Cub Scout Bake Off

It was that time of year again where I turn my clean kitchen over to Gary and Garrett for the Cub Scout Father-Son Bake Off. This year Garrett has been asking since Christmas to learn to make a Cheesecake. So he and I made a plain cheesecake. It turned out well, but it wasn't thick enough for him and he wanted to add chocolate. Well he found a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cheesecake! 

As usual, they had a practice night where they practiced the recipe and we got to sample it and make suggestions. A debate as to if mini chocolate chips were needed or not occurred as the regular sized ones seemed too big. It finally was agreed that it needed the mini chocolate chips.

So Friday night Gary and Garrett made their Chocolate Chip Cheesecake- it looked awesome!! Saturday came and it was time to turn it in. There were 17 entries this year, but they were all against each other- no categories. Even though Garrett and Gary did not win this year- Garrett is happy to know how to make a good cheesecake and we were lucky enough to enjoy it!

The first place winner with the "Mile High Apple Pie" is in the center

Venango County Fair Grounds Barns Continued

On March 28, Robert earned his Life Practical for Boy Scouts by organizing a group of Boy Scouts from 2 local Troops to go to the Fairgrounds and work at taking down the hog pens and the hog barn. The morning started off pretty cold and there was snow in the air (again), but this didn't stop the boys as they went through and removed waterers.  Then out came the hammers and sledge hammers and tools- the demolition began. The boys worked all morning until noon at which time they had just about all the pens torn out & wire pieces removed from the cement. Over lunch the fairboard members took down the remaining roof trusses and when the Boys Scouts returned from lunch they were able to start feeding the fire with the hog pens. They also started taking down the walls. It was a very busy and productive day.

 

The next day the Fair Board and volunteers started on removing the Bean Barn and the progress there in on afternoon with just a few volunteers was a great accomplishment!

 

 

 

It won't be long until I get to start posting building pictures!!!

Venango County Fairgrounds winter disaster

The winter was long, hard and clod, not t mention all the snow that came our way. But the snow was dry and powdery until it decided to warm up a little and then rain. The snow acted like a sponge and soaked up the rain making the snow heavier and causing a lot of damage. Towards the beginning of March we received a phone call asking for help shoveling off the buildings at the fairgrounds. So everyone got dressed warm, grabbed their shovels and off we went. This was just the beginning of what is looking like a LOT of time at the fairgrounds between now and August1, 2015!

When we got there we found out that the oldest barn on the grounds had collapsed on top of some items that was stored in the barn. But we spent the evening shoveling the buildings off - ok I didn't the boys did.

The rest of the week I went up and took pictures of them pulling items from the collapsed barn and watched the clean-up begin. You might say it was just a building or just a barn, but lots of people have great memories from that barn. I personally remember tying my first calf to the corner post so that she could get clipped before the show. I remember hanging out with my friends during the fair and playing in the rain- after saving their farm photo from the rain that was blowing through the barn. Sitting and just watching people go by, explaining to fair visitiors what we were doing or showing family how we had done at the show.

Add caption

Anyhow it was a bitter sweet good-bye to a barn as the guys worked at burning the remains. Then the news can that the insurance company determined that the hog barn was also unsafe and needed to come down. This one is near and dear to Gary's heart as he put a lot of blood sweat and tears into that barn and now he is helping to tear it down.

And at the board meeting the other night they decided to tear down the Bean Barn (the other dairy barn) because then they could start from scratch and begin with drainage and build some bigger buildings that would all work together. The plan sounds like it will provide a wonderful home for Venango County's 4-Her's and open exhibitors for years, the catch will be getting everything accomplished before August 1, 2015- opening day of this year's fair. So here is to a VERY busy Sumer 2015!