Columbiana County 2025 4-H queen still making impact on this year’s fair
Allison Irwin, the 2025 Junior Fair and 4-H Queen for Columbiana County, gives her pygmy goat Gus a trim before the pygmy goat show Tuesday at the Columbiana County Fair. Irwin was instrumental in organizing the first All In Livestock Show, set for 6 p.m. Saturday in the Coliseum at the fair in Lisbon, along with the Showman’s Closet in the Junior Fair Building. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
This is the Showman’s Closet, presented by the Columbiana County Junior Fair Board, to provide show clothing and other necessities to exhibitors who may have misplaced or outgrown their show clothes. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Allison Irwin, the 2025 Junior Fair and 4-H Queen for Columbiana County, gives her pygmy goat Gus a trim before the pygmy goat show Tuesday at the Columbiana County Fair. Irwin was instrumental in organizing the first All In Livestock Show, set for 6 p.m. Saturday in the Coliseum at the fair in Lisbon, along with the Showman’s Closet in the Junior Fair Building. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
This is the Showman’s Closet, presented by the Columbiana County Junior Fair Board, to provide show clothing and other necessities to exhibitors who may have misplaced or outgrown their show clothes. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
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LISBON -- A pair of projects started by 2025 4-H Queen Allison Irwin are part of this year's Columbiana County Fair, with the All In Livestock Show at 6 p.m. Saturday, and the Showman's Closet being raided regularly in the Junior Fair building.
Irwin said 13 participants have signed up for the All In Livestock Show, an inclusive event featuring children with developmental disabilities showing animals and paired with youth mentors.
The show will take place in the Coliseum at the fairgrounds in Lisbon and Irwin said there are 20 mentors taking part.
"The All In Livestock Show provides individuals with developmental disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of showing livestock in a supportive and encouraging environment," a poster promoting the event said.
Irwin said there was a meet and greet with the kids and the mentors two weeks ago to figure out who wanted to partner up and what kind of animal they wanted to show.
While attending a Junior Fair Board workshop in January, she heard about similar inclusive shows.
"I figured out this would be something good to bring to Columbiana County. A lot of people don't have the same opportunities. I think it's a really good starting point," she said.
Another project was the Showman's Closet, along with the rest of the Junior Fair Board. It's basically a booth stocked with shirts, pants, belts, boots, pins and other items needed to look good during a show when competing.
Things can happen, such as a belt breaking, outgrowing an outfit or spilling something on your shirt.
"When you look good, you feel good and have more confidence in the show ring," Irwin said.
The closet is set up in the Junior Fair Building and she noticed some items are missing, filling a need for someone.
"I'm really happy people are using it," she said.
All the clothes and items were donated.
The fair continues through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Lisbon.
Fair Board President John Wolf said the weather on Wednesday kept the crowd from coming in, with attendance down quite a bit from last year on Wednesday, but overall, he said attendance is up from last year's fair.
When asked about the cancellation of the bull riding show Wednesday night and the fact that there will be no refunds of the $5 tickets, he said the tickets are printed up as non-refundable, with a non-refundable policy. He also said the show can't be rescheduled because the provider has a tight schedule.
"We regret having to cancel it, but redid it for the safety of the participants and the animals," Wolf said.
They also canceled the Derby Pull scheduled for Thursday morning due to conditions of the track.
He said it all depends on the weather. The weather Thursday was good, giving the fairgrounds a chance to dry out.
Wolf said he's looking forward to a great weekend.