Preparations under way for next Jackson County Fair

Last year’s Jackson County Fair — the first to be held mainly at the Northeast Kansas Heritage Com­plex south of Holton — made a “pretty smooth” transition to its new home, according to Cara Robinson, 4-H program manager for Jackson County.

With preparations being made for the 91st annual fair, Robinson said that even though there are still a few minor details to work out, this year’s fair is expected to be another memorable one.

“Last year, we had a really good turnout for the fair, and with eve­rything being out there for the first year, it all ran smoothly,” Robinson said. “About the only big change is that we’re going to be looking at the location of the building exhib­its.”

Apart from that, she noted, the fair will be structured the same as it was last year, except that poultry exhibits will be returning to the fair. Those exhibits were not per­mitted at last year’s fair due to avian flu concerns, it was reported.

Jackson County Fair Board president Aaron Allen also noted that new asphalt has been poured for handicapped parking and side­walks between buildings at the Heritage Complex, and extra seat­ing and lighting has been added to the livestock arena. Construction of a new addition to the small exhibit hall is under way and should be complete by fair time, Allen added.

For 4-H competitors, pre-entries for the fair are due by Friday, July 1. After that, this year’s fair sched­ule, subject to change, is as fol­lows:

• Saturday, July 9: Dog show, 8:30 a.m. at the Northeast Kansas Heritage Arena.

• Saturday, July 16: Horse show, with check-in at 7:30 a.m. and official start at 8 a.m.

• Tuesday, July 19: Pre-fair judging and consumer judging contest.

• Wednesday and Thursday, July 20 and 21: Pre-register open class quilts at JM Sewing Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Friday, July 22: Open class quilt judging, 10 a.m. at JM Sewing Center.

• Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23: Kraft Rodeo, starting at 8 p.m. both days.

• Sunday, July 24: 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, July 25. All beef exhibits need to be in place by 1 p.m. that same day.

• Monday, July 25: 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, 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 hog show, 8:30 a.m.; Holton Recorder photos of champion exhibits, 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, hogs, 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.