Cloie Bruce and Ella Johnson, interns with the Montgomery County Extension Office, said preparations are in full swing as fair week approaches

Cloie Bruce and Ella Johnson, interns with the Montgomery County Extension Office, said preparations are in full swing as fair week approaches

 

 

Cloie Bruce and Johnson encouraged the community to attend shows, walk through the buildings, visit with exhibitors, and support the youth who have spent the year working on their projects.
Most fair events are free to attend, with charges mainly applying to some grandstand entertainment.

Sunday, July 12: Montgomery County Fair Opens With Shooting Sports Competition
The Montgomery County Fair gets underway Sunday, July 12, with the shooting sports competition scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at Anderson Conservation.

The remainder of Sunday will include several pre-fair activities for exhibitors, including setup, supper, and other preparations as fair week officially begins.

Monday, July 13: Horse Show, Clover Kids and Communication Events Highlight Fair Schedule
Monday, July 13, will bring several youth-centered events to the Montgomery County Fair schedule.
The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with the horse show. Following the 4-H exhibitors, Clover Kids will take part in a new pool noodle horse activity, where younger participants will demonstrate skills such as galloping and cantering with their pool noodle horses.
Also scheduled Monday are the wardrobe, table setting, and communication events. Both Clover Kids and 4-H members will have opportunities to showcase their work, including clothing projects, purchased outfits, thrifted outfits, sewn garments, table settings, and communication presentations.
The awards program for those events will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the high school auditorium. The program is open to the public.

 

Tuesday, July 14: Fair Welcome Night to Feature Awards, Bake Sale and Queen Crowning
Tuesday, July 14, will be one of the major community nights at the Montgomery County Fair.
The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with static judging for exhibitors. The dog show will also be held Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in the livestock pavilion. Organizers said they are excited to have the event in that space, with bleachers, fans, and a comfortable setting for spectators.
Fair Welcome Night begins at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public. The evening will include several major recognitions, including the Montgomery County Hall of Fame, Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame, 4-H scholarships, Rotary Club awards, and Moore scholarships from the fair board.
Two major highlights of the evening will be the bake sale and the crowning of the Montgomery County Fair Queen. Six candidates are taking part in this year’s queen competition, with judging already completed ahead of fair week.
The evening will also include a religious rally and a GaGa Ball tournament to close out the night.

 

Wednesday, July 15: Livestock Check-In, Pet Show, 4-H Night and Foam Party Planned
Wednesday, July 15, will be a busy day at the Montgomery County Fair as livestock exhibitors bring animals onto the grounds.
Animals will be weighed in and checked in throughout the day, while open class projects, including flowers, baked goods, sewing projects, and other entries, will also be checked in during the morning.  The exhibit building will be open from noon to 9:00 p.m.
At 2:30 p.m., the pet show will be held, giving 4-H members and Clover Kids the opportunity to show pets such as guinea pigs, lizards, and other animals.
4-H Night will also take place Wednesday evening. The program will include State Fair static awards, top communication acts, Share the Fun recognition, and Clover Kid graduation. The ceremony is especially meaningful for third-grade Clover Kids who are preparing to move into 4-H.
Bingo will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Gold Fair Building on the west side of the fairgrounds.
The day will wrap up with a new foam party at 9:00 p.m. near the grandstand area. Organizers said the event will include foam, neon glow lights, and a nighttime atmosphere.

 

Thursday, July 16: Sheep, Goats, Poultry, Kids Day and ATV Races on Fair Schedule
Thursday, July 16, will feature a full day of livestock shows and family activities at the Montgomery County Fair.
The day begins at 8:00 a.m. with the sheep and goat show. Goats will show first, followed by sheep. Organizers said all livestock shows are open to the public and free to attend.
Farm Bureau Kids Day activities will also be held throughout the day, including inflatables, kids trains, and other family-friendly attractions.
The poultry show is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The commercial building and exhibit areas will be open during the day, and the petting zoo will also be available.
Balloon Creations will be in the White Fair Building from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The livestock judging contest will bring 4-H and FFA exhibitors from around southwest Iowa. Participants will judge livestock classes and compare their selections with the official judge’s placings.
Evening activities include Sip and Paint from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the auditorium, bingo from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and ATV races to close out the night.

 

Friday, July 17: Swine Show, Rabbit Show, Steak Supper and Bull Riding Featured
Friday, July 17, will include livestock shows, youth activities, food, and evening entertainment at the Montgomery County Fair.
The swine show begins at 8:00 a.m. The exhibit building will open at 9:00 a.m. and remain open until 9:00 p.m.
Throughout the day, fairgoers can enjoy critter close-ups, the petting zoo, kids zone activities, and chainsaw carving demonstrations.
The rabbit show will be held at noon in the livestock pavilion. Also from noon to 8:00 p.m., the Game On trailer will be available near the grandstand area, offering games and activities for kids.
A caricature artist will be on-site from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., along with Balloon Creations.
One of Friday’s traditional fair favorites, the Cattlemen’s Steak Supper, will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Organizers encouraged fairgoers to attend and enjoy the meal.
Bingo is scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the night’s entertainment will be bull riding. The bull riding event is free for the public to attend.

 

Saturday, July 18: Beef Show, Baby Contest, Supreme Showmanship and Demolition Derby Planned
Saturday, July 18, will bring another full day of activity to the Montgomery County Fair.
The beef show begins at 8:00 a.m., followed by the baby contest at 9:00 a.m. Kid-focused activities, including inflatables, trains, the petting zoo, and other attractions, will continue throughout the day.
The commercial building will be open, and critter close-ups and chainsaw carving demonstrations will continue.
An apple pie and ice cream social will be held from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. A feeder calf show is also scheduled for 2:00 p.m., although organizers noted it may not appear on the printed schedule.
Supreme Showmanship begins at 5:00 p.m. The event brings together top showmanship exhibitors from different species. Participants show animals they may not normally work with, making the competition both challenging and entertaining.
The Saturday night grandstand event will be the demolition derby, one of the fair’s most popular attractions.

 

Sunday, July 19: Fair Wraps Up With Bucket Bottle Show, Pedal Pull, Auction and Watermelon Feed
The Montgomery County Fair will wrap up Sunday, July 19, with several final events.
The open class Bucket Bottle Baby Show will begin with registration at 9:00 a.m., followed by the show at 10:30 a.m. The event gives young exhibitors the chance to show their animals and answer questions.
The Clover Kids Animal Share Show will follow the Bucket Bottle Baby Show. Clover Kids may bring stuffed animals or other items to share and show.
At noon, Red Oak and Stanton FFA will host the pedal pull in the auditorium. Registration begins at noon, with pulling scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m.
Livestock will be released at noon, followed by the auction. The day will also include the 4-H and FFA watermelon feed.
At 2:00 p.m., the chainsaw carvings created throughout the week will be auctioned off, giving fairgoers a chance to purchase some of the artwork made during the fair.
The final day will close out a week of livestock shows, youth projects, entertainment, and community activities at the Montgomery County Fair.