son of Darlene and Matt Fitzpatrick exhibited the reserve champion gilt. Had he received the champion honor, he and Mya were have shared the arena for the championship. So close!
    Congratulations for a job well done.

    The classes at Danbury Catholic School took a break from the classroom on a gorgeous afternoon to walk to the pumpkin garden belonging to Janelle and Mark Clausen. Each student chose a pumpkin of their own. The classes will use the pumpkins for different subjects such as comparisons, weights and measurements.

    St Therese Danbury Rosary Society is selling Dutch Apple Pies and Pie Crust. We are only making 750 pies, so please call early. Pies will be $14.00 each and the crusts are 2 to a package for $6.00.
    The pies will be made and available to pick up on Saturday, October 12th.
    Call the Church Rectory at 712-883-2406 or Carol Weber at 712-880-5000. The deadline is October 7th. Only 750 pies will be made.

    Everyone is invited to join the Pro-Life Chain on Sunday, October 6th from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the Mapleton 4-way stop.
    This event is a time of prayer and a peaceful stand to show respect for all life, at all age levels. Bring your own sign if you like, or we will have signs available. Fellowship will follow.
    For questions, please contact Sharyl at 880-7749.

    Deb Kuhlmann shared this picture of Jason and Lee Kuhlmann cleaning out one of their bean fields. Deb added that they are having good yields.
    Thanks, Deb!