2016 Fair prepares for weekend activities

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert County Fair heads into the Labor Day weekend with more of everything: livestock shows, entertainment, rides, and, of course, that scrumptious fair food.

Saturday includes one of the most popular fair events: the cheerleading contest, which will be held starting at 10 a.m. in front of the grandstand.

Junior Fair livestock shows include the Dairy Feeder Show at 8:30 a.m. in the Farm Focus Arena, the Goat and Poultry shows, both starting at 9 a.m., in the Goat Arena and Poultry Barn, respectively. The Beef Show will begin at noon in the Farm Focus Arena, while the Horse Pleasure Show will also start at noon in the Junior Horse Arena.

Senior Fair and open class shows include the Open Class Ponies & Draft Horses competition at 9 a.m. in the Senior Fair Horse Arena, the Senior Fair Poultry Show at 9 a.m. in the Poultry Barn, the Senior Rabbit Show at 10 a.m. in the Rabbit Barn, the Boer Goat Show in the Goat Arena, and the Open to the World Feeder Calf Show from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Farm Focus Arena.

The double-elimination doubles horseshoe competition will begin at 9 a.m. on the horseshoe courts, while a Kids Dream Day will run from noon-7 p.m. in front of the grandstand.

A Kiddie Tractor Pull will take place at 1:30 p.m. near the Agriculture Building (registration begins at 12:30 that afternoon), while Bruiser Wrestling will start at 4 p.m. near the Junior Fair Building.

A singles horseshoe tournament will run from 1-6 p.m. on the horseshoe courts, while an Animal Dress-Up Show will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Farm Focus Arena.

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church will hold services at 5:45 p.m. in the Music Pavilion, while the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band will perform at 4 p.m. in the pavilion.

Also performing in the Music Pavilion on Saturday will be The Minor Blues at 5 p.m., the Soul’d Out Quartet at 7 Saturday evening, and Nut Flush at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Sunday’s events and activities begin with the Junior Fair Rabbit Showmanship Contest at 9 a.m. in the Rabbit Barn, with a church service held at 10 Sunday morning in the Music Pavilion.

The Junior Fair Rabbit Show will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Rabbit Barn, while several Junior Fair fun activities, including a Milk Mustache Contest and Smoothie Bike Activity, will be held in the Dairy Barn, starting at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Junior Fair Horse Contesting will also begin at 5 p.m. in the Junior Fair Horse Arena.

Two big livestock shows will be held on Sunday, with the “Open to the World Market Lamb Show at 5:30 p.m. in the Sheep Arena, and the Ryan Trentman Memorial Swine Show at 6 p.m. in the Farm Focus Arena.

The popular Demolition Derby will begin in front of the grandstand at 7 p.m. Sunday, with the Kids Dream Day running from noon-7 p.m. at the grandstand. Several groups and activities are scheduled for the Music Pavilion. Those include the Children Choosing Christ event from 1-5 p.m., the 4-H Fashion Review at 5 p.m., 4-H presentations at 6 p.m., Christian Davis at 7 p.m., and Rob G and the Hired Guns at 9 p.m.

Although the fair officially ends on Monday, there will be plenty of events and activities to close out the fair. Labor Day will feature some fancy horse racing, with thoroughbred and quarter horse racing beginning at noon in front of the grandstand. Harness racing will be featured at the grandstand, starting at 7 p.m. Monday.

Livestock shows include the Open Sheep Show at 8 a.m. in the Sheep Arena, the Junior Fair Swine Show in the Farm Focus Arena at 8:30 a.m. Monday, the Senior Fair Dairy Show at 3 p.m. in the Farm Focus Arena, the Junior Fair Horse Fun Show in the Junior Fair Horse Arena, and the crowning Junior Fair event: the Showman of Showmen competition at 5 p.m. in the Farm Focus Arena.

Entertainment includes Trinity, Masters Own, and Tom Kennerk in the Music Pavilion, starting at 5 p.m.

The most important post-fair event for Junior Fair livestock exhibitors will be Tuesday’s Junior Fair Livestock Auction, where youngsters’ fair animals will be sold to the highest bidder. That event begins at 9 a.m. in the Farm Focus Arena.