County fair to host animal shows, bull riding, kids’ zone
It’s that time of year again: the Montgomery County Fair has arrived.
From July 14-19, Montgomery County will host its annual fair. Opening ceremonies will be Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Auditorium. Fair Board President Brian LeRette will welcome everyone and several presentations will be given, including the crowning of the fair queen.
This year’s fair queen contestants include Maria Pendleton, Red Oak, Isabelle Perkins, Emerson, Megan Sands, Red Oak, Kendra Top, Villisca, and Cassie Vrabel, Red Oak.
The annual religious rally follows the coronation with special guest Kindred Spirit, an a cappella group from Kansas City. The rally begins at 8:15 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Auditorium.
Wednesday’s events include the 4-H Dog Show at 8 a.m. in the White Commercial Building, an open class flower show, baking, gardening, photography, arts and crafts in the 4-H Exhibit Building from 8:30-10 a.m., a free non-certified CPR class from 2-4 p.m. in the Fairgrounds Auditorium, 4-H Night in the Fairgrounds Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. and bingo at 7 p.m. in the Old Commercial Building.
Thursday the 4-H/FFA rabbit, sheep and meat and dairy goat shows at will be at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively. A horse fun night will also be held Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Horse Arena. At 7:30 p.m., an ATV and Motorcycle Dirt Track Race will be in the Grandstand Arena.
At 9 a.m. on Friday, swine judging begins and at 3:30 p.m., there will be a 4-H/FFA livestock-judging contest.
At 7:30 p.m., the Grandstand Arena will host a bull-riding event, which will be free again this year. Following, the band Stampede, of Independence, Iowa, will perform.
Saturday will open with the 4-H/FFA beef show at 9 a.m. Following, at 9:30 a.m., the baby contest will be held in the Fairgrounds Auditorium. The 4-H pet show will be at 5 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., the Grandstand Arena will host a demolition derby. Admission for the derby is $10 per person.
On Sunday, there will be an open class bucket/bottle calf show at 2 p.m.
There will be no poultry exhibits this year due to the statewide outbreak of avian influenza.
In lieu of a carnival this year, the fair will host a Kids’ Zone. The area will be open Friday from noon-10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. It will consist of inflatables, such as bounce houses; carnival games and face-painting. There will be food sold, including funnel cakes, an ice cream stand from Good Samaritan Society and a fried food stand from Two Ladies and a Trailer.
All-day armbands for this event are $10 and all proceeds go to the Red Oak Music Boosters and the Red Oak After Prom.
The weeklong event will hold a number of activities for children and adults, but LeRette believes the main focus is the kids in the community.
“It’s all about the kids, [from] the animals, the 4-H, the leadership,” said LeRette. “We’re proud of the kids in our community.”
For a full schedule of events, check out the pre-fair tab in this week’s issue of the Red Oak Express.