Just when you thought the summer was settling down to a nice boring hum, along comes the season's biggest event to liven things up.
That's right - the 53rd annual Kosciusko County 4-H & Community Fair officially begins Monday. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Fair Office.
The fair incorporates two major spheres of activity - county fair activities, usually at the west end of the fairgrounds, and 4-H activities, mostly at the east end of the fairgrounds.
4-H activities begin Saturday, with the dog show at 9 a.m. and the fashion and consumer clothing revue at 7 p.m. in Lakeview Middle School auditorium.
A highlight of the fashion revue will be the crowning of the 4-H king and queen.
Sunday's schedule begins at 7 a.m. with a vespers service in the grandstand and ends there at 6 p.m. with a gospel sing.
Also on Sunday, the 4-H cat show will be held in the Activity Tent, the goat fun show at 3 p.m. in the Goat Tent, the dog trick/costume show will take place in the Show Arena, and the goat royalty contest is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Admission is free Monday since the fair won't officially open until the 6 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony and National Guard flag ceremony.
The Activity Tent will be the site of the Junior Miss Kosciusko County Fair contest, for girls age 8 to 11, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, and for the Miss Teenage Kosciusko County Fair contest, for girls 12 to 15 years old, at 8 p.m.
4-H judging taking place Monday includes the rabbit show and the rabbit royalty contest, both in the rabbit barn; the beef show in the Show Arena; the goat show in the Goat Tent; open livestock judging in the Show Arena; 4-H Member Fun Night in the Show Arena; and the horse and pony costume class in the horse arena.
Fair activities will shift into high gear Tuesday when the rides open on the midway at 4 p.m. Tuesday is also wristband day, when a $13 wristband will allow you to ride as many rides as you want.
The Cutie King and Queen contest is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Activity Tent, and the Junior Talent Contest, for ages 12 and under, is at 8 p.m. in the Activity Tent. Also at 8 p.m., the country band "Roughshod" will perform for free in the grandstand.
Tuesday is 4-H Leader's Appreciation Day, and 4-H activities will include the swine show in the Show Arena, the horse and pony showmanship and halter judging at the horse arena, the llama show at the Llama Tent, and the dairy judging contest at 7:30 p.m. in the Show Arena, followed by the dairy showmanship contest.
County fair momentum continues Wednesday, which is Kiddies' Day and features a host of activities for the younger set. Taking place in the Activity Tent, the scheduled events include games and entertainment, barn tours, a bike give-away, a frog-jumping contest and a country band.
The Little Miss and Mr. Contest, for kids 5 to 7 years old, will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Activity Tent, and the Senior Talent Contest for 13- to 21-year-olds at 8 p.m., also in the Activity Tent.
Midway rides will be $1 each from 1 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, and a Karting Exhibition is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. in the grandstand.
The 4-H dairy calf feeder steer show will be in the Show Arena; the pigeon, poultry and waterfowl judging is scheduled for the poultry barn; the horse and pony English and contesting judging will be in the horse arena; and the rabbit illustrated talks will take place in the Rabbit Barn.
Thursday is Senior Citizen's and Farmer's Day at the fair, with such activities as bingo and euchre, the senior queen contest, Country Gamblers band, and an apple peeling or potato peeling contest - all scheduled for the Activity Tent.
Seniors will be admitted to the fair for $1 each between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, and wristbands will be on sale for rides for $13. "Spike and the Bulldogs" will entertain at the Activity Tent at 7:30 p.m.
4-H activities will begin to wind down by Thursday, with the horse and pony western and contesting judging at the Horse Arena, the dairy show at the Show Arena, and the supreme showmanship contest at the Show Arena.
The 4-H highlight Friday will be the livestock auction, which starts at 10 a.m. in the Show Arena. Horse and pony contesting and riding will begin Friday at 9 a.m.
Other fair activities Friday, which is Sponsorship and Media Day, will include a toy giveaway, the Country Gamblers band, a pizza-eating contest and wristband rates for rides at $10 from 1 to 6 p.m.
The Demolition Derby is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the grandstand, and family entertainment will take place at 7 p.m. in the Activity Tent.
Saturday is Truckers' Day at the fair, with wristbands again available from 1 to 6 p.m. for $10, a hog-calling contest and the "Country Gamblers" band.
The Semi Truck Pull is scheduled for 6 and 7:30 p.m. in the grandstand, with family entertainment at 7:30 p.m. in the Activity Tent.
By Saturday, most 4-H activities will be done, but while members are loading up their animals to take them home, they can take a break for a new event, "Illusionation," scheduled at the Show Arena at 3 and 6 p.m.
Sunday, the final day of the county fair, is Family Day, with admission $1 per family member. The day will begin with a worship service in the Activity Tent at 9 a.m., followed by an antique tractor pull, a paper airplane flying contest and family time fun.
Wristbands will be on sale for $13 from 1 to 10 p.m., and the Mud Bog Exhibition is scheduled for 4 p.m., with the end-of-the- fair drawing at 6 p.m.
And while you're at the fairgrounds, your visit wouldn't be complete without those fair staples - elephant ears - and all the other food available from vendors.
Anyone with questions about the fair should call the fairgrounds office at 269-1823. [[In-content Ad]]
