Wayne Regional fair nears
By Staff Reports
Published in News on September 26, 2010 1:50 AM
You can almost smell the Polish sausages and fried dough. And see the lights from Ferris wheel and hear the barkers shouting "Step right up!"
It's fair time in Wayne County again.
The 62nd annual Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair starts this week for its 10-day run and organizers hope the weather will be accommodating. Dry weather has ruled September so far and although Fair Manager Milton Ingram said he hopes the county gets some rain early this week to help settle the dust, if it stays dry a little longer that would be fine with him.
"I've learned not to worry about things I can't control," he said Friday while fair staff and volunteers worked to prepare for Thursday's start.
This year rain might be a little less of a problem. The Wayne County Livestock Association, which sponsors the award-winning fair, has paved large areas around the exhibitors' buildings and the permanent eating establishments to make negotiating the fairgrounds a little easier.
"I think people are really going to enjoy this," Ingram said, "especially parents with strollers and people who have to use wheelchairs.
Powers Great American Midways will again provide the rides, 48 of them in all.
The fair will once again feature favorites such as the demolition derby (including a powder puff version), bull riding, cheerleading competitions, western gunfights, an ugly truck contest, a talents show and the Queen of the Fair Pageant.
But are some new wrinkles.
Ingram said the normally static displays set up by schools and clubs will not be static this year. They will be interactive, with students and club members on hand to give fairgoers a chance to really get involved in what the displays are about, whether its
And there will be a Kids Club "Discover Agriculture," event during which youngsters can get a hands-on experience, shucking corn, picking apples, gather eggs and perform other farm "chores." Older youth can help work on a diesel engine.
And Ingram has another twist for this year's fair. He found a 5-foot statue of a chicken in overalls that he said he immediately decided he had to have and it will be on display near the center of the action. There will be a contest to name the big bird, with the winner receiving two free 10-day passes to next year's fair.
On opening day, there will a coin contest for children at 6 p.m., with $500 in quarters scattered for eager fingers to dig for. Fireworks will be set off on both Friday nights and on the final Saturday night.
The Queen of the Fair Pageant will be held Friday night, Oct. 1. Bullriders will try to hang on for eight seconds on two nights -- Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 4-5. Demolition derbies will be held on Sunday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 9, with the powder puff contest on Sunday.
Youth talent contests will be held Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Oct. 7-8 with the spelling bee on Tuesday evening, Oct. 5. The cheerleading contest will be Wednesday, Oct. 6.
Wristbands good for all rides will cost $25 at the gate but can be purchased in advance for $20 at www.waynefair.com. Individual tickets are $1, sheets of 24 cost $20. Rides require 3,4, or 5 tickets.
A wristband entitles the wearer to ride any mechanical ride, excluding the Vortex. It requires a wristband plus three tickets.
Coupons good for a $3 discount on rides can be found at stores and other locations across the county. People in need of wheelchairs can rent scooters or motorized wheelchairs on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesday by calling 736-3275 in advance.
Livestock exhibits will start arriving Wednesday afternoon and the gates will open at 4 p.m. the following day.
The first livestock show will be the open junior meat goat show on Thursday, Sept. 30. The final livestock show will be the open horse show the following Thursday.