Schedule in place for 2006 local fair
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on August 4, 2006 1:49 PM
They're almost back -- the ugly trucks, western gunfights, corndogs, pies, flowers, goats and fireworks.
Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair officials recently released this fall's lineup and said they are ready to go, on what some have called "the biggest and brightest, ever."
Milton Ingram said he hopes the weather between Sept. 28 and Oct. 7 stays dry this year, as rain interrupted some of last year's events.
"We're really hoping for some good weather," he said. "It's looking like it will be an exciting year for us."
Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. on the 28th, bringing hungry, thrill-seeking customers back to the fairgrounds for the 58th straight year.
Ingram said much of the food and programming will be familiar to those who have attended the fair in the past -- including livestock shows.
Last year, some officials were concerned that sparse participation from locals might jeopardize the future of livestock shows at the fair. Earlier this week, Ingram said that the fair and livestock go hand-in-hand and many Wayne children show up each year with their horses, goats and hogs.
"It's an agricultural fair," he said. "We wouldn't think about pulling the livestock shows."
Despite many similarities between this year's schedule and last, Ingram said there will be a little novelty, too.
"We're going to have a lot of local musicians out this year," he said. "And we've got two new programs for the children -- Rowdy Rooster and Nick's Kids (Variety Show)."
Now that the countdown has begun, Ingram said officials will begin hammering down the remaining details. One that Wayne officials are "way ahead on," is safety, he added -- protecting fairgoers from bacteria associated with livestock.
Here are some of the highlights from this year's 58th Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair:
Thursday, Sept. 28: Gates open
Friday, Sept. 29: Queen of the Fair Pageant , 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 30: Ride Special, 12 to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 1: Demolition Derby, 2 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 2: Carpentry Vocational Competition, 5:30 p.m.; Open Junior Market Lamb show, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 3: Pie-baking contest, 12:30 p.m.; Flowers to be judged, 1 p.m.; Open Junior Market Beef Heifer show, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 4: Grade K-2 Talent Contest, 4 p.m.; Livestock judging, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 5: Tractor Operators' Contest, 3 p.m.; Open Horse Show, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6: Roby Huffman and the Bluegrass Cutups, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 7: Ugly Truck contest, 1:30 p.m.; Demolition Derby, 2 p.m.
For the full schedule of events, visit the fair Web site at http://www.waynefair.com.