The 2005 Switzerland County 4-H Fair kicks off this Saturday, and county extension agent Nathan Crane says that this year’s fair attenders are going to find some new events to go along with old favorites that should make this year’s fair one of the best ever.
Exhibit Hall projects for this year’s fair are being entered today (Thursday), from 8 a.m. until noon at the community building. Projects will not be accepted after noon. Officials at the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and members of the Switzerland County Fairboard are anticipating a record number of project entries at this year’s fair.
For those attending this year’s fair, they are sure to immediately see the newest addition to the fairgrounds.
Thanks to donations from the county and the town of Vevay, areas of the fairgrounds have been paved. The parking lot in front of the Community Building has been paved, as have the main driving lane through the fairgrounds. There have also been ramps created in order to make buildings handicap-accessible.
It will also have another positive impact on the fair.
The fairboard has also been working hard to secure amusement rides for this year’s fair after not having rides last year. The amusement company was contracted after the fairboard received a grant from the tourism commission; and rides will be available beginning on Wednesday night, July 6th, through Saturday, July 9th.
Rides will be operating Wednesday through Friday from 6-11 p.m.; and on Saturday from 3 p.m. until midnight.
Parents will want to know that next Thursday, July 7th is bracelet night for the rides; with an “all you can ride” bracelet available for $10 for that night. Single ride tickets will also be available.
There will also be a full calendar of grandstand events going on throughout the week, and ranging from tractor pulls to mud runs — there will be something going on every night that will interest people of all ages.
All grandstand events are $7 for ages six and over; and pit passes will be available for $10 for ages 16 and over. For the sanctioned tractor pull this Saturday, July 2nd, admission is $10 for ages five and above; and pit passes for the tractor pull are $20 for ages 16 and above
“We hope that everyone comes out and enjoys the fair,” Nathan Crane said. “Everyone has worked hard to make our fair a successful one, and we hope that people come out and support the children and their projects.”
*
Here’s a rundown of this year’s events at the Switzerland County 4-H Fair:
— This Saturday, July 2nd, the fair gets underway with the poultry and other fowl show along with the market egg show. That begins at 2:30 p.m. Over at the grandstand, there will be a sanctioned tractor pull beginning at 6 p.m.
— On Sunday, July 3rd, the 4-H horse and pony show will begin at noon. This is always a popular event, attracting a large number of county children. There is no grandstand event on Sunday evening.
— The rabbit show starts on Monday, July 4th, at 5:30 p.m. in the show arena; while at the Community Building that evening, the Little Miss and Little Mister contest will begin at 7 p.m.
The quad runners will make their appearance at the grandstand on Monday night, and will begin at 6:30 p.m.
— The swine show will highlight the events on Tuesday, July 5th, and will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday’s grandstand event will feature a horse, pony, and mule pull, beginning at 6 p.m.
— Wednesday gets started early with the dog show at the community building beginning at 9 a.m. The 4-H Fun Day competition will begin at 1 p.m.; and the popular baby contest will be held at the Community Building at 6:30 p.m.
Also on Wednesday, the sheep show will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m.; and Vevay Newspapers will bring back a piece of history when it sponsors an open 50-yard dash to determine who the fastest person in Switzerland County is. That event will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Over at the grandstand, Wednesday night will feature bluegrass music beginning at 6 p.m.
— The participants in the Switzerland County Mini 4-H program will have their Fun Day on Thursday, July 7th, beginning at 10:30 a.m.; and the beef show will follow in the show arena, beginning at 1 p.m.
At 4:30 p.m. the cat show will be held at the Community Building; and the meat goat show will begin at the show arena at 5:30 p.m. The kiddie pedal tractor pull will be held at 6 p.m. that evening; and it’s also “bracelet night” for the amusement rides, with everyone being able to purchase a bracelet for 410 that entitles them to unlimited rides on Thursday evening.
Thursday at the grandstand will feature the truck drags, which will begin at 6:30 p.m.
— On Friday, July 8th, there will be a demonstration by the participants in the shooting sports program at the grandstand beginning at 9 a.m. The dairy show will begin at 1 p.m. at the show arena; and the tractor driving contest will be held at the grandstand.
The dairy goat show will begin at the show arena at 5:30 p.m.; and the grandstand event on Friday will feature an antique tractor pull beginning at 6 p.m.
— This year’s fair will conclude on Saturday, July 9th, when the day kicks off with the Round Robin Showmanship event starting in the show arena at 10:30 a.m. The awards program for exhibit hall winners will be held in the Community Building at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m. the annual barbecue that precedes the livestock auction will begin at the shelter house near the show arena.
The livestock auction will begin at 4 p.m. that evening, and many buyers are expected at the event.
The grandstand events will conclude with the ever-popular mud run beginning at 8 p.m.
*
For more information about this year’s Switzerland County 4-H Fair, call the Purdue Cooperative Extension office at 427-3152.