Pasco County fair kicks off with parade

Raising a chicken brings with it a few hazards, as 11-year-old Ryan Stoner can attest.

"When you try holding it, it will peck you a lot and scratch you a lot," said Ryan, who raised his chicken as a 4-H project for the Pasco County Fair.

The situation with the chicken, a brown leghorn named Sherry, is getting better – at least somewhat.

"She's a little more tame, but she tries to get away still," Ryan said as Sherry, as if on cue, nearly slipped free from his hold.

Ryan, a Stewart Middle School student, was one of several youngsters showing chickens, rabbits, hogs and other animals at the 65th annual Pasco County Fair, which opened Monday with a parade that wound its way through Dade City.

In addition to the assortment of animals, the fair features carnival rides, a grizzly bear show, racing pigs, art exhibits and other entertainment.

Fairgoers also can munch on corn on the cob, pizza, caramel apple sundaes, pot roast sandwiches, funnel cakes and sirloin tip dinners.

Opening day included the annual Celebrity Milk-Off, in which politicians, business leaders and members of the media compete in a cow-milking contest.

Some contestants had a cow-milking background. Others were novices.

Those in the contest this year included county commissioners Ted Schrader, Jack Mariano and Henry Wilson Jr., Sheriff Chris Nocco, Clerk of Courts Paula O'Neil and Kurt Browning, the former Florida secretary of state who is now a candidate for school superintendent.

Besting all of them, though, was John Negley of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, who milked 28 ounces in the final round.

Back over at the chicken-and-rabbit barn, Emily Kirk, 8, a second-grader at West Zephyrhills Elementary School, was discussing her chicken, Onyx, with interested fairgoers.

Onyx is an old English bantam and also a pullet, which means she is a hen younger than 1.

Emily, who also is in 4-H, started her chicken-raising project back when Onyx was still inside the egg. She hatched about 10 months ago.

Raising a healthy chicken is rewarding, Emily said.

"It makes you feel really good about yourself," she said.

The fair continues through Sunday at the fairgrounds on State Road 52.