There’s truth to the saying “Once a Cavalier, Always a Cavalier”.
Pat Beard was hired as Boys Basketball Head Coach Monday morning at a special meeting of the Chillicothe City School Board, filling the vacancy left when Eric Huffer stepped down July 1st.
Beard’s walked the sidelines of The Hatt before, first as the Girls Head Basketball Coach, then as an assistant for Huffer until departing for his alma mater Zane Trace last season.
Beard told Litter Media Monday there had been inquiries if he was interested in the vacancy. “Up until a few weeks ago, I kept telling people ‘No, I was in a good spot at ZT’. The kids were very easy to coach and there was a connection.” He followed Gary Kellough back home where he played for him as a Pioneer. It was expected Beard was being groomed to replace Coach K.
“As time went by, all the conversations that I was having regarding the job… the more I began to really entertain the thought (of returning to Chillicothe.”
Over the last 16 years, Beard has been intertwined with Cavalier Athletics. He was part of Coach Kellough’s staff during the Cavs big tourney runs after 2005 and on to winning the D2 state championship in 2008. His son Trey had been in the Little Cavs programs and played four years at the varsity level before graduation in 2020.
Beard always dreamed of being a boys head coach, but the opportunity to coach the Lady Cavs came open first and he spent four seasons at the helm. He took Chillicothe to the D2 Regional in 2016 before becoming an assistant to Huffer in the boys program. “Coaching the girls allowed me to grow as a person and as a coach. It was the right thing to do and awe were able to have great success in those four years”
Now, the chore is implementing his system in a short window. The Cavs open the 2021-22 campaign in late November at Fairfield Union and the home opener is December 3rd in a Frontier Athletic Conference battle with McClain.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what the coaching staff can get out of these kids” said Beard. “We have a bunch of hard working kids that I feel can put a pretty good product on the floor this year.”
Pat Beard gets a kiss from his wife Robin after his Lady Cavs won a D2 District Championship in 2016. Photo from the Dan Ramey Cavalier ArchivesCoach Pat Beard and his Lady Cavs after winning the D2 District Championship in 2016. Photo from the Dan Ramey Cavalier Archives
(CHILLICOTHE) – The best defense against the spread of COVID-19 in our communities is vaccination. With the return of a full slate of Ross County Fair activities this week and the accompanying crowds following a one-year hiatus in 2020 because of the virus, having convenient access to that defense is important.
Toward that end, Adena Health System and the Ross County Health District are partnering to make free vaccinations available to fairgoers. Adena is administrating the one dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for those 18 and older from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday (August 9), Wednesday (August 11) and Friday (August 13), at a booth in the northwest corner of the Multipurpose Building at the Ross County Fairgrounds. For parents wishing to have their children ages 12 to 17 vaccinated, the Ross County Health District will be administrating the Pfizer vaccine to that age range from 12 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday (August 10) and Thursday (August 12).
With the recent surge of the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreading across the country, Adena and the Ross County Health District want to make sure getting the vaccine is as convenient as possible – part of the important role each organization plays in caring for the health of our communities. The trio of available COVID-19 vaccines have proven effective against the virus, including the Delta variant, in reducing serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths.
So while you’re enjoying the fair food, entertainment and 4-H competition at the 2021 Ross County Fair, we encourage you to take a few minutes to stop by the Multipurpose Building and take that key step in protecting your health that will last long after the final midway ride has been taken. Also remember to wash your hands frequently and maintain social distancing as much as possible as you enjoy the week.
(KINNIKINNICK) – The Zane Trace FFA was recently honored as one of ten high school chapters in the nation to earn the distinction of being named a Model of Excellence chapter. The 2021 National FFA Model of Excellence chapters were selected from over 550 applications submitted by the top ranking FFA chapters across all 50 states. The top ten chapters were chosen based on fifteen activities conducted by their members throughout the year that focused on three goals: growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture.
To earn this recognition the Zane Trace FFA conducted elementary lessons in agriculture for students in grades K-4, immersed high school students with hands on experiences in meat science, maple syrup processing and poultry production and established a partnership with a local food pantry to provide produce and chicken for hungry families. They also harvested fresh vegetables for the Zane Trace cafeteria from their community garden, provided leadership opportunities for members and encouraged them to build their SAE programs through school-based opportunities.
The honor of being named a National Model of Excellence Chapter is one that is shared by the entire Zane Trace community. Many Zane Trace staff members, adult volunteers, parents and FFA alumni helped throughout the year to make our program of activities possible. This is the first time a chapter from the Ross County area has earned this level of recognition. Members from Zane Trace will now prepare for their national level interviews with judges to compete for the honor of being named the overall top chapter. The top ten chapters will be recognized and the overall winner named on Thursday, October 28th during the 94th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Ross County Fair is in full swing, with the first official full day concluding with the selection of the 2021 Junior Fair Queen and King Court.
Gretchen Search is this year’s Queen, with attendants being: 1st- Meredith Robinson 2nd- Stella Jones 3rd- Brooklyn Rittinger 4th- Ruth Beery
The King is Cannon Stoneburner, with his attendants being: 1st- Gabe Lynch 2nd- Carter Hill
A familiar fixture to the Ross County Fair Queen and King Contest over the last 40 years is Todd Holdren, who announced this was his final year to serve as the emcee.
