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| 8/4/2009 10:26:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | It's time for the Pope County Fair!
Bring your family and friends to the fair - August 5-9
The 123rd Annual Pope County Fair kicks off this week with a fun-filled, family-friendly schedule of events!
There's something for everyone - from puffy cotton candy and a demolition derby to crafts and livestock exhibits!
Attendance of the Pope County Fair last year was estimated at 18,000 people, according to Pope County Fair Board Member Holly Kovarik.
So, what's the most popular event at the fair?
Kovarik said it really depends who you ask.
"The grandstand events are usually always a hit. There is usually a packed grandstand. I also think that we have one of the better fairs around as far as livestock numbers are concerned and, if you ask anyone from Pope County, they probably are a little partial to our hometown fair," she said. "The fair board prides itself on trying to make this the best fair around."
County fair schedule highlights
- Wednesday, August 5 -
• Pope County Open Ranch Sorting Competition: This is the second annual event and features many local cowboys and cowgirls. Come watch how skillful these cowboys and cowgirls can be on horseback sorting eight head of cattle. This event is timed and the winners with the fastest times will take home cash and prizes. You won't be able to sit down for long for this event - the more cheering the better! So don't miss this night of cheap entertainment.
- Thursday, August 6 -
• Kids Day at the Fair: Thursday is Kids Day and will feature a carnival armband special until 5 p.m., Kids Day Prize Drawing and a Minnesota Science Museum's Electrifying Show at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Hog Roast: The Old Fashioned Hog Roast is a popular community event! For only $2, you'll get a hot meal with all the fixins.
• Rodeo night: Triple B Rodeo will be in town tonight, beginning at 7 p.m. in the grandstand.
- Friday, August 7 -
• Senior Citizen Day at the Fair: Friday is Senior Day at the fair and will feature a $2 meal for seniors, beginning at 11:15 a.m. at the Little Red Barn. The event is sponsored by the Pope County Ag Society and Trumm Drug. Then, at 11:30 a.m., Pope County's Outstanding Seniors will be honored. At 12 p.m., the 3rd Annual Potato Peeling Contest begins and at 12:30 p.m., The Hotdishes will take the stage for a musical and comedy show.
• Terrace Sportsman's Feed: The annual Terrace Sportsman's Feed is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Little Red Barn. Bring your appetite!
• Rodeo night: Triple B Rodeo will be in town tonight, beginning at 7 p.m. in the grandstand.
- Saturday, August 8 -
• 4-H Auction: The ever-popular 4-H Premium Auction is set to begin at 9 a.m.
• Baker's Contest: The 8th Annual Baker's Contest, featuring blueberries this year, will begin at 11:30 a.m.
• Cattlemen's Feed: The Glacial Ridge Cattlemen's Association will again host its annual Cattelmen's Feed beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Little Red Barn.
• Pickup and Tractor Pull: Get ready for a rip-roarin' good time at the grandstand beginning at 5:30 p.m. when the grandstands will be packed for the Pickup and Tractor Pull, featuring the Central MN Pullers Association.
- Sunday, August 9 -
• Christian music: Youth For Christ will feature Christian music beginning at 11 a.m.
• Demolition Derby: The Demolition Derby will be a guaranteed smashing good time, beginning at 1 p.m. in the grandstand.
Crescent City carnival is back!
The Crescent City Amusement company will bring it's carnival to town this week. The carnival opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday, opens at 12 p.m. Thursday, 3 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday.
Note that there will be no Carnival on Sunday due to the fact that the compnay has to head out to set up at another fair.
The fair is an affordable entertainment option
Kovarik, said, "We recognize that times are tough, but you cannot get the magnitude of entertainment elsewhere that you can at the local Pope County Fair."
For example, Kovarik noted, on Thursday evening, you can get a meal at the Little Red Barn for only $2 - you can't even get a Happy Meal for that price! You can bring the kids down for Kid's Day on Thursday and enter them for free prizes - usually, no one walks away without a prize!
Armband specials will also run throughout the fair. For the best fair deal come ride the rides on Friday evening as part of the "Carnival Can Drive Special." Bring three canned goods, $30, and receive three armbands. All can canned goods will be donated to the local food shelf.
Parking at the fair is free and your entrance to the grounds is free, as well. Tickets are available for purchase for grandstand events.
Lots of fairgrounds fix up projects!
Over the last few years, several fairgrounds improvement projects have been done to upgrade buildings and improve safety and access to the grounds.
In 2007, there were 25 new benches made for additional seating on the grounds. There was a roofing project on the grandstand and a new stage was built for the area next to the Little Red Barn. In addition, a flower bed was added around the flag pole.
In 2008, there were 25 picnic tables were made to replace old ones on the grounds, the Industrial building received a new steel roof, 105 gallons of paint were utilized, a new flower bed was installed, and a raingarden was installed.
This year, 15 more picnic tables were made, the two bathrooms on the backside of the office were painted and the flooring was fixed in the women's bathroom, a new sidewalk was installed, handicap seating was added inside the grandstand, and the grandstand was remodeled on the front side to include a new ticket booth, food booth, and an area under the grandstand for outside exhibitor booths. The raingarden also received an update with tiling and plants better suited to the wet conditions that were realized after the initial construction of the raingarden. Additional display tables were also made for the exhibitors in the livestock barns and a new area with a walkway will be installed on the North end of the 4-H building to make the building easier to access. There are also several dead trees that were taken down near the horse barn and new trees will be planted in their place to enhance the camping area.
Thanks for supporting the fair!
The Pope County Ag Society has extended its thanks to local townships and Pope County for their support of the fair.
"Without their assistance we would not be able to continue to improve the grounds, make it safer, and more handicap accessible," Kovarik noted. "The fair board and volunteers have really worked hard to get all the projects done in time for the fair. A special thank you to all of you."
While enjoying your time at the fair, fair-goers are encouraged to drop by the Fair Office or talk to a fair board member and provide your comments about the fair.
Kovarik said, "Your comments continue to help us make the needed improvements to the fair."
More information about the fair is available at www.popecountyfair.org.
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