The Marion County Fair is getting underway with activities continuing through next Saturday, August 8th.
The Marion County Exhibit building is accepting entries until six Friday night and from nine to noon on Saturday. Judging will then take place, with the building opening to the public around six Saturday night.
Amy Telford runs the exhibit building and says it will be packed with all sorts of work from area residents.
“Really good reflection of the talents that we have of the people in the county, as well as, some of the agricultural products. We have everything form farm produce people can bring, we have awards for the longest stock of corn or the biggest walnuts, to antiques that people can enter in a lot of different categories. We have people who bring their photographs they have taken, amateur photographs. I want to point out that we have so many of those we had to put in a size limit on it this year. Pictures no bigger than 4×6 inches, unless it’s in a portrait category, then it calls for a bigger picture.”
Telford says a lot of ribbons will be awarded with cash prizes. She encourages everyone to look through the Exhibit Building while at the fair in the coming week. Telford says it is a good place to take a break since it is air conditioned.
Marion County 4-H advisor Courtney Beal says Saturday is also a big day for 4-H members as the various livestock shows will get under at eight Saturday morning and continue through the day.
“Just right at 242 members this year. We have several livestock entries. Our swine entry and our sheep entry have really taken off this year, so I encourage everybody to get out and come see the kid’s exhibit their livestock animals.”
Other 4-H shows will lead up to the annual 4H auction on Wednesday evening. After all day 4H livestock shows on Saturday, the first grandstand entertainment is the Motocross at six Saturday night.
Friday is the final day to enter the youth talent show for those 21 and under. Music, dance, and other types of entertainment will be featured in the contest at 5:30 Sunday night in front of the grandstand. You can fill out the application form Friday at either the WJBD studios at 310 West McMackin or at the Fair office. There is no charge to participate and you could win the $100 first place prize and get a chance to represent Marion County in the state competition in January.
Sunday night grandstand entertainment concludes with The 618 Gospel band at 7:30.
There is no admission charge for either the talent show and The 618 band. Entry to the fairgrounds is also free on Sunday.
The carnival opens on Saturday and continues through Saturday, August 8th. Every night is an armband night where you can ride all the rides you want from six to ten each night for $25.
