Attendees of the Big Butler Fair take a ride on the swings during the first day of the fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
FRANKLIN TWP — A summertime tradition of Butler County for more than a century and a half, the 168th annual Big Butler Fair opened its gates on Friday morning, June 28.
Hundreds of attendees piled into the fairgrounds to get their first taste of fair food, entertainment and animals.
Events coming later in the week include the much-anticipated demolition derby and Fourth of July fireworks display. Yet the first day of the fair did have its “fair” share of entertainment — such as comedy hypnotist Brad Matchett, the “Wolves of the World” traveling wolf exhibit and a woodcarving art exhibit courtesy of Benjamin Rannels.
“I always had a passion for carving and art,” said Rannels, who is based out of Glasgow, Pa. “So I was like, ‘Hey, why not make a living at it?’ So I do what I love to do.”
Rannels will demonstrate at the fair all week long, and his creations will be put up for auction on Friday at the fairgrounds.
The centerpiece of the first day’s schedule was a program of truck and tractor pulling at the track, organized by the Western PA Tractor and Truck Pullers. The Pullers will return to the fair with three more showcases on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but the first day was reserved for four classes of vehicle. These were regular pickup trucks, mini-modified trucks, street diesels and street semi-trucks.
“The mini-modified trucks ... are limited to a 360-cubic inch engine,” said Brad Nogee, president of the WPTTP who was serving as the event’s announcer. “Street diesels are trucks like you would typically see out on the road day-to-day, but they're just diesel instead of gas. And street semis would be your semi-trucks you see out on the road every day.”
Truck and tractor pulls always draw a crowd in Butler County, and the one Friday night was no exception, as fairgoers piled into the grandstands. One of them was Regina Connors, who attends these events whenever she gets the chance.
“I like this kind of stuff,” she said. “(My husband is) a truck driver. I like to watch how they do it.”
World events have cast a slight shadow over this year’s Big Butler Fair.
Poultry judging has been canceled due to the threat of highly pathologic avian influenza
Most animal exhibits — such as the petting zoos, most animal judging and the rabbit hopping contest — will go on as before.
However, Butler Fair Queen Morgan Teets said it shouldn’t put much of a damper on the fair as a whole.
“They have events for a reason and I think they'll be fun,” Teets said. “Each year we strive to do our best, so I think as everyone comes together as a community, it'll be a great fair.”
Wyatt Kurka, 7, of McKeesport, rides in the teacups during the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Attendees of the Big Butler Fair take a ride on the swings during the first day of the fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Apollo Accettulla, 3, and dad Dan Accettulla, of Monroeville, feed a camel at a petting zoo during the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Michael Swick and Wesley Swick, 2, of Gibsonia, take a ride on the merry-go-round during the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Wyatt Kurka, 7, of McKeesport, rides in the tea cups during the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Liam Davidson, 7, and Reggie Davidson, of West Liberty, reach out for each other on the swing ride at the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Damian Mcaninch and his daughter, Juniper Mcaninch, 3, of Rochester, ride elephants during the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Damian Mcaninch and his daughter, Juniper Mcaninch, 3, of Rochester, ride elephants during the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
The first day of the Big Butler Fair kicked off at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Joshua Smith and his daughter Aspen Smith, 3, of Butler, go down the fun slide during the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Reggie Davidson, of West Liberty, takes a ride on the swings during the first day of the Big Butler Fair at the Butler Fairgrounds in Franklin Township on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
