The 101st annual Wayne County Fair is fast approaching, and opportunities to enjoy time with friends and family will be abundant.
One will be able to enjoy a plethora of events, from livestock shows, ventriloquism, live music and much more.
The Fair will take place Wednesday, July 26 and will end on Sunday, July 30.
Last year a new Grandstand was installed, as well as other improvements to make the Fair even more welcoming and exciting.
Kevin Davis, one of the directors for this year's County Fair as well as one of the Concert Superintendents, expects good crowds and good times. "There's a lot of good stuff, different stuff every day, and a different band in the beer garden each night. We are always changing the entertainment for the concert Saturday night, with The Frontmen and Priscilla Block this year," he said.
Before the Fair is in full swing, fair-goers will have the opportunity to see the Household Pet Show at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 20. The Pet show will be followed by the 4-H/FFA Cat Show.
Both those shows will take place at the Wayne Expo Center, with check-ins at 8:30 a.m.
There will also be a 4-H/FFA Dog Show the same Saturday, at 9 a.m., at the Kaden Schmale Swine Arena. Check-ins will also be at the arena at 8:30 a.m.
The Fair truly kicks off Wednesday with Free Family Day. There will be no gate fees. Check-ins for 4-H/FFA horses will start at 5:30 p.m., and weigh-ins for beef, goats, sheep and swine start at 6 p.m. Check-ins for open class poultry, rabbits and dairy will also be at 6 p.m. The 4-H/FFA Horse Trail Class will also be at 6 p.m. in the Horse Arena and will be followed by the Costume Class.
Thursday begins with the Farmers Pride Breakfast at 7 a.m. at the Leland Herman Memorial Arena.
The Goat Show and Horse Show, both put on by 4-H and FFA, start at 8 a.m., with the Horse Show in the Horse Arena and the Goat Show at the Leland Herman Memorial Arena.
The Presentation of Colors by the Winside Sons of American Legion at 7:15 p.m. and the National Anthem, sung by Elayna Hoskinson, will precede the opening Ceremonies conducted by Wayne County Ag. Society President, Doug Temme at 7:20.
The L4 Livestock Ultimate Bull-riding Tour will be at the Grandstand starting at 7:30 p.m.
Jetley Park will provide live entertainment in the Beer Garden, which will open up at 9 p.m.
Throughout the fair, TJ Jenkins, Chainsaw Artist, will be performing east of the Ag Hall. There will also the Kids Corn Pit available each day in the Kid Zone.
The Swine Show will start off Friday at 8 a.m. at the Kaden Schmale Memorial Arena. The Beef Show will start at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by other bovine showings. The Sheep Shows will be held at the Leland Herman Memorial Arena, starting with the Open Class Sheep Show at 10:30 a.m.
Kevin Horner, a ventriloquist, will be performing in the 4-H Building and the Little Theater throughout the weekend, as well as Caricature Artist Kirk Kuenzi, who will be in the 4-H Building each day.
There will be Wildlife Encounters Shows and a Bingo Tent open throughout the weekend in the Kids Zone.
The Love-A-Lop Petting Zoo will be open Thursday through Sunday.
Midwest Magic Face Painting will available over the weekend, and can be found in the 4-H Building. Make sure to catch Dave Lewis and the Game Show Road Show, with opportunities throughout Friday and Saturday.
Friday's Presentation of Colors by Winside Post 252 will start at 5:45 p.m. The National Anthem will be sung by Journee Reeson.
The 61st Annual Barbecue will be held near the food court and will start at 6 p.m. The Pioneer Award & Oldest Farmer, the Kilroy Award and Fair Person of the Year will be awarded at 6 p.m. as well, with the presentations at the Grandstand.
The Outlaws Truck & Tractor Pull will be at the Grandstand and will start at 6:30p.m.
Reinvented Wheels will be the live entertainment for the Beer Garden at 9 p.m.
Saturday will see the Rabbit Show at the Kaden Schmale Swine Arena at 8 a.m. The Poultry Show will also be in the same arena at 10:30 a.m.
The Stanley Nelsen Memorial Pitch Tournament and registration for the Cornhole Tournament start at 10 a.m. in the Beer Garden. The Cornhole Tournament will commence at 11 a.m. with the Competitive Division followed by the Novice Division at 11:30.
The Goat Show will be in the Leland Herman Memorial Arena at noon, and will be followed by Horseshoe Pitching at 1 p.m.
The 4-H Public Fashion Show will begin at 5 p.m. in the Expo Center.
At 7:45 p.m. the Presentation of Colors by the Wayne AM Vets will precede the singing of the National Anthem by Jennifer Johnson.
Saturday night's concert at the Grandstand will begin at 8 p.m. with The Frontmen and Priscilla Block will follow at 9:30. The Beer Garden will have Tegan Nissen as the live entertainment starting at 10:30 p.m.
The Frontmen, comprised of former lead singers Richie McDonald (Lonestar), Tim Rushlow (Little Texas 0, and Larry Stewart (Restless Heart) have seen much success in the way of 30 No. 1 hits and have sold 30 million albums. All three rotate singing duties and all three sing throughout the set non-stop, providing a night of boot-scooting and great fun.
Priscilla Block has been featured in the New York Times, Billboard, USA Today and more, as well as making appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Tamron Hall Show ACM Honors, as well as the CMT Music Awards. Block has enamored listeners with her unfiltered, relatable songwriting paired with catchy melodies, creating a distinctive blend of country pop and southern rock, known as 'the Block Party sound."
Sunday wraps up the Fair, with a Community Worship being held at the Grandstand at 10 a.m.
The Sweet Tooth Contest will have registration at 12:30 in the Expo Center, with the contest to start at 1 p.m.
Team Roping will start in the Horse Arena at 1 p.m. The Barnyard Pedal Pull will open registration in the Kaden Schmale Swine Arena at 1 as well, with the Pedal Pull starting at 2 p.m.
The 4-H /FFA Round Robin Showmanship competition will start at 1:30 in the Leland Herman Memorial Arena. There will be a Livestock Bonus Auction afterward at 3 p.m.
The last Presentation of the Colors will be done by 189th Transpiration Company at 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand. Rachel Johnson will sing the National Anthem. The Flag Burning Ceremony will follow at 5:45, and will be conducted by Carroll Post 165.
Following the Flag Burning Ceremony there will be Auction of Wood Carvings at 6 p.m. and then the Kids Power Wheels Derby at 6:30. Both events will be at the Grandstand.
The Demolition will also start at 6:30. All cars must be teched and checked in by 5 p.m.
The Beer Garden will wrap up the Fair, opening at 7 p.m. Dave Merkel will provide live entertainment.
Additional information and updates on the fair activities can be found at www.waynecountyfair.com.
