LIHU‘E — It weighs 12 pounds, but if you have to lug it around all day it can get pretty heavy, said Leif Ringstad of Dallas, Texas. The Maruyama general sales manager had a new model of brush cutter available
LIHU‘E — It weighs 12 pounds, but if you have to lug it around all day it can get pretty heavy, said Leif Ringstad of Dallas, Texas.
The Maruyama general sales manager had a new model of brush cutter available at the M. Kawamura Farm Enterprises tent this weekend at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair.
The professional grade brush cutter is geared for landscape professionals and features a backpack-mounted motor unit that develops between 1.7 and 1.75 horsepower.
Connected to the swiveling power unit via a flex cable system is the housing that accommodates a dozen attachments ranging from the basic weed-cutting head to a more sophisticated landscape head featuring two solid blades spinning opposite each other.
That was just one facet of the four-day farm fair that completed its run Sunday night at the Vidinha Stadium complex.
“This is my first fair, and I haven’t seen much of anything other than the livestock,” said Matt Stevenson, the 4-H coordinator that took over when Lincoln Ching retired last year.
Stevenson was catching his breath at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Services Administration tent, chatting with local representative Robert Ishikawa who hosted Terri Torres Souza, a farm loan specialist who visited the fair from the O‘ahu office.
Hallie Cristobal swept the 4-H Market Hog show, Thursday night, taking top honors in both the Live and Showmanship arenas. Casie Kawamura, a recent big winner at the state farm fair on O‘ahu, was second in the Live show, and Megan Souza was second in the Showmanship show.
Other competitors in the 4-H Market Hogs included Brianna Kaneshiro and Chad Andrade.
Casie Kawamura took top honors in the Showmanship arena of the 4-H Wether Meat Breed Lamb show, followed by Thalia Souza in second.
Bill Souza topped the Live Show of that class followed by Thalia in second place, Casie Kawamura in third, Souza in fourth, Matthew Kawamura in fifth, and Brianna Kaneshiro rounding out the field.
Breanne Brun topped the 4-H Wether Wool/Hair Lamb Live show followed by Ross Brun, Bryson Poai and Cristobal, Cristobal getting the highest position in the Showmanship arena at third.
Matthew Kawamura and Jade Nakamoto were the two leaders in the 4-H Market Steer, Matthew getting top honors in the Live show and second in the Showmanship arena while Jade was second in the Live show, but advanced to first in the Showmanship ring.
Similarly, Ty Nakamoto and Kira Pimental jockeyed for placement, Ty getting third in the Live Show and fourth in Showmanship while Pimental finished fourth in the Live Show but ending third in the Showmanship arena.
All of the hogs in the 4-H Market Hog competition came from Kaneshiro Farms. That organization is led by Mamo Kaneshiro who had his entire ‘ohana in tow as the ‘Oma‘o family was honored with this year’s fair dedicated to their efforts at perpetuating and furthering agricultural awareness on the island and for their community service.
George Mukai, a consistent strong contender in the Fruit and Vegetable show, pulled off a close three-point victory at this year’s fair, ending with 182 points over Kaua‘i Kunana that finished at 179 points. Jaime Yasutake settled at 110 points followed by Kaua‘i Fresh Farms (51 points) and Sandra Henmi (46 points).
Mukai, also with the Kaua‘i Anthurium Society, noted that the club is increasing its membership and was proud that a young man, Jothi Sendan, finished with the Best in Show award for his “Mauna Loa” specimen.
Neill Sams of Orchid Alley was happy to get Best in Show honors for his Asconcenda Susan Ong Ah Mooi in the Garden Island Orchid Society’s display area. The specimen also earned an American Orchid Society Award of Merit. Two other specimen, Den. Aussie Sweetness submitted by Hanalei Orchids and Dor. Pulcherrima ‘Flash’ x Pulcherrima ‘Hot Stuff’ submitted by Carol Kanna earned AOS Highly Commended honors.
Michelle and Carolyn Blake, Bradley Fujiuchi, Bronwyn Kay, Linda Low, Meagan Rice, Gary Tasaka and Mary Wilson earned Best in Show rosettes in the Home Economics Show section, Kay’s award coming from a castle created using all-recycled materials.
Roy Oyama is president of the Kaua‘i Farm Bureau and Melissa McFerrin is the events coordinator for the fair.
• Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
