Livestock remains foundation of Washington County Fair

Events begin Saturday, continue through Tuesday

MARIETTA -- Expanded children's activities and drag racing are new additions to the Washington County Fair this year, but the centerpiece event remains the livestock sale.

"That's what we're here for," fair board Secretary Lisa McNish said. Youth "work all summer with these animals, and then this is their exhibition time."

Chickens, turkeys, cattle, rabbits and goats will be shown Saturday through Monday at the Washington County Fairgrounds off Front Street, culminating in Tuesday's sale in which community members bid on the animals.

Grandstand events like Saturday's tractor pull, Sunday's Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association rodeo and Monday's demolition derby draw crowds, but McNish said the fair board wanted to look at ways to make attending the fair more appealing as an all-day event.

"We have a lot of new kids' activities this year," she said.

They include Dino-ROAR!, a touring educational/entertainment program featuring lifelike dinosaurs, and Happy Messy Play, a sensory play area in the Junior Fair Building. For teens and older kids, there will be a mechanical bull and inflatable obstacle courses. Plus, there are other inflatables and the usual fair rides.

McNish noted that almost all activities are free with admission to the fair, which is $10 for a day or $30 for a season or membership pass.

Tuesday's grandstand event is KOI Drag Racing, which has been featured at events around the region but is making its debut at the Washington County Fair.

"It was supposed to be here last year, but it got rained out," McNish said.

The fair gets underway at 9 a.m. Saturday with farm stock classes and garden tractor pulls and the parade at 10.

This year's parade marshal is Mary Campbell, a Waterford resident who has supported a host of community activities over the years. Working for the Washington County Soil and Water District, she started Farm City Day to teach students about different types of farming. A Washington County Fair Board member for nine years, she was involved with the pageants and worked with the sheep and goat barn. She also raised funds for the construction of the hog barn at the Waterford Community Fair and ran the hog sale there with her husband, Charles, for many years.

The fair is only accepting cash at the gates this year, but there will be ATMs set up on the grounds.

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The Washington County Fair schedule includes:

SATURDAY

9 a.m.: Tractor Pull; Farm Stock Classes; Garden Tractor Pulls

10 a.m.: Fair Parade

Noon: Hannah Miller & Levi Westfall (entertainment); Dino-ROAR!; Junior Fair Horse Show; Holstein Club Show; Junior Poultry Showmanship; Junior Turkey Showmanship; Midway opens

1 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; Cake Eating Contest

1-4 p.m.: Farm Bureau Family Activities

2 p.m.: Junior Fair Market Chicken and Fancy Show; Dino-ROAR!

3 p.m.: Brayden Booth (entertainment); Mr. Puppet; Coin Hunt (12 and under); Beef Showmanship/Market Steer Showdown

4 p.m.: Dino-ROAR!

5 p.m.: Mr, Puppet; Cornhole

6 p.m.: Kiddie Pedal Pull; Tractor Pull – Hot Classes

7 p.m.: Junior Fair Beef Breeding Show; Open Beef Show

8 p.m. to midnight: Karaoke

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SUNDAY

9 a.m.: Cowboy Church Service; Junior Fair Goat Showmanship

10 a.m.: Junior Fair Horse Show; Rabbit Showmanship

11 a.m.: Junior Fair Market Goat Show

Noon: Dino-ROAR!; Horse Harness Racing; Midway opens; Junior Fair Market Rabbit Show

1 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; David Huggins (entertainment); Cake Eating Contest; Line Dancing

2 p.m.: Dino-ROAR!; Junior Fair Goat Breeding Show; Junior Fair Rabbit Breeding Show; Face Painting

3 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; Coin Hunt; Ladies Lead and Goat Dress Up; Goat Yoga

4 p.m.: Pickin' On Country (entertainment); Dino-ROAR!; Junior Fair Lamb Show

5 p.m.: Mr. Puppet

6 p.m.: Market Lamb Show

7 p.m.: SEBRA Rodeo

8 p.m. to midnight: Karaoke

8:30 p.m.: Junior Fair Sheep Breeding Show

9 p.m.: Buckeye Travelers Square Dance

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MONDAY

8-10 a.m.: 4-H Pancake Flippin' Breakfast and Show

9 a.m.: Junior Fair DFS Showmanship/Market Show

10 a.m.: Tractor Tug Pull; Logan Reynolds (entertainment); Horse Groom and Clean

10 a.m. to noon: Make, Take Crafts

Noon: Harness Racing; Dino-ROAR!; Midway Opens

1 p.m.: Nit Pickers (entertainment); Mr. Puppet; Cake Eating Contest; Line Dancing; Junior Fair Dairy Breeding Show

1-7 p.m.: Election of Fair Board Directors

2 p.m.: Dino-ROAR!; Bounce Horse Relay

3 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; Coin Hunt

3:30 p.m.: Greased Pigs contest

4 p.m.: Red Sky Down (entertainment); Dino-Roar

5 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; Skillathon Winner Presentation

5:30 p.m.: A Night to Shine

6-9 p.m.: $1 Skate Night

7 p.m.: Demolition Derby

8 p.m. to midnight: Karaoke

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TUESDAY

3 p.m.: Buyers Reception

4 p.m.: Junior Fair Livestock Sale

7 p.m.: KOI Drag Racing

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.