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Pink tractor returns for awareness, tribute memorial
The Vindicator ( Youngstown)
Photo
ROBERT K. YOSAY | THE VINDICATOR..Ritas tractor sits in honor of her fight against breast cancer - .Day THREE Friday - of the Canfield Fair Sept 2-.. -30-
Schedule of Events
Today
Gates open at 8 a.m.
Reba McEntire: Grandstand, 8:30 p.m.
Catholic Worship Service: Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse, 8 a.m.
Worship Service: International Stage, 11 a.m.
Ecumenical Worship Service: Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse, 9:30 a.m.
Praise and Worship Service: Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse, 11 a.m.
Draft Horse Exhibitors: East Ring, 1 p.m.
Dress-A-Cow Contest: South Cattle Complex, 1 p.m.
Auction
4-H Dairy Cheese Auction: South Cattle Complex, 1:45 p.m.
Judging Schedule
Saddle Horse Championship: North Ring, 10 a.m.
Dog Demonstration: Coliseum 8, noon.
Sheep Shearing Demonstration: Sheep Barn 36, 12:30 p.m.
Poultry Junior Fair Showmanship: Coliseum 8, 1 p.m.
Leadline, Costume and Hitch Ponies: South Ring, 1 p.m.
Junior Fair Goat Show: Coliseum 8, 1 p.m.
Pocket Pet Breed: Coliseum 8, 3 p.m.
Wee Ones Showmanship: South Cattle Complex, 3:30 p.m.
Junior Fair/Farm Bureau “Ag in the Bag”: Junior Fair Pavilion, 4 p.m.
Junior Fair Rabbit Costume Class: Coliseum 8, 6 p.m.
MONDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Gates open at 8 a.m.
Blake Shelton with Chris Young: Grandstand, 8 p.m.
Open Draft Horse Pig Iron Derby: Grandstand, 8 a.m.
Harness Racing: Grandstand, noon.
4-H Saddle Horse Show: North Ring, 9 a.m.
Rooster Crowing Contest: South Ring, 9:30 a.m.
The Vindicator ( Youngstown)
Photo
ROBERT K. YOSAY | THE VINDICATOR..Ritas tractor sits in honor of her fight against breast cancer - .Day THREE Friday - of the Canfield Fair Sept 2-.. -30-
Staff report
CANFIELD
The pink tractor sitting on the corner of the dairy barns and milking parlor is missing its driver.
The 1941 Farmall H tractor dubbed “Pinky” was driven by Rita Kibler, of Lordstown. She first brought it to the Canfield Fair in 2008 and was featured in a front page story in The Vindicator.
Kibler had painted it pink to raise awareness about breast cancer. At the time of that article, she was receiving treatment at the Cleveland Clinic.
She died Aug. 23 at age 57.
Garry, her husband of 37 years, built the tractor out of pieces of other tractors in 2007. He brought it back to the fair this year.
“She always loved the fair,” Garry said. “She would have been unhappy if we wouldn’t have come.”
Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990, and the cancer spread to her left lung in 2006.
“She fought hard, that’s all I can say. She never gave up,” Garry said.
Rita loved to enter tractor pulls, he added.
“She wasn’t happy if the front end didn’t come up,” he said.
Garry and his two sons, Garry Jr. and Cory, brought four cows to the fair in addition to the tractor, which Garry said he will continue to take to local fairs and events.
“But someone else will have to pull it now,” he said.