Grange holds Show Season Opener

FALLBROOK — The third annual Show Season Opener took place April 1 and 2 at Riders Field. Creator and Chairman of the show, Ed Komski, is also the Master (or President) and Youth Fair Team Leader of Rainbow Valley Grange. The members of Rainbow Valley Grange put on the show with the support of San Marcos Grange and Vista Grange. (Because its members live all over North County, Rainbow’s fair team is called the North County Grange Fair Team.)

Besides Ed Komski, who also served as the show announcer, the other Grange workers included show secretaries Tracy Lathrop and Cynthia Komski helped by Lisa Bates, Brendan Donoghue, Suzy Moramarco, Missy Dunckel, SeaJay Bates and Shavonne Donoghue. Ingrid Dunckel and Sandi Fontana handled the silent auction and raffle while Dave Fontana, Tim Dunckel, Bob Lathrop and sons manned the food booth.

The competition was a good learning experience for all the participants. In the various livestock shows, goats were shown by Youth and Junior Grangers Missy Dunckel, Sarah Fontana, Chris Knitter, Jenna Lathrop, Aspen Komski, Becca Varvel, Andrew Donoghue, Shavonne Donoghue, Kiera Donoghue, Kyle Parks, Danielle Parks and SeaJay Bates. In addition, Junior Granger Maddison Varvel showed her steer. In the Equestrian section, Junior Grange participants were Aspen Komski, Alayna Pettigrew, SeaJay Bates, Jenna Lathrop and Lauren Gilbert; Grange Youth riders were Aeli McClellan, Carrin Strain and Chris Knitter.

The Junior Grange Bake Sale, managed by Nancy and Lucette Moramarco, raised $106. The baked goods were supplied by Chris and Ingrid Dunckel, Tracy Lathrop, the Donoghue family, SeaJay and Lisa Bates, Nancy Moramarco and Lucette Moramarco. The funds will go toward summer craft activities.

The Grange thanks the following sponsors of the Show Season Opener: Albertson’s, Associated Feed, Western Milling, Nevada Feed, Morman’s Feed, Mary’s Tack & Feed, L&M Fertilizer, Show String, Nutrena, Purina Mills, Fallbrook Fertilizer, Performance Horse Supply, Ultimate Show Feed, EDCO, Honor, GuitarCenter.com, John Deere, Fast Forward Feeds, Showmaker, the Coca Cola Company, ELK Group Inc. and Colburn & Walker Veterinary Services.