It really is something to crow about

Canfield

The 50th anniversary of the Canfield Fair’s Rooster Crowing Contest was all about family tradition.

The winner of the this year’s senior division, Bob Samuels, is no stranger to the Monday morning contest.

Samuels, whose winning rooster Gritchy crowed 46 times in 30 minutes, took first place in 1985 when he was 10 years old.

His father, Myron Samuels, took first place in 1963 when the contest was in its second year.

Bob Samuels said he and other family members have entered roosters in the contest for decades.

“It was cool to win again,” he said. “We all enjoy doing it ... I’ve placed a few times in between wins, and our family is in the contest every single year.”

Junior division winner Seth Barrett’s rooster Peck crowed 33 times.

Crowing records are held by the 2007 champions, Ethan Samuels in the junior division with 138 crows, and Andrea Walls in the senior division with 123 crows.

Sue Kariher, who has helped keep judging records for about 25 years, said the contest’s tradition has continued so long because of friendly competition and how the contest becomes a family event.

“Families enter year after year because it’s a fun thing, and everybody has a good time,” she said.