Saturday was a day for both kids and kids at heart at the revamped Barton County Fair.

Kids Day at the fair Saturday began early at with a 5k and one mile run/walk, and a Family Fun Bicycle Ride at the Expo grounds. 

The cycling event was designed for more than just riding, though. Several individuals and organizations were out helping promote bicycle safety for the entire family. 

The Pilot Club of Great Bend fitted youngsters for helmets, while Todd VanSkike of Golden Belt Bicycle Shop helped participants address basic maintenance issues with their bikes.

Obstacle courses were set up for kids to practice safe riding, and K-State Research and Extension Agent Donna Krug taught kids proper hand signals and local rider Brandon Steinert helped kids learn to ride at safe speeds. Local 4-H’ers also helped kids make decorative license plates for their bikes and decorate their spokes. Officer Jasmine Bell with the Great Bend Police Department was also out to help provide free bicycle registrations, as well.

The event drew attendees not only from Barton County but from as far away as Colorado, as well as Kansas communities such as Lindsborg, as well.

But bikes and running shoes were just the tip of the iceberg for Saturday activities at the Fair.

The afternoon kicked off in high gear with fair staples such as the antique tractor pull, then a little mutton busting fun for the youngsters. The mutton busting had 11 registered participants ranging in age from 3 to 7 years.

The competition continued into the afternoon and evening with a pedal tractor pull for both adults and children, and a corn hole competition for adults. Grown up “kids at heart” could also try their hands, literally, at axe throwing, which was new to this year’s fair.

Most notably, though, making its return for a second straight post-COVID year was an indoor midway with several carnival games where participants of all ages could compete to win prizes.

The midway began last year as a way for fair organizers to adapt the fair experience after not being able to host a carnival at the fair since the onset of COVID-19.

Though torrential rains and winds Thursday evening dampened attendance on the fair’s first full night, overall Krug said the fair has been well-attended so far, despite attendance being down slightly from pre-COVID years.

Krug said the fair has seen an uptick in attendance this year, in particular from people just wanting to come out and take in the fair experience.

One significant success Krug reported was a group of around 80 USD 428 summer school students who came out Friday morning. The students were able to interact with county 4-H’ers and their animals up close and personal, and experience the other various 4-H projects. It helped give students an insight into the 4-H experience.

“The kids were really excited, (USD 428) has actually invited us to come out to the school next week about 4-H, so that is a real positive,” Krug said.

Krug said there’s also been growth in the amount of volunteers helping out with the fair this year. “We’ve recruited some new folks to help us in the 4-H division, and it’s been good getting people involved.”

Krug said one thing she would like to see is more community participation through open class entries at the fair, something she feels like would be accessible to almost anyone. “Everyone’s got a hobby, and chances are do something (with it) for the fair.”

Ty Ludwick, a Barton County Fair volunteer who has helped coordinate open class fair entries since 2005, said while fair entries have not completely rebounded to pre-COVID years, participation is continuing to grow once again.

As the fair has adapted and added new events, such as the midway, axe throwing, and monster truck rides, Ludwick feels overall the changes have been well received by attendees.

The Barton County Fair continues today – plus the clean-up on Monday. Here is the schedule:

Sunday, July 10

8 a.m. - Sunrise Service

8:30 a.m. - 4-H Members Breakfast (sponsored by 4-H Holding Board)

9:30 a.m. - 4-H Small Animal Round Robin (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

10:45 a.m. - 4-H Livestock Round Robin (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

11 a.m. - 4-H BBQ

1 p.m. - Celebrity Showmanship

2 p.m. - 4-H Showcase Awards (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

2 p.m. - Farm Bureau Association Root Beer Float Social (Expo III)

2:30 p.m. - Sale of Champions (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

4 p.m. - Buildings closed for check-out preparations

4:30 p.m. - Check out exhibits

Monday, July 11

All Day - All volunteers welcome. Tear down and storage.

5 p.m. - Final check-out of remaining exhibits and cleanup