The Barton County 4-H Fair got underway Wednesday at the Expo Complex west of Great Bend. Most of the Open Class and 4-H exhibits were checked in and judging of 4-H exhibits began.
Tom Little from Andover judged the 4-H rabbit show, where youths were expected to know some basics about their bunnies’ bred and variety. The animals would be judged by the American Rabbit Breed Association Standard of Perfection.
Cooking, fiber arts, horticulture, photography and woodworking are just a few of the entry categories, along with a variety of animals.
The fair also has a theme, “Everyday Heros,” that celebrate people in the military, first responders, teachers and some of the unsung heros in our daily lives. As Barton County Fair Association President Charles Atkinson says, “Everyday Heroes are ordinary people with extraordinary courage.” In keeping with the theme, there are several Quilts of Valor on display in Expo I, along with the commercial exhibits. The quilts are created by Golden Plains Quilts of Valor to present to area veterans as a thank you for their service. Each quilt has a photo of the veteran with information about his or her term of service.
Wednesday was also the opening day for Wagoner’s Carnival, which will be at the Expo through Saturday, and free stage entertainment in Expo II.
Concerts
In addition to programming on the Free Stage, concerts will be presented at 8 p.m.Thursday, Friday and Saturday on the Farmers Bank Stage.
Thanks to underwriting by several sponsors, Thursday’s Christian concert will be free and will feature Jordan Feliz and local band Homebrew. Gates will open at 7 p.m.; general admission only.
Friday is country music night and will feature the Carl Worden Band and the Queens of Country. Tickets are $10, available online at www.bartoncountyfair.com and other locations.
Saturday is rock and roll tribune night. The bands will be Rock Steady, a tribute to Bad Company, and Goddesses of Rock, a tribute to the women of rock and roll. Tickets for this show are also $10.
More to come
Thursday’s schedule includes:
7:30 a.m. Business Appreciation Breakfast and Chamber Coffee
7:30-9:30 a.m. Check in Open Foods, Open & 4-H Horticulture (gardening and flowers) and Open & 4-H Crops
9 a.m. 4-H Swine Show
10 a.m. Judging of Open Foods, Open & 4-H Horticulture, Clothing, and Quilts, Open Arts & Crafts
11 a.m. Judging of Open Photography & Rocketry
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Barton County Fair Ag Challenge of Champions, FACS Judging, Livestock Skill-a-thon Contest
1 p.m. Judging of 4-H Project Display, Notebooks & Posters Photography, Reading, Home Environment, Self Determined, Wildlife, Rocketry, Energy Management, Entomology, Geology and Forestry and Open & 4-H Crops
2 p.m. Judging of Open & 4-H Woodworking, Judging of Open Ag Mech
5-10 p.m. Commercial Exhibits Open
6 p.m. 4-H Bucket Calf Show, Dog Agility Demo, Wagner’s Carnival
6-8 p.m. Free Stage Entertainment
7 p.m. Christian Concert - Jordan Feliz with guest Homebrew; Free admission