See our interviews with Gretchen Search, Cannon Stoneburner and Todd Holdren below…
The “Friends of 4-H” were also honored during the contest, with the 2020 winner also being announced due to last year’s COVID restrictions cutting out some of the honors.
The 2020 Friend of 4-H is Adena Health System, while the 2021 honor went to the “late” Phil Hurtt, who served for many years with Ross County 4-H. Hurtt passed away several weeks ago. He was also honored with the rarely awarded Junior Friend of 4-H.
COLUMBUS – During this year’s modified Ohio State Fair, generous agriculture advocates supported Ohio’s youth at the 52nd Sale of Champions livestock auction in the Ag-Pro Companies Taft Coliseum. The 2021 event set several records, including the highest overall total, highest amount raised for the Youth Reserve Program, and new records for the Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow, Reserve Grand Champion Market Chickens, Grand Champion Market Turkey, and Grand Champion Swiss Cheese.
“These compassionate buyers support the individual exhibitors, as well as thousands of youth participating in each year’s Fair,” explained Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler. “When they participate in the Sale of Champions, they also help fund the Youth Reserve Program, making a huge impact on all young exhibitors.”
Established in 1995, the Youth Reserve Program was developed to reward junior exhibitors who participate in the Ohio State Fair. Funds for the program come from the dollars received over a cap that is placed on the amount an exhibitor can receive from the Sale of Champions. The funds from the program are distributed among carcass contests, scholarships, outstanding market exhibitor program, outstanding breeding exhibitor program, showmanship, skillathons, 4-H, and FFA.
Today, the livestock auction raised $394,500, including $306,000 for the Youth Reserve Program. Since its inception, the Youth Reserve Program has awarded more than $3.5 million to approximately 40,000 youth exhibitors.
While these Junior Fair exhibitors take great pride in raising a quality animal, the ultimate goal each year is to be awarded a grand champion ribbon. Grand or reserve champion is an immense honor for the exhibitor; and with the Youth Reserve Program and generous buyers, it is rewarding for the entire Junior Fair program. This year’s sale broke four records: reserve grand champion market beef, reserve grand champion market barrow, reserve grand champion market lamb and grand champion market turkey.
The 2021 Sale of Champions results are as follows: Grand Champion Market Steer Exhibited by: Carson Shafer, Preble County Purchased by: Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family Price: $71,000 Cap: $22,000
Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer Exhibited by: Delaney Jones, Allen County Purchased by: Steve R. Rauch, Inc. Price: $66,000 Cap: $11,000
Grand Champion Market Barrow Exhibited by: Aiden Knecht, Fayette County Purchased by: Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family Price: $55,000 Cap: $10,000
*Reserve Grand Champion Market Barrow Exhibited by: Cade Peterson, Ottawa County Purchased by: Bob Evans Farms, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, The Kroger Company Price: $52,000 Cap: $7,000
Grand Champion Market Chickens Exhibited by: Zane Ortman, Perry County Purchased by: Gerber Poultry, The Kroger Company Price: $22,000 Cap: $6,000
*Reserve Champion Market Chickens Exhibited by: Abecka Ruggles, Huron County Purchased by: Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family Price: $21,500 Cap: $4,000 Grand Champion Market Lamb Exhibited by: Bailee Amstutz, Union County Purchased by: Mark and Megan Kvamme and Family Price: $23,000 Cap: $10,000
Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb Exhibited by: Kaitlyn Zeedyk, Defiance County Purchased by: Steve R. Rauch, Inc. Price: $15,000 Cap: $7,000
Grand Champion Market Goat Exhibited by: Paige Pence, Clark County Purchased by: The Kroger Company Price: $16,000 Cap: $5,000
*Grand Champion Market Turkey Exhibited by: Johnathan Woodward, Coshocton County Purchased by: Cooper Farms, Event Marketing Strategies, OKI Inc., Tim and Glenda Huffman, Concessions by Cox Price: $20,000 Cap: $3,000
*Grand Champion Swiss Cheese, produced by Pearl Valley Cheese, representing the seven dairy champions and supreme dairy showmen Exhibited by: Grand Champion Ayshire: Logan Topp, Auglaize County Grand Champion Brown Swiss: Madicyn Rupp, Wayne County Grand Champion Guernsey: Aubree Topp, Shelby County Grand Champion Holstein: Kayla Cring, Huron County Grand Champion Jersey: Blake Greiwe, Shelby County Grand Champion Milking Shorthorn: Aubree Topp, Shelby County Grand Champion Red and White: Lily Elsass, Auglaize County Supreme Showman, Week 1 – Exhibited by: Tim Gunkleman, Wayne County Supreme Showman, Week 2 – Exhibited by: Madelyn Topp, Auglaize County Purchased by: AG Boogher and Son, S&S Volvo, Turn-er Green LLC Price: $33,000 Cap: $3,500
2021 total sale: $394,500 2021 amount earned for Youth Reserve Program: $306,000
*Denotes new record
The Ohio Expo Center is a year-round, multi-purpose convention and meeting facility. The 2022 Ohio State Fair will be held July 27 – August 7, 2022
