77th Howard County Fair opens Saturday with food, games, music, 4-H and FFA fun

Aug. 3—Rides, food, pig races, Farmer Wars and 4-H and Future Farmers of America exhibits are back in West Friendship this week at the Howard County Fairgrounds as the 77th county fair kicks off Saturday.

Through Aug. 12, the county's fair association has a variety of events planned, including contests, musical performances, and ride specials. For a full schedule of events, go to https://howardcountyfairmd.com.

Gates open to the general public each day at 8 a.m. and stay open until 10 p.m. Tickets for people 12 and younger are free if accompanied by an adult. Admission is $10 for attendees 13-61 years old; those 62 and older get in for $5.

Guests can expect entertainment and musical performances every night of the fair, including The Hubcaps, the New Censation Band and country singer Michael Christopher. Square dancing, sheep dog herding demonstrations, a talent show and magic shows are all on the calendar, too.

Almost any contest that you can think of will be available: pie eating, horse pulling, skid steer contest, lawn mower, karaoke, antique tractor pull and more.

The county fair is all about legacy, said Lesle Bauer, business manager for the Howard County Fair Association. Most of those who organize and work at the fair are volunteers in their 60s, 70s, and 80s who have lived in the community for decades.

They still give back to the fair each year as "part of their lifeblood," Bauer said.

"To me, it's the legacy of what [the fair has] created," Bauer said. "I think that the fair is a huge way to bring the community together. It's something when I was growing up in 4-H, I looked forward to it, it was kind of like the last hurrah of summer before heading back to school in a few weeks. So that was a big thing and it was a great time to see friends."

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said the fair connects the community year each year to its mutual appreciation for farming.

"Being able to support the fair is supporting our farmers, supporting our future farmers, and supporting our economy, and frankly, just coming together as a community," Ball said.

The fair opens on Saturday with the 4-H and Future Farmers of America canine show, 45th annual horse pull and a musical performance by Michael Christopher. The first day of the fair is Armed Forces Day and anyone with valid military identification enters for free.

Tuesday celebrates Senior Day, when people 62 and older will be admitted to the fair for free.

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Mickey Day, president of the county fair association, said while the fair is full of fun and games for the entire family to enjoy, agriculture is the focus.

"The fair is the big highlight event that offers eight days of opportunities for [people to] see what it's like to be involved with agriculture, what farm life is like, where their food comes from, most importantly," Day said.

At the fair, guests can enjoy local farm produce, horse education tent and an antique tractor display.

"If you're hungry, there's food at every turn," Ball said. "If you want to enjoy the rides, we have the rides. If you want to just support our current and future farmers, this is a great opportunity to come out with your neighbors and enjoy this annual tradition."