Purple and yellow ribbons are spread throughout the cattle barn at this year’s fair in honor of a longtime 4-H’er killed in an accident earlier this year.
One stall is painted in those same colors, and inside are the cows that Moyra McCain would have shown this year.
To honor her memory at the Johnson County 4-H and Agriculture Fair this year, McCain’s family asked her dance teacher, Belinda Burgett, and her family to take in and raise three of McCain’s cows to benefit a scholarship fund set up by McCain’s family in her honor.
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“Her parents want to give back to what Moyra was interested in, and that was 4-H animals and also dance,” Burgett said.
McCain, a Franklin Community High School student who died after sustaining serious injuries in an accident near County Road 450W and County Road 150N on Feb. 13, was active in 4-H throughout her life, and she was known for her love of animals and dance.
The Trafalgar family knew McCain on both sides of her interests. She was one of Burgett’s teaching assistants at their dance studio, Style Dance Academy, and their families also got close through 4-H, Burgett said.
“We showed dairy cattle, and you just become close in the barns,” she said.
The family added the three cows to their own 13 cows they brought to the fair. They will show two of McCain’s cows and auction one for donations that will go into McCain’s scholarship fund.
To honor McCain’s memory and her passions, the Burgett family painted their gates purple, yellow and orange at the fair. Purple and yellow are the colors of McCain’s dance studio, and orange is her family’s show color.
Most families paint just their own area with their show colors, but this year, purple and yellow ribbons are also spread throughout the cattle barn, Burgett said.
“It keeps her in the barn with us,” she said.
The Burgett family is paying for all the costs of raising the cattle. All the money made off all three cows will be put directly into McCain’s scholarship fund, Burgett said.
“When you’re raising cattle, it’s expensive. Every bit of anything having to do with money has been completely put into the fund,” Burgett said. “Nobody is making anything off of this.”
Later this week, the Burgett family will auction off one of McCain’s three cows. The auction will run differently than traditional auctions, Burgett said.
Instead of placing bids just during the auction on Friday, McCain’s cow will have a collective bid where anyone can make donations from today until Friday at 11 a.m. People at the live auction can then add on to the collected bid amount.
“It’s also for the people that don’t come to the sale or aren’t able to make it; they’re still able to donate directly to this fund,” she said.
This fund is a way to give back to the 4-H community, where McCain gave a lot of her time. Kendal Zanzalari, winner of the people’s choice award at the 2018 Miss Johnson County Fair Queen Contest, donated the money she won to McCain’s fund.
“I know that everybody wants to keep Moyra’s name, her colors, her love for animals with us,” Burgett said. “We want to keep her name and her memory going forever.”
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The Burgett family set up a collective bid fund for one of Moyra McCain’s steers. Donations will be collected up until the day of the live auction. Donations can be added to the bid at the live auction.
Collective bid deadline: Friday at 11 a.m.
Auction: Friday at 5 p.m in the Indoor Arena.
Donations can be made to Belinda Burgett: 317-509-1348
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Today
9 a.m.: 4-H Beef Grooming Contest followed by 4-H Beef Showmanship, 4-H Born and Raised Steer Show, 4-H Beef Heifer Show, Indoor Arena, south end.
9 a.m.: 4-H Sheep Breeding Stock Show followed by Breeding stock Showmanship, Showmanship Competition: Market Lamb and Breeding Stock, Born and Raised Market Lambs and 4-H Supreme Ram and Ewe, Indoor Arena, north end.
10 a.m.: Read, Touch, Taste for children ages 4-7, Heritage Hall.
11:30 a.m.: 4-H and Open Class exhibits open to the public.
12 p.m.: Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show, east of Fitzpatrick Hall.
12 to 12:45 p.m.: Blueberry Baking Contest entry, Johnson County Extension Office.
1 to 5 p.m.: Poor Jack Amusements: Kiddie Day on the Midway, $15 unlimited ride bracelet.
1 p.m.: Blueberry Baking Contest judging, Johnson County Extension office.
1 p.m.: 4-H Sheep Born and Raised show and 4-H Overall Sheep Showmanship, Indoor Arena, north end.
4 to 6 p.m.: Robotics Club demonstration, Magill Hall.
4 p.m.: 4-H Swine Born and Bred Show and 4-H Swine Gilt Show, Indoor Arena.
5 p.m.: Jurassic Kingdon Dinosaur Show, east of Fitzpatrick Hall.
5 p.m.: Goat Pee-Wee Showmanship followed by 4-H Wethers Goat judging and 4-H Goat Showmanship: Overall Senior Champion, Indoor Arena, south end.
5 p.m.: 4-H Horse and Pony Costume and Musical Freestyle, Horse Arena.
6 p.m.: Registration for Pedal Tractor Pull, $1.
7 p.m.: Pedal Tractor Pull, Farm Bureau back lot.
Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Truck and Tractor Pull, Grandstands, Admission: $10 adults, $5 kids.
Cash drawing at the Day Sponsor boot, entrance to Herring Hall.
Horseshoe pitching, west of Fair Office.
9 p.m.: Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show, east of Fitzpatrick Hall.
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