This year’s Switzerland County 4-H Fair will get underway tonight (Thursday) with the Fashion Revue in the Community Building beginning at 7:30 p.m.; but the fair will kick into high gear for a week’s worth of activities this Saturday, July 12th, and will run through the livestock auction next Saturday, July 19th.
Members of 4-H will be checking in their projects from 8 a.m. until noon today (Thursday), with all of those going into the new exhibit hall for display all during fair week.
Here’s a day-by-day look at what’s going on during this year’s Switzerland County 4-H Fair:
– SATURDAY, JULY 12TH: The fair begins with the checking in of poultry and other fowl exhibits from 8-11 a.m.; and the poultry and other fowl show, along with the market eggs show, will begin in the show arena at 2:30 p.m.
– SUNDAY, JULY 13TH: Sunday events are highlighted by the horse and pony show at the grandstands beginning at noon; and at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday there will be a Youth Rally and Vespers Service at the Community Building.
– MONDAY, JULY 14TH: Check in of rabbits will be held from 8-11 a.m. on Monday, with the Ag Tractor and Lawn and Garden Tractor driving contest happening in the grandstand area at 1 p.m.
The Rabbit Show will be held in the show arena beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday evening; and at the Community Building, the Little Miss and Little Mister Contest will be held beginning at 7 p.m.
– TUESDAY, JULY 15TH: Livestock check in will be held on Tuesday from 6 a.m. until noon; and the swine show will be held in the show arena beginning at 6:300 p.m.
For those coming to the fair hungry, Center Square Baptist Church will be holding a lasagna dinner at the fairgrounds beginning at 5:30 p.m.
At the grandstands on Tuesday night, there will be a horse, pony, and mule pull beginning at 7 p.m.
– WEDNESDAY, JULY 16TH: Wednesday is another busy day at the Switzerland County Fairgrounds.
Livestock pictures will be taken from 8:30 a.m. until noon that day; and livestock record sheets should be turned in on Wednesday between 9 a.m. and noon.
The dog show will be held in the community building beginning at 9 a.m. that morning; and all 4-H members will want to participate in the “4-H Fun Day”, which will begin at 1 p.m.
One of the most attended events of the 4-H Fair each year is the Baby Contest, and this year it will be held in the community building beginning at 6:30 p.m. Down at the show arena, Wednesday night will feature the sheep show beginning at 6 p.m.
In the grandstands on Wednesday night there will be Bluegrass music beginning at 7:30 p.m. This music is free for everyone, and a freewill donation will be accepted.
– THURSDAY, JULY 17TH: Thursday kicks off with the Mini 4-H Fun Day, which begins at 10:30 a.m. at the grandstand area. This event is open to all members of the county’s Mini 4-H program.
The cat show begins at 1 p.m. in the community building; with the beef show starting at the show arena at 4 p.m.
The kiddie tractor pull is a popular activity for children, and it will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Ranch sorting will be featured in the grandstand area beginning at 6:30 p.m.; and the meat goat show begins at 7 p.m. in the livestock arena.
– FRIDAY, JULY 18TH: Shooting Sports, one of the most popular areas of the local 4-H program, will hold a demonstration at the grandstands beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday morning. Following the completion of the event for the members, those in the audience will be invited to come down and learn about the different firearms and archery exhibits.
The dairy show begins at 1 p.m. on Friday in the show arena; while the dairy goat show follows that at 2:30 p.m.
At the grandstands, an antique tractor pull will begin at 6 p.m.; and there will be a dance for 4-H members and their guests in the community building beginning at 6:30 p.m.
– SATURDAY, JULY 19TH: The final day of the Switzerland County 4-H Fair is a big one, beginning with the Round Robin Showmanship competition beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the show arena.
During the week a senior showman is named for each species at the fair, and during the Round Robin event those winners compete against each other to see who knows the most about all of the other species, as well.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday the Awards Program will be held in the community building for all of the exhibit hall project winners.
The annual 4-H barbecue begins at the shelter house near the show arena at 3 p.m., and that will be followed by the Livestock Auction, which is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
Members of 4-H clubs may pick up their projects from the exhibit hall from 6:30-10 p.m. on Saturday; and again on Sunday from noon until 2 p.m.
A Super Lawn Tractor Pull will begin at the grandstands on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
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There is a $7 admission fee for grandstand events for everyone ages six and up; while children age five and under are admitted free.
Local organizations will be sponsoring midway attractions during the week, and everyone is encouraged to come out and support these local groups. The Switzerland County FFA is sponsoring a petting zoo that is sure to be popular with kids; and there will also be other games and events for people to participate in.
Everyone should take the time to see all of the projects that are located in the Exhibit Hall. Exhibit Hall hours are from 4-9 p.m. Monday through Friday; and are from 2-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19th.
The commercial building is open Monday through Friday from 5-9 p.m.; and on Saturday, July 19th from noon until 9 p.m.
For more information on this year’s Switzerland County 4-H Fair, contact the Purdue Extension office at 427-3152; or the fairground office during the fair, 427-4056.