| This year’s Venango County 4-H Fair will feature a new sturdy floor to walk on while looking at the cows, a political figure who, instead of slinging bull, will ride one, and a group called Bacon Buddies will provide perhaps one of the most heartwarming experiences a young 4-Her will ever have as they help others.  Fair board president Brad Deeter said the improvements to the fairgrounds and barns are continuing. A new concrete floor in the dairy barn will make getting around a little easier. They have been systematically replacing and upgrading the barns in the last 10 years. And it is paying off, as Deeter expects this year have move animals than last. “Everything is shaping up good,” Deeter said. “And the animal exhibits are up again this year.”  Recognized as an official county fair in 1962, the original organizers began laying the ground work in 1959 to have a place to support local 4-H clubs and promote local agriculture. Their mission hasn’t changed much since. thought they also bring in entertainment for everyone beyond just the 4-H kids. Here are some highlights of this year’s fair schedule. This year’s fair kicks off Saturday with some mega mud bogging trucks with big wheels and farmers bringing in their livestock and home show entries. The day will be topped off by something called a Rock N Roll pet show and a rodeo. At the rodeo Venango County Commissioner Chip Abramovic will be among those to hop on top of a bull and hold on for dear life. He has ridden eight or so times. “I haven’t gotten a full ride yet,” he said. A full ride means staying on the bull for eight seconds with one hand holding on and the other waving free.  On Sunday, you can see a goats, cows and others animals get on the scale to be weighed and a team of kids and adults trying to corral chubby pigs in and out of the hose down area to get all prettied up to be on display. In the evening, a fair queen will be crowned through a new pageant. On Monday, the judging kicks into gear in the Phillips Arena with goats getting it started. Horse shows begin filling up the fairgrounds corral called the Kiwanis Bowl. Later in the day, sheep take over where the goats left off and the popular Barnyard Olympics begin with a milk guzzling contest. Then the fair gets a little noisy with the demolition derby in main stage area. Tuesday starts with the bunnies getting flipped over and inspected for quality attributes, another pet show. Hogs take over the Phillips Arena and truck and tractor pulls try for the distance on a dirt track and one heavy pulling sled.  On Wednesday, there will be butterflies and masks painted on faces everywhere and the beef cows will be showing who the king of the fair really is. Kids will be encouraged to spit watermelon seeds as far as they can. Horses will be dressed up to look like princesses and other crazy things and the popular Pine Valley Boys will give a softer listen on one side of the fairgrounds while on the other side more pulls will fill the stands with rumbles. If you’re a youngster with strong legs, the pedal tractor pull might be a place you want to be. Garden tractors get to pull stuff on Thursday while the best cornhole players around will go head-to-head in the spot the cows and pigs and goats competed all week.  By Friday, the kids and parents traditionally are getting a bit tired, but some will get to rejuvenate with a sugar buzz during the pie-eating contest. This might just give them enough energy for one of the best attended spectacles of the fair - the livestock auction. From rabbits to the grand-champion market steer, tens of thousands of dollars are spent each year filling freezers and bellies for weeks and months to come. Deeter said last year the Autism Tough group began pairing up some of the older 4-H members with folks on the spectrum who are interested seeing the animals up close. “It’s pretty cool,” said Deeter, who was happy they were doing this again this year. “They’re called Bacon Buddies, and that is happening on Saturday during the day.” That day you can also test your strength to see how far you can toss a bale of hay before setting in for the final event of the fair, another demolition derby. The fair and demo derby end together with a bang as fireworks will fill the sky. For more information and complete schedule, visit www.venangofair.com  Getting into the fair. NEW THIS YEAR: General Entry Wristbands will be $20 per person for a weekly pass or $7 daily per person (everyone over 8 years old). General admission includes entry to the Toyota Rodeo, the Garden Tractor Pulls, the Main Street Market Bluegrass Night, daily entertainment, all animal shows and exhibits and much more, according to the fair's website. There will be an ADDITIONAL cost (after the purchase of the weekly or daily wristbands) of $5 per person (over 8 years old) to enter the grandstands and $10 per person to enter the pits for the following events: Demo Derby - Monday Truck and Tractor Pulls - Tuesday Mini Rod Pulls - Wednesday Demo Derby - Saturday Any 4-H Member who is showing at least one 4-H project will receive a free green wristband. 