July 18, 2005

Sunol's Jessica Crawford was absolutely beaming with joy when she received the award for Grand Champion Hereford Heifer at the Alameda County Fair's last weekend. Jessica also took home awards for first place breeding showmanship, champion pen of three and 4-H Grand Champion Market Steer.

The prize winning heifer was purchased by a fellow Sunolian, Nancy Farber, who is CEO of Washington Hospital and has been supporting Sunol 4-H for many years. Jessica was also most honored to win the Sage Gilbert Memorial Scholarship. Sage Gilbert was an ambassador to the youth in the beef community and the award is provided by his mother Patsy in his memory. Jessica's mother Donna said that when Jessica was about nine or ten years old, Patsy sat down, put her arm around her and said "you just keep coming back every year and keep doing what you do and soon it will be your turn". Donna said, of Jessica's win, "So now we say yes it is your turn" and she added "That is great advice for every young exhibitor".

Proud parents, Scott and Donna Crawford, little sis, Bonnie and aunts, Holly Chesley and Twila Halter were all watching as Jessica led the heifer to the auction. Twila and her husband George traveled all the way from Burney for the big event. Donna, and her sisters including another older sister, Cindy Kerlin and brothers John and Jim Glass were all raised in Sunol by their father Don Glass and their late mother, Yvonne. Don still resides in Sunol as does John Glass, his wife Carolyn and son Garrett.

"Not a blister in four years" proclaimed Carolyn Glass, when asked about her Walk for Breast Cancer event over the weekend of July 9-10. Carolyn stated that the organization had approximately 1,900 walkers and raised over 4.3 million dollars. She walked approximately 20 miles and exceeded her personal goal of $3,500 by raising a grand total of $4,144.

Carolyn said, "The whole weekend was very inspiring, very emotional and very moving. It was just an excellent weekend as it always is. Thank you to all my sponsors who helped me exceed my goal of $3,500."

Look for Carolyn in training next spring because she has already registered to walk again, her fifth, next year.

The Alameda County Fair Board of Directors presented Tim Koopmann with the special Duke DePaoli Award last Sunday. Tim said that "Duke had lots of admiration in the agriculture community. He was a leader in the community, helping the youth and putting in many years of service with the Junior Livestock. He strongly supported the livestock and helped young people with agriculture but never wanted the attention so after he passed away a group of his friends wanted to give a memorial award in his honor". A surprised Tim was joined on stage by his wife, Melinda and his children Clayton and Cari. Tim has been involved with livestock and agriculture at the county fair for forty-two years. He started back in 1962 as an exhibitor, and then he became an employee and then a board member.

"I was a little surprised and a little teary eyed. I have a great love of the fair; we all grew up there, with our parents being involved and now our kids. It means a lot."
In fact Cari won several awards herself at the county fair for champion Hereford bull, reserve supreme champion bull, Dale Carithers premium FFA beef exhibitor award, Berlogar premier beef exhibitor award and many, many more. Clayton won awards for reserve champion of commercial pen of heifer and reserve champion of commercial pen of steers.