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PAGE UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING JULY 13, 2017 1 P.M.

Fair runs July 23-29
More fun, new events at 4-H fair

Wanda English Burnett
EDITOR

The sights and sounds of a 4-H fair mingled with the smells of barnyard animals, corn dogs, and diesel from the grandstand, bring summertime memories to life. Officials with the Ripley County 4-H Fair are in full swing with some traditional staples of what people have come to love mixed with new events that are sure to please this year’s fair goer the week of July 23-29.

Queen Contest
Queen contestants will put their best smile forward to compete in the pageant set for this Sunday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Damm Theatre in Osgood. Doors will open at 5:30. From that competition, Miss Ripley County 2017 will be chosen along with her court and will preside over festivities during fair week.

New This Year
Monica Hansen, president of the 2017 Ripley County 4-H Corporation said they are in high gear working hard on getting the traditional things in place and bringing in some new things that will make the event even more exciting. Something new this year is the inflatable ponies. If you’ve never mustered up the courage to ride a horse or pony, you can ride an inflatable one, but beware they are billed as “extreme”. The company, JM Extreme Inflatable Ponies, advertises to ride one ‘if you dare’. The event will take place at the grandstand at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 23. While they are new to Ripley County, the inflatables are not new to county fairs. This is one of the events people look forward to seeing and participating in.

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Allie Hickey walks her alpaca, Brownie, getting ready for the Ripley County 4-H Fair coming up July 23-29. Alpacas and llamas are new to the fair this year.

Animals that are being introduced new to the 4-H fair this year are llamas and alpacas, according to Hansen. The llama and alpaca show will be held on Tuesday, July 25 at 9 a.m.

Wristband Nights
Wristband nights are Monday, Wednesday and Saturday where midway rides are unlimited for $20. The fairgrounds park in Osgood will be buzzing with activity from morning til night each day.

Grandstand Activities
Sunday there will be an antique tractor pull at 10 a.m. and then the inflatable pony rides at 7:00 p.m.; Monday will see the Barnyard Olympics; Tuesday will feature Battle of the Blue Grass Pullers (large tractor) at 7 p.m. You can contact Chris Linville at 812-525-4577 or Tom McConnell at 502-931-5068;Wednesday will be the Rodeo with mutton-bustin’, Jr. bulls, barrel racing, professional and novice bull riders at 7 p.m.; Thursday the Quad and Cycle Flat Drags will be going on at 7:30 p.m.; Friday will feature the Truck Drags, sponsored by the Osgood Fire Department at 7 p.m. and Saturday will have the Truck and Tractor Pull at 7:30 p.m., also sponsored by the Osgood Fire Department.

Free-Stage Activities
Sunday night will feature vesper service and the cutting of the ribbon for the official grand opening of the event followed by the 4-H Club Banner Parade, a fashion revue and style show along with the crowning of the 4-H Jr. Leaders. Miss Ripley County and her court will be presented. Monday the popular Ripley County Baby Show will be taking place at at 5 p.m. with parents registering at the show. No pre-registration for the event. Tuesday will feature National Pedal Pullers and Racers; Wednesday will showcase the second year for the Little Miss Pageant at 6 p.m. Contact Hansen at 812-756-0200 or Amanda Kunz at 812-756-2778 and Thursday the Renegades Band will perform beginning at 7 p.m.

Livestock Auction
The annual 4-H Livestock Auction will be held on Friday, July 28 at 3 p.m. at Building #5 with auctioneers and ring men: Andy Huff, Rob Vestal, Roger Huff, Dennis Franklin, Bryan Franklin, Steven Franklin, Ashley Werning, Chris Schmaltz, Bill Swinney, David and Brandon Goins. The auction sale order for this year will be: poultry, sheep dairy goat, meat goat, horse and pony, dairy, beef, rabbit, and swine. Last year’s auction results were a total of $145,884.50. This is an exciting time for the public and 4-H’ers as they show their project and get some cash too.

There are no fees to park this year with every day sponsored by various businesses, organizations and individuals.

The buildings are full of projects 4-H’ers have worked hard on all year long, some displayed with the ribbon they have won for their efforts. A variety of animals are housed at the fair, along with a number of booths inside the buildings. Come and see what Ripley County has to offer this year – grab a bite to eat – and enjoy being with old friends and perhaps make some new ones!

Ripley County schools step up to the challenge
Students learn about cybersecurity at Cyber Camp 101

Genesis: Pathways to Success (GPS), Northern Kentucky University, Ivy Tech Community College and local school corporations piloted Cyber Camp 101 at Jac-Cen-Del High School June 27 – 29. Fifteen students from five area schools attended the camp including South Ripley, Milan, St. Louis School, Jac-Cen-Del, and Batesville. Students learned how to protect against hacks, counter hack intruders, ethically hack, and how to maintain a safe web environment.

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Pictured are students from five area schools who attended Cyber Camp 101 recently. The camp was piloted by Gensis: Pathways to Success, Northern Kentucky University, Ivy Tech Community College, and local schools.

In this hands-on experience, students worked with Raspberry Pi’s and learned from cybersecurity experts including Sgt. Matt Simmons of the Indiana State Police, Christopher Nichols from Hill-Rom, Michael Carr from Hillenbrand, and Kevin McGuire from Enhanced Telecommunications.

“These campers were outstanding,” Scot Cunningham, Northern Kentucky University, said. “They quickly picked up concepts that I typically cover in freshmen and sophomore college classes. I am hopeful that next year our Ripley County campers can participate in the national Cyber Patriots program.”

Cyber Camp 101 was funded by an Education Workforce Innovation Network (EWIN) grant to the Ripley County Community Foundation’s GPS initiative.

The purpose of the EWIN grant is to establish a strategy to develop a workforce with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities required for careers in cybersecurity. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of individuals with these skills is projected to grow 18 percent between 2014 and 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ripley County schools are stepping up to the challenge with Ripley County students across every district being immersed into a full computer science and information technology culture. Starting as young as pre-K and kindergarten, students are developing digital citizenship, ethical behavior, problem solving and critical thinking skills. These character-building traits are emphasized as students increase knowledge in academic subjects such as algorithmic problem solving, network diagrams and hierarchy and abstraction in computing.

Cyber Camp 101 reinforces lessons learned in school and emphasizes the need for individuals with cybersecurity knowledge and skills while providing students with an overview of postsecondary training required for careers in cybersecurity.

“We’re thankful that Ripley County students are able to participate in programs like this that will continue to propel our community forward,” Obendorf said. “Thanks to the EWIN grant funding through the University of Indianapolis Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL), this three-day camp was free for Ripley County middle school students.”

Alyssa Moorman from South Ripley Schools, Brandy Hicks from Milan Schools, Jessica Imel from St. Louis School, Amelia Comer from Jac-Cen-Del Schools, Jackie Huber from Batesville Schools, and Cheryll Obendorf, GPS director, coordinated the camp. Scot Cunningham from Northern Kentucky University and Joseph Kennedy from Ivy Tech Community College developed the curriculum for the camp and facilitated learning for the camp.

“It was an honor to be included as an instructor for the Cyber Camp,” Kennedy said. “We covered some advanced cybersecurity topics in a short period of time, but the students absorbed it well and were able to demonstrate this knowledge during our final-day competition. I’m looking forward to seeing how the students progress in this much-needed field and hope to instruct them at Ivy Tech Community College in the future.”

Campers completing Cyber Camp 101 are encouraged to consider participating in Cyber Camp 201 in the summer of 2018.