By Jim Winkler
4-H Youth Development Agent

The Oneida County fair officially kicks off on Friday, Aug. 14, with the “Grand Opening” ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m.  Thus begins a weekend long fair with many things for the whole family to enjoy. 

But, wait a minute! The 4-H fair begins on Thursday, Aug. 13 with exhibit judging beginning at 9 a.m. Junior exhibitors will arrive earlier that morning (8 a.m.) to pick up their exhibit entry tags at the 4-H Fair office located in the tennis courts. They will then proceed to put tags on the exhibits and take them to one of four judges which are located in the logging museum. The proposed schedule is as follows:

Judge 1: (located in the boat house)

• 9:00 a.m.: Clover-bud/Exploring projects
• 10:00 a.m.: Computers/Electricity/Mechanical Science Departments (in that order)
• 10:45 a.m.: Natural Sciences Dept
• 11:30 a.m.: Animal/Vet Sciences, Scrape books, Youth Leadership & Self Determined
• 1:15 p.m.: Woodworking (both junior & open). (In animal area known as Animal Alley)
• 2:30 p.m.: Cat Project judging
• 2:40 p.m.: Dog Project judging
• 3:30 p.m.: Rabbit Project judging
• 4:00 p.m.: Poultry Project judging (junior & open)

Judge 2: (located in the mess hall)

• 9:00 a.m.: Flowers & House Plants
• 10:30 a.m.: Plant & Soil Sciences

Open and Senior class judging

• 1:00 p.m.: Flowers, House Plants; Plant & Soil Sciences

Judge 3: (located in the CCC Building)

• 9 a.m.  Foods & Nutrition which is Dept 25
• 9:30 p.m. Knit/Crocheting, Home Furnishing, Child Dev.
• 10 a.m. Clothing

Open and Senior class judging

• 1 p.m.  Foods, Knitting/Crocheting, Home Furnishings and     Clothing

Judge 4:  (located in the Mess Hall)

• 9 a.m. Photography (Dept 20
• 10:30 a.m.  Health, Education Exhibits (Dept 34 & 35)
• 11 a.m.  Cultural Arts  (Dept 18)

Open and Senior class judging

• 1:30 p.m. Antiques (Dept 19), Cultural Arts (Dept 18), Photography (Dept 20)

Once all the judging is done and ribbons awarded, the Exhibition Hall (tennis courts) will be available for viewing at noon on Friday until 8 pm. Hours on Saturday will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Exhibits will be released at 5 p.m..

The open and senior exhibits must be in place by 1 p.m. for judging. The above schedule outlines the judging times.

Events at the Fair

After the Grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at the South entrance of Pioneer Park on Friday, Aug. 14, all of the many activities kick into gear.

The fair official hours will be:

• Friday: noon to midnight
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to midnight (Hodag Farmers market begins at 8 a.m.)
• Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The carnival this year is K&M Carnival and Amusements from the Phillips area. The schedule for the Carnival is as follows:

• Friday: 5-11 p.m.; wristbands 6 – 10 p.m.
• Saturday: noon – 11 p.m.; wristbands noon – 4 p.m.
• Sunday: noon – 6 p.m.; wristbands 1-5 p.m.

There will be many things for the fair participants this year, most of them free. A big thank you goes out to our businesses and organizations that are sponsoring much of the happenings at the fair.

All around the park there will be artisans, exhibit areas, vehicle-ville and music. The Senior Center will have a tent with activities and a place to rest. There will be two stages, one next to the beer garden and the other in the logging museum. The YMCA will also have a presence by organizing games and activities for families in “family land.”

There will be over a dozen food vendors around the park for you to satisfy your tummy.  There are over 50 vendors and attractions signed up for the fair. There will be pony rides, educational horse and dog programs, the DNR fish tank, and all sorts of product vendors. There certainly is something for the whole family at the 2009 county fair.

Music:

Friday

• (MAIN STAGE) noon – 2 p.m Dave Drivas; 2:15 – 4:30 p.m.  Jeff Santy’s Tune Smith Academy (4 different bands); 5 – 7 p.m. Scott Bixby; and at the main show from 7:45 – 11:45 p.m OlderBudWiser.
• Home Spun Stage (at the museum): 3 – 5 p.m. Rendezvous

Saturday

• Main Stage: 10-11 am Community band; 11:15 – 1:15 p.m. Bridge Street Dixieland Band; 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Lake George Music Club; 3:45 – 6:30 p.m. Kevin Keys band; Main Show from 7:45 – 11:45 p.m. 3 Miles South.
• Home Spun Stage: 10 – 11 am TBA; 11-12:30 pm Meals for the Hungry; 12:45 – 2:15 p.m. Bill Kaul & Company; 2:30 – 3:30 pm TBA; 3:45 – 5 p.m. Bill Kaul & Company.

Sunday

• Main Stage: 10 – 1 p.m. Stake the Hero Christian Band; 1:15 – 4 pm Keyed Up with Skip Wagner; 1 – 4 p.m. Face the Music Barbershop Quartet – (strolling the fairgrounds)
• Home Spun Stage: 10 – 11 a.m. Mark Wayne Gospel; 11:15 – 12:15 p.m. TBA; 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. June Lego & Quilting History; 2 – 4:30 p.m. Joe Cronick & “hand picked” Bluegrass.

The county fair's official hours will be Friday, noon to midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight (Hodag Farmers Market begins at 8 a.m.); Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As I prepare this article, I know our Fair Planning Committee is getting more programs, selling wristbands for the carnival and securing sponsors.

If you would like to help sponsor something, please call the Extension office at 365-2750 or Tina Werres (chair) at 490-3002.  

Also, on Tuesday through Thursday, August 11 – 13 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., there is a need for volunteers to help with setup in Pioneer Park as we prepare for the Fair.  Please consider lending a hand.

Finally, come support the county fair of Oneida County by attending Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday.