Over 5,000 project entries are included in this year’s Douglas County Fair as the annual event returns with a carnival, live performances, a demolition derby and 4-H livestock auctions.
There are 280 4-H participants contributing project entries this year, which is above average, Douglas County Fair Board President Tim Flory said.
“There’s something for everybody at the fair,” he said. “It’s more than just farm kids. It’s for everybody.”
The kids put in work year round to take care of animals, learn a new skill and perfect their projects, he said.
“There’s no days off,” he said. “Kids are getting to learn all these different life skills depending on the project. It’s awesome for the kids to get to display all their hard work.”
Flory said Douglas County is fortunate to have quality facilities to host the fair. Although there are events with cost for admission like the carnival and demolition derby, parking and seeing 4-H exhibits is free to the public, he said.
“It’s fun to watch the kids show their animals,” he said. “It’s fun to watch them achieve their goals.”
Tickets for the demolition derby go on sale at the fair office starting noon Wednesday. Tickets are also available online.
Saturday, July 26
7:30 a.m. — Superintendent’s Appreciation & Kickoff Breakfast, Flory Building
8:30 a.m. — Building Set-Up
8 a.m. — Open Horse Show Check-in, Community Building
9 a.m. — Open Horse Show, Community Building
Sunday, July 27
8 to 8:45 a.m. — 4-H Horse Show Check-in, Community Building
8:50 a.m. — 4-H Horse Show Orientation Meeting & Flag Ceremony
9 a.m. — 4-H Horse Show
6 p.m. — Beef Tie-out Set-up, Tie-Out Area North of Community Building
Monday, July 28
1 to 6 p.m. — Enter & Consultation Judging on all 4-H/FFA exhibits, A-Way-With Waste, Banners, Agronomy, Fiber Arts, Horticulture, Flowers, Foods and Food Preservation,
Photography, Project Displays, Building Block Engineering, Astronomy,
Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace/Rocketry, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems,
Visual Arts, Woodworking, and Ag Education, enter 4-H Clothing Exhibits.
1 to 6 p.m. — Enter Open Class Fine Arts, Flowers, Food Preparation, Food Preservation,
Horticulture & Crops, Quilts, and S.T.E.M., Judging of Open Class Food and Food Preservation
4 to 6 p.m. — Enter & Consultation Judging on 4-H: Cloverbuds, Electric & Renewable Energy,
Small Engines, Entomology, Forestry, Geology, Welding, & Interior Design and
Architecture exhibits.
6 to 9 p.m. — Check-In Dairy Cattle, Alpacas, Llamas, Poultry, and Rabbits
6 to 9 p.m. — Enter Beef, Bucket Calves, Dairy & Meat Goats, Sheep, and Swine for a soft
check-in with health screening and tag number checks.
Tuesday, July 29
Building 21 and Flory Building open 3 to 8 p.m.
8:30 a.m. — Judging of Open Class Fine Arts, Flowers, Horticulture & Crops, and Quilts.
8 a.m. — Poultry Show, Poultry Showmanship & Poultry Skill-A-Thon, Open Pavilion
8 a.m. — Goat [Market, Breeding, Dairy] Check-In and Weigh-In
8 a.m. — Beef [Market & Breeding] Check-In and Weigh-In
8:30 a.m. — Sheep [Market & Breeding] Check-In and Weigh-In
9 a.m. — Swine [Market & Breeding] Check-In and Weigh-In
1 to 2 p.m. — Cornhole tournament, Open Pavilion
3 to 6 p.m. — Food Sale, Building 21
6 p.m. — Dairy Goat and Meat Goat Show, Open Pavilion
6 to 8 p.m. — Touch A Truck, North Dreher parking lot
7 to 10 p.m. — Jack Dunker and the Ellman Brothers, Stage Area
Wednesday, July 30
Buildings open to the public 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
8:30 a.m. — Rabbit Show, 4-H/FFA/Open in Open Pavilion
11 a.m. — Dairy Cow Show, 4-H/Open in Community Building
12 to 2 p.m. — 4-H Enrichment activities
1 to 2 p.m. — Cornhole Tournament, Open Pavilion
1 to 9 p.m. — Petting Zoo
2:30 p.m. — 4-H Council Trivia Contest, Dreher Building
5 to 8 p.m. — Pony Rides
5 p.m. — Swine Show, 4-H/FFA/Open in Open Pavilion
6 to 11 p.m. — Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival
7 p.m. — Big Red Sled-Garden Tractor Pulling, Outdoor Arena
7 to 10 p.m. — The Back-Atcha-Band, Stage Area
Thursday, July 31
Buildings open to the public 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
7:30 to 9:30 a.m. — Accept President’s Pie Baking Entries, Dreher Building
8 a.m. — Dairy Goat Milking Contest Milk Out
9 a.m. — Llama and Alpaca Show, Open Pavilion
10:30 a.m. — Small Livestock Round Robin, Open Pavilion
Noon — Livestock Skill-A-Thon, North Dreher Bldg.
1 to 2 p.m. — Cornhole Tournament, Open Pavilion
1 to 9 p.m. — Petting Zoo
1:30 p.m. — Livestock Judging Contest
5 to 8 p.m. — Pony Rides
6 p.m. —Sheep Show, Open Pavilion
6 p.m. — Antique Tractor Pull, Outdoor Arena
6 to 11 p.m. — Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival
7 to 10 p.m. — Big Rick Soul Band, Stage Area
8 p.m. — Dairy Goat Milking Contest Milk Out
Friday, Aug. 1
Buildings open to the public 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
7:30 to 9:30 a.m. — Accept President’s Pie Baking Entries, Dreher Building
8:30 a.m. — Bucket Calf Show followed by Beef Show, Community Building
1 p.m. — Auction cards due at Fair Board Office, Building 21 South
1 to 2 p.m. — Cornhole Tournament, Open Pavilion
1 to 9 p.m. — Petting Zoo
2 to 8 p.m. — Pony Rides
2 p.m. — The Lawrence Comics Stand Up Comedy Team, Stage Area
5 p.m. — Adult Showmanship & Creative Fitting & Showing, Open Pavilion
6 p.m. — Bale Throwing Contest, Blacktop Area
6 p.m. to midnight — Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival
7 to 10 p.m. — Delta Haze, Stage Area
7:30 p.m. — Demolition Derby, Outdoor Arena
Saturday, Aug. 2
Buildings open to the public 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
7:30 to 9:30 a.m. — Accept President’s Pie Baking Entries, Dreher Building
9 a.m. — Large Livestock Round Robin, Open Pavilion
10 a.m. — Turtle Race, Stage Area on Blacktop
10:30 a.m. — Pedal Tractor Pull, Douglas County Farm Bureau Pavillion. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.
1 to 9 p.m. — Petting Zoo
2 – 8 p.m. — Pony Rides
11 a.m. — Barnyard Olympics
Noon — Cornhole Championship, Open Pavilion
1 to 5 p.m. — Family Day, Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival
3 p.m. — Awards Ceremony, Open Pavilion
4 p.m. — Frontier Farm Credit Ice Cream Social, Open Pavilion
5 p.m. to midnight — Moore’s Greater Shows Carnival
5:30 p.m. — Livestock Auction, Open Pavilion
8 p.m. — Demolition Derby, Outdoor Arena
8 to 11 p.m. — Savanna Chestnut, Stage Area
Sunday, Aug. 3
8 to 10 a.m. — All exhibits released