Issue 1233

July 19, 2023

Photo below: Ava Schneider with her Mother (Katie) and her calf named "Tara", who was born in March. This is Ava’s second year showing and she entered "Tara" in the Dairy Spring Calf show on Thursday. Ava is ten years old, and attends Saint Michael School.

Photo: Easton Roberts washing his heifer named ”Bella”.

Photos: Judging a large Supreme Heifer class at the Franklin County 4-H Fair on the morning of July 18.

Other Photos

One of the final rounds of Monday’s sheep show at 4-H Fair.

Reported by Bynum Henson



Second Generation 4-H

Bailey Cochran, age 9, is a second generation 4-H member and looks forward to the fair every year. She showed pygmy doe goats at the fair on Monday. Bailey received first and second places in her classes. Bailey told this reporter, “They are not getting on the truck” - meaning that they will not be sold after the fair.

Reported by Sara Duffy

Photo provided



Local Talents Featured In The Red Barn

Photo L-R: Rob Lanning and Ken Schuster exhibited maple syrups that they each produced this spring on their properties in Franklin County, Indiana. Making maple syrup is an activity for the whole family, said Schuster and Lanning. Collecting the syrup is usually done in February or March. The trees need nighttime temperatures below freezing and warm days of about 40 degrees to help the sap run freely. Who won the champion purple ribbon? Rob Lanning.

Photo: Linda Rosenberger won grand champion for both her artistic floral arrangement and for her sunflower. She is a dedicated gardener and raises many varieties of annual and perennial flowers. She is standing in the corner of the Red Barn that displays the grand champion entries in all categories. Photo provided.

Photo showing part of the flower and quilt entries in the Red Barn.

The Red Barn is open daily 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm through Friday, July 21, and has flowers, garden produce, photography, woodworking, sewing, knitting, crafts and more handiwork of residents on display. The Red Barn is sponsored by the Franklin County Extension Homemakers.

Reported by Sara Duffy

“I Love 4-H”

All of the Taylor children participate in Franklin County 4-H and proudly wore buttons that said “4-H Grows Here” or “I Love 4-H.”

Photo by Sara Duffy

Mustangers Compete In 4-H Horse Show

The show ring was full and the future looks bright for the Mustanger Horse and Pony Club. They have many active members: 16 mini members (kindergarten to grade 2) plus 37 members (grades 3 through 12). The club sponsored horse shows on both Saturday and Sunday as part of the 2023 Franklin County 4-H Fair.

To stay ahead of rain in the forecast, the club rearranged the Saturday schedule and held the showmanship classes at 8 am. The grand champion showman from the Mustangers will compete in Showman of Showmen at the 4-H fair on Thursday, July 20, at 7:00 pm against showmanship winners from six other animal species.

Madison Lake, won grand champion showman with her 23-year old quarter horse gelding named Buddy. Madison has a long history with Buddy. Fourteen years ago she started taking lessons on Buddy and eventually she purchased him. Madison is a 2023 graduate of Franklin County High School and she will attend Indiana University in Bloomington in the fall. Madison competed for fair queen and was selected as Miss Congeniality.

Photo below: Nora Wingate won Intermediate Showmanship (grades 6-8) with her horse Holly. Not pictured: Lainey Henson won Beginner Showmanship with her horse Boomer. Lainey is in the 5th grade at Mt. Carmel School.

Photo: L-R Karlie Selm with her Gypsy Vanner breed of horse and Kaley Selm with her miniature horse named Belle.

Photo: L-R Everett Biltz and Ethan Sullivan (Mustanger Club President).

Club leaders are Regan Abernathy, Kim Arnold, Diana Getz, Karen Niedenthal, Amelia Robben, Tammy Robben, Katie Schuman and Jenny Wilz. On Wednesday, July 19, at 6:00 pm at the 4-H fairgrounds, the Mustanger Club will hold its horse and rider Versatility Competition, which the public can attend.

Reported by Sara Duffy

10-Year 4-H Members

Photo and list from Franklin County 4-H

Click to preview the full Franklin County 4-H Fair Schedule of Events on Facebook and make your plans to attend.

Vote for the Cutest Pet

The Franklin County Humane Society invites you, your friends, families and neighbors to Vote for the Cutest Pet in Franklin County. Our tent is set up at the 4-H Fair. We have fabulous raffle items, and awesome fair freebies while they last. We have moved this year from our usual spot to the row directly down from buildings 2 & 3. ALL proceeds benefit our non-profit's mission of helping animals in our community.

From Franklin County Humane Society



State Road 1 Corridor Plan -

Public Open House - July 19

Around the County

Soccer Registration Closing on July 22

Attention parents! It's time to register your player(s) for the Fall Soccer season! We opened up registration early this year so we would have more time to organize teams and assign coaches. Be sure to register by July 22 so we can get the “Soccer Ball” rolling! Go to www.fcjsl.com. Use your parent account from last year. If you are new, create a new account. Questions: Contact Ken Schuster [email protected] or Kathy O'Bryan [email protected].

Submitted by Kathy O’Bryan

Whitewater Canal Guided Tour - July 22

Whitewater Canal State Historic Site 2:00 -2:30 pm. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic Whitewater Canal and discover the ways canals were instrumental to early America in transporting people and goods. Price: $7/adult, $5/youth (ages 3-17), $2/member.

From Whitewater Canal State Historic Site

19073 Main Street, Metamora, IN 47030

World Travel Presentation - July 27

Gary Wintz will give his annual, world travel presentation at 6:30-7:50pm on Thursday, July 27, at the Batesville Memorial Public Library. It is free. Gary was born and raised in the area and has traveled to over 200 countries. He is a tour leader to many foreign countries. His goal always is to bring people together to celebrate our unity as Hoosiers and humans - locally and globally.

Submitted by Gary Wintz

Acoustic Final Friday - July 28

Your chance to show us what you can do. Or just come and enjoy all the talent that comes out. Sign up begins at 6 pm, music begins at 6:30. Food from the Metamora Lions Club. Both this, and the Grist Mill Jams on the first Sunday of the month are activities of the Metamora Songfarmers affiliate of Woodsongs.

Submitted by Metamora Performing Arts

Brookville Library Program

Free Shakespeare Play - August 24

A free, exciting performance of Shakespeare’s “A Comedy of Errors” on August 24, 2023 under a tent at Third Place’s outdoor pit, 734 Main Street, Brookville, Indiana. Bring your own chair or sit at picnic tables. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

From Franklin County Arts Council

Southeast Indiana Health Center - Free Clinic

We provide No-Cost, primary care services to residents of Franklin or Ripley County, Indiana on Tuesdays at our permanent location in Batesville and on Thursdays in our mobile clinic. No appointment needed. Call 812-932-4515 for times and locations.

1st Thursday of the month Brookville

2nd Thursday Versailles

3rd Thursday Laurel

4th Thursday Milan

Submitted by Bev Metze

Farmer’s Market on Fridays

The original Brookville Farmer's Market will be open on Fridays at 3:30 pm and go until 6:30 pm or until we run out. We will be at our same location at the south end of Main Street in front of the Brookville Waterworks and across from Grooming Girls Pet Salon. Hope to see you there!

Submitted by Elaine Dorrel

The Franklin County Observer is a free news service. At the Observer, we focus our coverage on events and meetings in Franklin County.

Our volunteer staff writers are all Franklin County residents who are committed to factual, impartial news reporting.

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