Fair events kick off this weekend

A busy weekend at the Northeast Kansas Heritage Center to be dominated by horses in riding, racing and roping events will kick off 91st-annual Jackson County Fair, starting with a two-night rodeo beginning this Friday.

The main week of the fair runs from Monday, July 25, through Friday, July 29, but this weekend, the sixth-annual Jackson County Fair Rodeo on Friday and Saturday evenings and the fair’s horse show on Saturday morning will kick off that week at the Heritage Complex. The complex is located half a mile west of U.S. Highway 75 on 214th Road.

“2015 was the first year for the entire fair to be held at the new facility,” said Deb Dillner of the Jackson County Fair Association about the Heritage Complex. “This will be our second year there. Many improvements have been made, and there’s plenty more yet to do.”

The fair rodeo will kick off at 7:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, with gates opening at 6 p.m. both evenings. Rodeo spectators are asked to bring lawn chairs and use the south entrance on 214th Road, as rodeo participants have been requested to use the west entrance on P Road, Dillner said.

The rodeo will begin with a boot scramble for participants aged 3 to 12, followed by traditional riding, roping and rodeo events with “broncs and bulls.” There will also be “mutton-busting” and mini-bull riding for younger participants.

Entrance at the gate is $8 per person ages 12 and up, $6 per child ages 5 to 11 and free for children ages 4 and under. Concessions and vendors will be available on the grounds, and there is a $5 fee for coolers; rodeo organizers request that no glass items be brought to the event.

The Jackson County 4-H Fair horse show, set to begin at 8 a.m. this Saturday with check-in starting at 7:30 a.m., had originally been slated for this past Saturday but was postponed due to ground conditions at the Heritage Complex’s outdoor arena.

Other events during the week of the fair include:

Sunday: Decoration of hay bales; woodworking check-in, noon to 3 p.m.; clothing buymanship display set-up, noon to 5 p.m.; arts and crafts check-in, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; hay bale judging, 6 p.m.; open class exhibit check-in, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; goat weigh-in and check-in from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; sheep weigh-in and check-in from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and swine unloading from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

All swine need to be in place by 8 a.m. Monday. All beef exhibits need to be in place by 1 p.m. that same day.

Monday: Swine weigh-in/check-in from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; open class exhibit check-in and 4-H exhibit check-in for items not judged prior to the fair, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 4-H foods judging, 8:30 a.m.; food sale, 9:30 a.m.; rabbits and poultry in place by 10 a.m.; judging of open class exhibits at noon; check-in for 4-H exhibits judged prior to the fair, 1:30 p.m.; 4-H poultry judging at 2 p.m.; market steer weigh-in from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Holton Recorder photos of champion foods and pick-up of food awards, 3:30 p.m.; Shepherd’s Lead, 5 p.m.; 4-H meat goat show, 5:15 p.m.; 4-H sheep show, 6 p.m.; food auction, 6 p.m.; and Farm Bureau Kiddie Tractor Pull, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, July 26: 4-H swine show, 8:30 a.m.; Holton Recorder photos of champion exhibits and pick-up of building awards, 3 p.m.; bucket calf conference judging, 4:30 p.m.; 4-H bucket calf and beef show, 5 p.m.; and livestock intent to sell deadline, 10 p.m.

Wednesday, July 27: rabbits judged, 8 a.m.; dairy goats and dairy cattle judged, 9 a.m.; Animals On Parade, 10 a.m.; Barnyard Olympics with 4-H Ambassadors, 2 p.m.; livestock row of champions set-up, 4 p.m.; livestock row of champions in place, 5 p.m.; fair parade, 6 p.m.; and 4-H talent show and Style Revue, 8:30 p.m., followed by karaoke with Daren and Randy.

Thursday, July 28: pet show, 9 a.m.; livestock judging contest, 10 a.m.; adult round robin showmanship, noon; round robin showmanship, 1 p.m.; set-up for livestock sale, 2 p.m.; check out livestock, 2:30 p.m.; 4-H and open class exhibit check-out from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and livestock sale (poultry and rabbit meat pens, swine, sheep, goats and beef), 6 p.m.

Friday, July 29: clean-up, 9 a.m.

Toby’s Amusements of Arma will return to the fair to provide the midway with games and rides nightly from Monday through Saturday, July 25-30. For more information, call Jackson County’s Meadowlark District Extension office at 364-4125.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

Sign Up For Breaking News

Stay informed on our latest news!

Manage my subscriptions

Subscribe to Greer Citizen newsletter feed