FAIR PRESIDENT ADDRESSES CONTROVERSY

  
Rhealee Spies steer small
Rhealee Spies shows the steer during judging at the 2013 Washington Co. Fair.

The president of the Washington County Fair Association says all rules were followed in the controversy over the disqualification of a prize-winning steer.

Alan Winkelmann says that the rules dictated the fair disqualified the Reserved Grand Champion steer at last year’s fair, shown by Burton High School student Rhealee Spies.

The steer tested positive for an antibiotic that Spies says was administered by a veterinarian when the animal came down with a 105-degree temperature.  Spies says it wasn’t given to the animal as an ‘enhancement’ but to keep it alive.

Winkelmann says he feels the fair has done everything by the book and above board…

 

The steer was purchased at the Junior Livestock Auction for a record $7,250 by local businessman C.H. Harvey.  Winkelmann says Spies was not given her share of the purchase price paid by Harvey as per the rules, but was allowed to keep about $2,000 in add ons.

Harvey is taking exception with the way the Fair Association handled the situation.  He says he inquired about the failed test and was told a second test just days later showed no traces of the drug.

Harvey also says fair officials ordered the animal slaughtered, even though he owned it, which he claims was an effort at a “cover up”.  However, it is long-standing fair policy that all auction sale items, with the exception of colts, are slaughtered.  The buyer is then presented with the meat after processing.

Fair officials say Harvey was presented with the meat that he says he’d ear-marked for distribution to his employees.  He then says he had the meat incinerated…

  

Winkelmann says the Fair Association refunded Harvey’s money.  Harvey says he’s refusing to cash the check, saying he’s “not going take care of their (the Fair Association’s) dirty laundry”. 

Harvey urges the Fair Association to pay Speis the money he says they owe her.

Winkelmann says he considers it a settled issue and the case closed.

Harvey says, in his opinion, this is far from over.

 

 

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