Guernsey County Fair returns Sept. 12 to 18
OLD WASHINGTON − It's almost that beloved time of year, when carnival rides go up, animals get checked in and kids and families swarm the fairgrounds. The 174th annual Guernsey County Fair is set to run from Sept. 12 to 18, bringing nightly events, animal sales, and fried food.
Shows scheduled before the grandstand this year include the Junior Fair parade and royalty presentation, along with the 4-H awards on Monday evening. The awards program will begin at 5:30, and royalty crowning will take place at 6 p.m., with the parade to follow. Tuesday evening guests can watch the Motocross show beginning at 7 p.m., and on Wednesday view the 7 p.m. Rough Truck event.
The OSTPA Truck and Tractor pull will get things going Thursday evening at 7 p.m, with the COPTA Truck and Tractor pull the following evening. Saturdays' shows include Topnotch Wrestling Alliance at 2 p.m. along the midway loop and the 7 p.m. Rodeo. Closing out the fair will be the demolition derby, taking place at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
On the Junior Fair side of things, animal move-in and weigh-ins will take place throughout today. Showmanship events are scheduled throughout the week. Monday is dairy beef and beef, Tuesday is sheep, Wednesday is Boer goat, swine, rabbit, horse, and dairy, and Thursday has dairy and pygmy goats scheduled.
Friday is scheduled as the Junior Fair sale day. More than 500 animals are scheduled to be sold beginning at 9 a.m., with two sale rings selling at the same time. The swine sale will begin at 9 a.m. in the swine arena, and the small animal sale is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the Home of the Champions with the beef sale to follow.
Admission to the fair this year will be $10 Tuesday through Sunday and it does include a ride ticket. On Monday guests can enter the fair for the discounted rate of $5 or a donation of three canned goods for the Stock the Trailer program. No rides will be operating on Monday. Tuesday is Veterans Day with free admission for veterans with identification. Senior citizens age 60 and older can enjoy the fair at no charge on Wednesday with free admission. Week-long passes will also be available for purchase at the fairgrounds.
The full fair schedule can be found by visiting the Guernsey County Fairgrounds website.
Fair schedule
Monday: 7:30 a.m. flag raising (Home of Champions); 8 to 10 a.m. Beef weigh-in; 8 a.m. Dairy Goat weigh-in; 10:30 a.m. to noon Beef Breeding check-in; 2 p.m. Dairy Beef, Beef Showmanship, and Pee Wee; 3:30 p.m. Rabbit Fryer weigh-in; 5:30 p.m. 4-H awards program (Grandstand); 6 p.m., flag raising and fair opening, Jr. Fair Parade and royalty presentation (Grandstand).
Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. flag raising (Home of Champions); 9 a.m. Open Draft Horse halter judging; 9 a.m. Poultry show; 9 a.m. Rabbit Breed show; 9 a.m. Sheep Showmanship, Jr. breeding, market, open class; 9 a.m. Market Hog show; 2:30 p.m. Dairy Beef and Beef Feeder Show; 6 p.m. Market Steer show; 6 p.m. Sheep Pee Wee showmanship; 7 p.m. Motocross (Grandstand).
Wednesday: Senior Citizens Day, 60 and older free. 7:30 a.m. flag raising (Home of Champions); 9 a.m. Boer Goat showmanship, market, and breed show; 9 a.m. Horse showmanship, Western, Trail, English Riding, Draft; 9 a.m. Rabbit showmanship; 9 a.m. Swine showmanship; 9:30 a.m. Dairy showmanship, followed by junior and open show, Pee Wee show; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Senior entertainment (Pavilion); 12:30 p.m. Harness Racing; 3:30 p.m. Beef Breeding show (following Dairy show); 6 p.m. Swine Fun show; 7 p.m. Dairy/Pygmy Goat Decorator and Pee Wee; 7 p.m. Rough Truck (Grandstand).
Thursday: 7:30 a.m. flag raising (Home of Champions); 9 a.m. Horse show Contest, English, EnglishJumping, Saddle Versatility, Roping; 9 a.m. Open Pony, Mini, Mule, and Donkey judging & Pee Wee show; 9:30 a.m. Dairy/Pygmy Goat showmanship, Jr. Fair Dairy Goat Breed show, Market Dairy Goat show, Pygmy Goat show, Pack show; 10:30 a.m. Open Goat show; noon to 3 p.m. Jr. Fair premium payments; 1 p.m. Open Class Beef show; 3:30 p.m. Supreme Showman Clinic for Supreme Showman participants; 6 p.m. Kiddle Pedal Pull (Home of Champions); 7 p.m. OSTPA Truck and Tractor Pull (Grandstand); 7:30 p.m. Farm Olympics, sponsored by Junior Fair Board (Home of the Champions).
Friday: 7:30 a.m. flag raising (Home of Champions); 10 a.m. Antique Tractor Pull (Grandstand); 9 a.m. Swine Sale (Swine Barn); 9:30 a.m. Dairy Products Sale (Home of the Champions); 9:50 a.m. Small Animal Sale (Home of the Champions) Sale Order Sheep, Dairy Goats, Boer Goats, Rabbits, Poultry); following Small Animal Sale Beef Sale (Home of the Champions); 6 p.m. Supreme Showman Horse (Home of the Champions); 7 p.m. Lacy and The Attitude Band (Pavilion); 7 p.m. Supreme Showman Swine (Swine Barn); 7 p.m. COTPA Truck and Tractor Pull (Grandstand); 8 p.m. Supreme Showman (Home of Champions).
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. flag raising (Home of Champions); 9:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m. Open Class payments (Sr. Fair Office); 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Premium Payments (Junior Fair Office); 10 a.m. Jr. Horse Fun Show; 10 a.m. Horse Pull (Backstretch on Racetrack); 11 a.m. Rooster Crowing Contest; 11:15 a.m. Rabbit Pee Wee show; noon Rabbit Decorator Class; 2 p.m. Pull-in Show Draft Horse, Haflinger, Draft Pony, Pony, Mini, Mule, Donkey Hitch Classes (Jr. Fair Horse Arena); 2 p.m. Topnotch Wrestling Alliance Midway Loop; 4 p.m. Open Feeder Calf show; 7 p.m. Rodeo (Grandstand).
Sunday: 6 a.m. livestock release; 9 to 11 a.m. Jr. Fair premium payments (Booth Bldg.); 9 to 11 a.m. Jr. Fair Bldg. Project/Booth Release; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ag Hall premium payments/item pick-up; 1 p.m. Demolition Derby (Grandstand); 3 p.m. All animals to be removed from the grounds.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Guernsey County Fair returns Sept. 12 to 18
