North County residents carry on fair’s ag traditions

J.D. Ferrero and Davey Dorr, two 4-H members profiled in last
week’s paper, took top honors showing livestock at the Sonoma
County Fair. And they weren’t the only North County residents
carrying on the fair’s agricultural traditions.
Ferrero won Supreme Champion Gilt, and also went home with
ribbons for Champion York, Reserve York, and Senior Pig Showmanship
for 4-H. Dorr took Supreme Grand Champion Market Lamb. Another
Healdsburg resident, Geno Dericco, took the FFA championship for
his market lamb and came in second overall, just behind Davey.
“This is quite an honor and achievement,” said Davey’s mother,
Nancy Dorr. Davey’s accomplishment earned him the honor of being
first in line to auction off his lamb, which sold for $14 a
pound.
Ferrero’s Supreme Champion gilt will be retained as breeding
stock for future show winners. Tami Ferrero, J.D.’s mother, noted
that his win held special meaning for the family.
“J.D. lost his grandpa John Ferrero in June,” Tami said. “His
grandpa loved to travel to watch his grandkids. J.D. told him he
knew he would be there watching over him and he was going to make
him proud. J.D. has won a Supreme Champion at all 3 fairs since
John’s passing – Petaluma, State Fair & now Sonoma County Fair
with his breeding gilts. I think he has made him pretty proud.”
She added, “We are very proud of our son. J.D. has done a great
job with his animals.”
The Dorrs, Ferreros, and Dericcos weren’t the only North County
families participating in the fair’s agricultural activities.
Shelly Rafanelli-Fehlman and her husband Craig Fehlman took part in
Saturday night’s rodeo. Although neither of them placed this year,
rodeo is a tradition they plan to continue—and for Shelly, taking
horses to the Sonoma County Fair is a tradition that dates back to
when she was eight years old.
On Saturday, Shelly and her horse, Nuther Shot of Rum (AKA
Rummy), were competitors in the fast and furious barrel racing.
“I’ve always ridden and shown horses since I was really, really
young,” Shelly said. “I actually was in 4-H, so my first year at
the Sonoma County fair was when I was 8 years old. I competed with
my horses, they had showmanship and riding classes at the time. I
was in the light horse class. It’s still fun to go down there and
walk through all the 4-H exhibits at the barn.”
Shelly’s husband Craig took part in team roping. Of the two-man,
two-horse team that races after a calf to catch, Craig is the
second roper. After the first roper hooks the calf’s head, he comes
in to get the calf’s back feet.
“Craig’s from Gilroy originally. He grew up on a cattle ranch.
He’s roped and done the rodeo thing his whole life, longer than I
have. He’s a heeler,” Shelly said. “We met in college, and we’ve
been married for almost 10 years. I do have to say because of his
rodeo experience, it prompted me to get into rodeo. It’s kind of a
hobby for us, so to compete at the professional level is a
challenge because that’s not what we do for a living. We have other
jobs. But we really enjoy it.”
Craig quickly roped both hind feet of the calf on Saturday
night. Unfortunately, Craig’s partner’s lasso ended up in a figure
eight knot on the calf’s head, which results in a penalty and time
addition. Were it not for the penalty, the pair’s time would have
come in second. But not to worry—the Fehlmans will be back to try
again next year.