Horsing around at the Butler Farm Show

August 05, 2024 Last Updated: August 06, 2024 02:06 PM Special Sections

Brielle Thomasmeyer and her horse, Tater Tot, compete in a log pull at the Butler Farm Show in Connoquenessing Township on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Participants in the Butler Farm Show’s Horse Log Pulling Contest were not deterred by the intense heat Monday evening, Aug. 5, as the contestants and their horses went through a series of obstacles before a crowd of excited spectators.

The contest started with the pony, miniature horse, and single adult pull competitions and concluded with the adult draft horse team pull.

Those attending included Butler County resident Shannon Zemlak, who moved to Butler County from Amarillo, Texas, in January. “I love it. It’s so clean and the people are so friendly, and I think it’s a very safe place to live,” Zemlak said about Butler County. The horse pull was the first event she attended at the Butler Farm Show.

The object of the competition is to pull a log in between two white line on the course, marked by orange cones. “If you go over the line, that’s where the points come in,” competitor and Chicora resident Christine Geagan said. The goal of the competition, unlike other competitions, is to aim for a score of zero. The more points a contestant gains reflects the amount of inches the log is over the line.

Geagan competed with her son, Cooper Geagan. She has competed in the Butler Farm Show for 25 years.

“Honestly, like, it’s fun to come back and you become part of our farm show family,” Geagan said. “We all ride horses together ... this is a friendly competition.”

Christine and Cooper Geagan and their horse, Lucky, compete in the log pull at the Butler Farm Show in Connoquenessing Township on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Other competitors included Amanda Hartshorn and her horse, Spooky, who won the adult pony, miniature horse, and single adult pull competition.

“It was kinda unexpected,” Hartshorn said about winning the adult single pull contest.

The competition was not limited to adults. The adults and youths took turns competing on Elmer’s Corral, with youth classes including a single pony, miniature and adult horse pull, team horse pull, and team draft horse pull.

“The reason we’re here is because of what happened a few weeks ago,” competitor Mindy Stoops said, referring to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13 at the Butler Farm Show grounds. Stoops is from Misty Lane Farms, a commercial carriage business she runs with her husband. Misty Lane Farms had 17 horses on display at the Butler Farm Show. Stoops said Misty Lane Farms wanted to make sure the farm show had the horse community’s support.

“We love the Butler Farm Show. We go about every year,” Karen Cockroft said. “Well I think it’s these events that make this farm show different.”

Handmade quilts are waiting to be judged in the arts and crafts building at the Butler Farm Show in Connoquenessing Township on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Shaun Mentaberry, a professional bucking horse rider from Texas, takes his turn ona mechanical bull while visiting at the Butler Farm Show in Connoquenessing Township on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Chris and Racer Zedreck and Isaiah Baker race down the Super Slide at the Butler Farm Show in Connoquenessing Township on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Annie Norman, 8, tries to win a carnival prize at the Butler Farm Show in Connoquenessing Township on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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The Moogician performs magic at the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Cailee Bennett, 13, and her cow, Melly, are competing for prizes at the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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The midway opens for the first day of the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Wrigley Garcia and his dad, Denny, walk hand in hand at the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Tom Berger judges the rabbits entered at the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Adalynn Guiher, 9, sheers her sheep Peaches at the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Riders braved the “Double Shock” on the midway at the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Miranda Huffman and her horse Acorn compete in a log pull at the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Natalia Valerie, 5, takes a ride on the merry-go-round at the Butler Farm Show on Monday, Aug. 5. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Eli Douglass, 10, brought his bunny, Gizmo, to the Butler Farm Show this year in hopes of winning a prize. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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You can find many forms of art by local artists on display at the Butler Farm Show. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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Albert Michael has his tractor at the Butler Farm Show, where you can see numerous styles of tractors on display this week. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

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