Truck-Tractor Pull Friday fair highlight

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The third day of the 158th edition of the Van Wert County Fair was a busy one indeed, with all kinds of activities and events held on a nearly perfect day, as far as weather goes.

The entertainment highlight of the day was the Michindoh Truck and Tractor Pull held Friday evening in front of the grandstand. The spirited contest included lots of smoke, clouds of dust roaring engines as competitors in several categories vied to see which one could pull a weight sledge the farthest.

Although the truck and tractor pull brought a number of fans to the grandstand, the event was far from the only thing going on during Friday’s day at the fair.

Several Junior and Senior Fair livestock shows were also held Friday, including the Senior Fair Poultry Show, Junior Fair Dairy Show, the Open Class Mules and Miniature Horse and Senior Fair Horse Show, the Senior Fair Stock Horse Show and the Junior Fair Rabbit Show, which was held in the new Rabbit Barn.

Veterans and senior citizens also got in free Friday, and there were special activities for both groups on the fairgrounds, including a Veterans Day Parade, free ham and bean soup and cornbread at lunch and doughnuts in the morning and a special program in the Entertainment Tent.

A hot air balloon launch was planned and helicopter rides were popular at the fair on Friday.

Today should also be a busy one at the fair. A balloon launch was planned for early this morning, while several livestock shows are planned today.

Those include the American Dairy Goat Show, Junior Fair Dairy Feeder Show, Senior Rabbit Show, Junior Fair Poultry Show, Senior Fair Stock Horse Show, “Open to the World” Feeder Calf Show, Junior Fair Beef Show, and a continuation of the Junior Fair Rabbit Show.

The popular cheerleading competition will be held, starting at 10 this morning, in front of the grandstand, while a Kiddie Tractor Pull will run from 1-3 p.m. at the Entertainment Tent, there will be a singles horseshoe contest, Bruiser Wrestling will be held near the Junior Fair Building at 4 this afternoon.

The headliner for today will be Country band Emerald Blue, which will perform in front of the grandstand, starting at 9:45 p.m. Prior to Emerald Blue, a new event, the Calf Scramble, will be held in front of the grandstand, starting at 7:30 tonight.

There will also be free entertainment, including Chris August in the Gospel Pavilion and Rockabilly performer Blair Carman in the Entertainment Tent.

Sunday will also be a busy one, with the annual Demolition Derby held at 7 p.m. Sunday in front of the grandstand. Also on Sunday will be the 4-H Talent Show and 4-H Style Review, hot air balloon launches, a Milk Mustache Contest at the Dairy Barn, Gospel performer David Dunn at the Gospel Pavilion and Country performers Cooke & Belle in the Entertainment Tent.

Several livestock shows will also be held Sunday. They include the Junior Fair Pleasure Horse Show, Junior Fair Rabbit Showmanship event, Van Wert County Market Lamb Show, and Ryan Trentman Memorial Swine Show.

A double horseshoe tournament will also be held on Sunday, while a Horse Pull will be held in front of the grandstand at 1 p.m. Sunday.