4-H wristbands allow kids to enter the main gate and the grandstands, but does not get them into the pits. |  Saturday, August 6 Pick up entry tags and numbers at the Fair Office. Animal Entries: Hogs: 7 am-noon ONLY (per vet ) Animal Entries: 7-3pm Horses: Saturday ONLY 7am -5pm large animals use back entrance Have health papers with animals Rabbits/Poultry: 2-6pm – please use front gate 11AM Mega Mud Trucks DOT 12-3pm All non-animal exhibit registration – buildings are closed during registration 6pm Rock N Roll Pet Show 7pm Rock N Roll Pet Show 7pm Toyota Rodeo- Kiwanis Bowl Sunday, August 7 Pick up entry tags and numbers at the Fair Office. Animal Entries: Hogs: 7 am-10Am ONLY (per vet) Large Animal Entries: 7-3pm Rabbits/Poultry: 12-5pm Please use front gate Throughout day- Chainsaw Demonstrations, Clown & Face Painting 11am Worship Service with Ron Knapp – Log Cabin 11am Times Rodeo Events- Kiwanis Bowl 12pm - 5pm- All non-animal exhibit registration - buildings are closed during registration 3:30pm Animal Exhibitor’s Meeting – Phillips Arena 4:00pm Weigh-ins for Goats, Lambs & Hogs- hog barn 6:30pm NEW Venango County Fair Queen Pageant - Grandstand 7pm Beth Stanish & John Walton with family- evening of praise and worship music- Log Cabin 11pm Fair Close. Monday, August 8 Throughout day- Chainsaw Demonstrations, Clown & Face Painting 9am Open & 4-H Dairy Goat Show- Phillips Arena 9am Project Judging- Foster/Bullock & Flower Building, Buildings will be closed until judging is complete 9am-11am- Judging of 4-H Clothing & Textiles Projects- Log Cabin 10am 4-H Pleasure Horse Show- Kiwanis Bowl 11am Open and 4-H Market and Meat Goat Show – Phillips Arena *Followed by Fiber Goats and Pack & Harness Goats 1pm Barnyard Olympics- Bubble Gum Blowing – Scrubgrass Stage 1pm-5pm Gameland open 2pm Open & 4-H Sheep Show – Phillips Arena 3pm 4-H Horse Game Show- Kiwanis Bowl 4pm Barnyard Olympics - Milk Drinking Contest – Scrubgrass Stage 6-8 pm Bingo- Gameland 6:30pm Demolition Derby- Grandstands Back By Popular Demand 6:30pm Bakes Good Auction- Foster/Bullock Bld. 11pm Fair Closes Tuesday, August 9 Throughout day- Chainsaw Demonstrations, Clown & Face Painting 9 am Open Pleasure Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl followed by the Versatility Show 9am Open & 4-H Hog Show – Phillips Arena 1pm-5pm Gameland open 2pm Rabbit /Cavy Show – Rabbit/Poultry Barn 4pm Barnyard Olympics- Animal Dress up Contest- Phillips Arena 5pm Open Pet Show- Phillips Arena 6-8 pm Bingo- Gameland 6:30pm Truck & Tractor Pulls - Grandstands 7pm Talent Show – Log Cabin 7pm 4-H Dog & Cat Show- Phillips Arena 11pm Fair Closes Wednesday, August 10 Throughout day- Chainsaw Demonstrations, Clown & Face Painting 9am- Open & 4-H Beef Show – Phillips Arena 11am Pee Wee Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl 1pm-5pm Gameland open 1pm Barnyard Olympics – Scavenger Hunt – in front of Gameland 3pm Lego Building contest – (Must bring your own Legos)- Foster/Bullock 5pm 4-H Dairy Clipping Contest- Phillips Arena 6pm Barnyard Olympics- Seed Spitting – Scrubgrass Stage 6-8 pm Bingo- Gameland open 7pm Costume Horse Show- Kiwanis Bowl 7pm Mini Rod Pulls- Grandstands Main Street Market Bluegrass Night 7pm Bluegrass Night – Pine Valley Boys & Friends – Log Cabin 7:30 pm Pedal Tractor Pull- Phillips Arena Extension Sponsored by Walls Dairy Transport 11pm Fair Closes Thursday, August 11 Throughout day- Knapping (arrowhead making) 10am Open Game Horse Show – Kiwanis Bowl 10am Open & 4-H Dairy Cattle Show – Phillips Arena 11am Barnyard Olympics- Frog Jumping Contest – Scrubgrass Stage 1pm-5pm Gameland open 2pm Barnyard Olympics- Eggcellent Adventure, Scrubgrass Stage 3pm RC Cars 6pm Garden Tractor Pulls- Grandstand 6pm Cornhole Contest – sponsored by 4-H Teen Coucil – Phillips Arena 6pm Showman Band- Scrubgrass Stage 11pm Fair Closes Friday, August 12 Throughout day- Knapping (arrowhead making), clown & face painting 9am Senior Livestock Showmanship Contest – Phillips Arena 11am Barnyard Olympics – Nail Driving Contest- Scrubgrass Stage 1pm Barnyard Olympics- Pie Eating Contest – Log Cabin 1pm-5pm Gameland open 6:00 pm- Jr Livestock and Cheese Yield Auction – Phillips Arena 11pm Fair Closes Saturday, August 13 Autism Tough Day – for details check: https://www.facebook.com/Autism-Tough- Foundation-2718471158378700 Throughout day- Knapping (arrowhead making) 10am – Bacon Buddies – Phillips Arena 12pm-2pm Gameland open 1pm Barnyard Olympics- Hay Bale Throwing- Pulling Track 1pm - Supreme Senior Livestock Showmanship Contest – Phillips Arena 4pm 4-H Awards Ceremony – Phillips Arena 6pm Demo Derby- Grandstands followed by Kellner’s Fireworks Sunday August 14th 6am-11am- Release of animals 8am-11am – Release of all entries |
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