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Esteban Arreguin, 58, of Columbia, has been appointed to the 29th District Agricultural Association, Mother Lode Fair Board of Directors. Arreguin has been a North American electric reliability corporation program manager for IHI Power Services Corporation since 2007. He was a senior plant engineer at the HB Fuller Company from 1994 to 2007. Arreguin is a member of the Foothill Pregnancy Center Board of Directors. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Arreguin is a Republican.

Ronald Hamilton, 51, of Tuolumne, has been appointed to the 29th District Agricultural Association, Mother Lode Fair Board of Directors. Hamilton has been principal at Gold Rush Charter School since 2012. He was a human relations instructor at Columbia College from 2009 to 2012 and workforce education coordinator at the Tuolumne County Behavioral Health Department from 2008 to 2012. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hamilton is a Republican.

Dennis Hendricks, 68, of Tuolumne, has been appointed to the 29th District Agricultural Association, Mother Lode Fair Board of Directors. Hendricks was a senior damage claim representative at the Pacific Gas and Electric Company from 1968 to 2004. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hendricks is a Democrat.

Margaret Lee, 73, of Sonora, has been reappointed to the 29th District Agriculture Association, Mother Lode Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2014. Lee was an aide at the University of California, Merced Purchasing Facilities Department from 2008 to 2013 and an executive director of the Area 12 Agency on Aging from 1993 to 2005. She was a senior consultant to the California State Assembly’s Select Committee on Child Abuse from 1989 to 1991 and served as chief of staff in the Office of California State Assemblymember Norman Waters from 1979 to 1991, in the Office of California State Assemblymember Larry Chimbole from 1977 to 1978 and in the Office of California State Assemblymember Pauline Davis from 1974 to 1976. Lee was an aide for the California State Senate Democratic Caucus and in the Office of California State Senator George Moscone from 1969 to 1973. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Lee is registered without party preference.

The Fair will publish two premium books, one for still exhibits and one for livestock. They will be posted on the Mother Lode Fair website at motherlodefair.org.

Market Livestock Pre-weighs: Each exhibitor is required to register and pre-weigh their large market animals. Animals will be ear tagged and weighed by the Fair and may receive worming and vaccinations if the exhibitor so chooses. The exhibitor may pre-weigh 2 animals per species. No “group” or “family” animals. The exhibitor must be present with their animal(s). If the exhibitor cannot be present, they must request to be excused, in writing, to the Mother Lode Fair with the request approved before the Pre-weigh date. The excuse would only be for the individual exhibitor, whose animal still must be pre-weighed following the schedule below.

• Market Beef Pre-weigh: Sunday, March 19, 8-10 am at Gardella’s Ranch, 8920 Montezuma Road, Chinese Camp.
• Market Swine/Market Sheep/Market Goat Pre-weigh: Sunday, May 7 at the Fairgrounds
  7-11 am Swine
  11am-12 noon Sheep, Goats

Check-in for all livestock and Weigh-in for all market animals entered in the Mother Lode Fair is Wednesday, July 5, followed by required exhibitor meetings

The complete calendar of check-in times, meetings, shows, and auctions will be in the Livestock Premium Book along with the Livestock Department Rules. One change: the Rabbit show will be Wednesday afternoon July 5.

The Junior Livestock Auction is Saturday, July 8 at 5:00 pm following the buyer reception. Animals sold include market beef, market swine, and market lambs. An exhibitor is limited to one entry in these divisions and one lot in the sale. It is a terminal sale.

The Small Livestock Auction and the Small Livestock Benefit Auction are Sunday, July 9 at 2:30 pm, followed by the SLA Barbecue. An exhibitor may enter one lot for sale in each auction consisting of Goats, Poultry, and Rabbits. No market goats in the Benefit Auction.

The Small Livestock Association has purchased new siding for the Rabbit/Poultry barn. Look for announcements of work days during March/April to re-side and paint the barn.