Early in May, Cael Hembury gave his red Holstein calf the first of many baths as the twosome prepare for the County Fair.

MUNCY-Long before the sweet smell of sawdust emits as it’s scattered in the cattle arena at the Lycoming County Fair, Cael Hembury initiates his newly purchased red Holstein calf to the riggers for a future in show business.

It was early May when the young cattleman was seen giving Ruby her first bath at the Hembury farm along Muncy-Exchange Road. Ruby was also getting acquainted with a make shift halter, a rope with which Cael would teach her to be led around the cattle arena.

“We just bought the pure bred calf from a friend. It’s too late to enter her in the 4H division, so we’ll be in the open class,” Cael said. The tag on her ear denotes her legitimacy as pure bred, and it’s fitting to name a red Holstein Ruby.

This showing at the fair will be a dual debut, for it’s a first for Cale too. The 10-year-old Myers Elementary School student has in-house mentors, as his parents were schooled at Cornell, the New York University noted for animal husbandry.

Lori and Ron Hembury fully support their son in this his first effort. While his older brothers earned silver and gold in high school wrestling careers, Cael is pinning his hopes on Ruby.

Bovines aren’t the only animals to be seen at the fair. There will be horses, sheep, rabbits, swine; and a free Petting Zoo at the Muncy Bank & Trust Pavilion Arena everyday from noon until 10 p.m.

Other animal related events slated for the fair requiring admission are an invitational bull riding show on Monday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m., and harness racing on Wednesday and Thursday July 18 and 19 at 12:30 p.m.

The 142nd annual Lycoming County Fair in Hughesville begins at noon Friday, July 13 and runs through July 21.