KeokukGateCity Daily, IA
07-03-07
Iowa's oldest county fair opens today
By Joe Benedict/MVM News Network
DONNELLSON - Iowa's oldest county fair is back. The Lee County Fair begins today in Donnellson and has a week's worth of activities, with something for everyone.
The fair kicks off this evening with a rodeo at the grandstand beginning at 7 p.m. The band South 61 will perform in the entertainment tent tonight.
The annual Lee County Fair Queen Contest will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the grandstand. Young women from around the county will compete for queen title and have special duties throughout the fair.
The contestants are Laura Seyb, 18, daughter of Garry and Charlotte Seyb; Nicole Holtkamp, 19, daughter of Alvin and Christy Holtkamp; Emily Pieper, 18, daughter of Lee and Linda Pieper; Billie Hamner, 16, daughter of David and Lori Hamner; Caitlin Pardall, 16, daughter of Eric and Amy Pardall; Shaye Wilson, 16, daughter of Rhonda Wilson; Stephanie Rogers, 15, daughter of Christine and Robert Burchett; Megan Toni Menke, 18, daughter of Dan and Anne Menke.
After the queen is named, a talent show will take place. The event is free this night.
Thursday the all-day activities begin in earnest and it's also Kids Day at the fair. Events begin at 7 a.m. with the U.C.C. church breakfast at the learning center. At 11 a.m. the small pets, rabbit and poultry show will get underway at the show barn.
For all those entomologists out there, IowaStateUniversity will present the insect zoo from 1 to 4 p.m. After observing bugs, fair goers can head to the HolyTrinitySchool's lunch and afternoon food from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the learning center. Proceeds will help fund a trip to Rome.
Afternoon activities Thursday include two sessions of Nick's Kids Show at 1 and 2:30 p.m. At 3:30 p.m. the Show Us Your Smile Contest will take place at the free stage. The sheep show begins at 4 p.m. in the show barn, and a lamb supper begins at the same time at the learning center.
At 5:30 p.m. more crowns will be distributed at the learning center at the Little Mr. and Miss Contest. Following at 6:30 p.m., the Junior Queen Contest will be held. Contestants for the latter contest are Haili Matlock, 12, daughter of Scott and Victoria Matlock; Alora Brecount, 11, daughter of Tony and June Brecount; and Hadley Holtkamp, 11, daughter of Allan and Christina Holtkamp.
The carnival midway will open for wristband night at 6 p.m. Also at 6 p.m. will be the tough guy and gal tough tool contest at the art hall.
The contest will be held at the same time Friday and Saturday as well.
Thursday's grandstand event of is the Outlaw Truck Pull at 7 p.m.
After that event, the Backbeats will entertain from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Friday schedule
Friday is Senior Day with several activities for seniors. Breakfast will be sponsored by the Pampered Pals Red Hat Society at the learning center from 7 to 9 a.m.
At 8 a.m. the swine show will be held at the show barn, followed by the horse and pony show at 9 a.m. at the horse arena. The Pork Producers will serve lunch at 11 a.m. at the learning center.
More animal projects will be displayed at 12:30 p.m. with the dairy cattle, bucket bottle and goat shows at the show barn.
At 2 p.m. 150 senior women will receive a carnation, and senior bingo also begins then at the learning center. Some home baking skills will be displayed during the Grandma's Favorite Cookie Contest at 1:30 p.m. at the learning center. Another Nick's Kids Show will take place at 1:30 and 6 p.m.
Senior treats continue with a free ice cream social for seniors at 4 p.m. at the learning center. It is probably open to seniors, but the younger crowd might be more involved in the dodgeball tournament at 4 p.m.
The bucket bottle calf show will take place at 6 p.m. in the show barn.
Friday Night Thunder in the Heartland will be the grandstand event of the night. The stock car races will welcome sprint cars as well.
After the races, David Kroll and Heartland will perform from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Saturday schedule
Breakfast on Saturday will be served at 7 a.m. The beef show will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the show barn.
Two memorial events will be held Saturday morning. The Kevin Young Memorial one-mile run/walk begins at 8 a.m. at the learning center shelter house, and the Aulden VanWinkle Memorial Chess Tournament will get under way at 9 a.m. at the entertainment tent.
Those who would like to be in the garden tractor pull need to weigh in at 9:30 a.m., with the pull beginning at 10 a.m. at the grandstand.
The jackpot open horse show will begin at 10 a.m. at the horse arena.
Nicks Kids Show will have performances at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The open dairy show will be at 2 p.m. at the show barn.
Basketball players have a chance to hoop it up 4 p.m. at the Pepsi Hoop Shoot Contest at the art hall. Peddle pull registration begins at 5:30 p.m. at the learning center with the sanctioned pull at 6 p.m. at the learning center.
The demolition derby begins at 7 p.m., and Moneyshot will follow in the entertainment tent at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday schedule
Sunday there is an antique tractor pull at the grandstand at noon, followed by the 4-H dog show at 1 p.m. at the show barn. The AV mud bogs take place at 2 p.m. in the track pit area.
Everyone is welcome to bring their dog for the open dog show at 2 p.m. at the show barn.
Judging for the cooking contest will be at 4 p.m. at the learning center. The Ag Olympics is at the same time.
The last grandstand event is the street truck pull at 5 p.m., and the livestock auction takes place at 9 a.m. Monday.