The 2022 Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair Costume Contest Winners. From left: Isabella Barnard, Trenten Canterbury, Clayton Canterbury, and Gauge Jones. (Photo Provided)

ST. MARYS — The Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair will be kicking off its 24th annual season this weekend.

The fair starts Friday with a cutest baby contest as well as pumpkin decorating and pie contests. The fair will also have several children’s activities including free inflatables, kiddie rides, and airbrush tattoos.

The fun continues Saturday with the fair’s opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and several music acts playing on the fair stage including Jake Binegar, Moon King, the Matt VanFossen Band, Plan B, and Midnight Outlaws. Also happening Saturday is the Blennerhassett Corvette Club Car Show, ATV Drag Racing, and a Demolition Derby.

“We have several activities planned this year,” Pleasants County Extension Agent Alyson Carozza said about this year’s fair schedule. “There are activities for everyone, from children to adults. Everyone’s got activities to enjoy!”

New to the fair this year is the Mountaineer Safari Petting Zoo and Alpaca Run Farm. The Dino-Roar Program will be making a comeback this year having three shows at the fair Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday, Delaney Brookover was crowned the 2023 Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair Queen. The fair will be Friday through Sunday in St. Marys. (Photo Provided)

“The Dino-Roar program isn’t new to the fair, but they’ve expanded their program for the fair on Sunday,” Carozza said. “It was a big hit for the fair last year.”

Also new to the fair this year is the expansion of the two-day fair to three days.

“We’ve expanded it into Friday because of the amount of 4-H and FFA Livestock shows we have this year,” said Carozza. “It’s good to be growing!”

The fair will be taking place between two areas as they have done in previous years; the St. Marys Marina and the St. Marys High School Barn with a shuttle wagon offered to take fair attendees between the two locations. But this year the local Pleasants County Historical Society is hosting a history exhibit, separate from the fair, and will also be included in this year’s wagon shuttle service.

Admission is $5 per person per day, and children under the age of 5 are admitted free. For more information about the fair and contest registrations, go to the fair website at www.pleasantscountyfair.com or visit the Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair Facebook page. For any questions call the Pleasants County Extension Office at 304-684-2448.

The Dino Roar program will be making a comeback at this year’s Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair with three shows Sunday afternoon. (Photo Provided)

Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair Schedule:

FRIDAY

MARINA AREA-

* 3-6 p.m.: Cutest Baby Contest and Pumpkin Decorating Contest Entries (Marina Building)

* 4-8 p.m.: Alpaca Run Farm

Tucker Weekly won the Grand Champion Market Hog award for last year’s Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair. From left: Tucker Weekly and 2022 PCAYF Queen Virginia Maddox. (Photo Provided)

* 6-8 p.m.: Free Inflatables and Kiddie Rides

BARN AREA-

* 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Pie Contest Entries (Barn)

* 3-7 p.m.: Archery Demo – John Starcher, Ohio Wildlife Refuge

* 4-7 p.m.: Angela’s Misfits, Airbrush Tattoos

Carter Sturgeon, age 6, won first place for his pumpkin in the 2022 Pumpkin Decorating Contest at the Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair. (Photo Provided)

* 5 p.m.: Pie Contest Winners Announced

* 5-8 p.m.: WV DNR Laser Shooting Trailer

* 5:30 p.m.: Goat, Feeder Calf, and Poultry Shows

SATURDAY

MARINA AREA-

There will be plenty of kiddie rides and inflatables to enjoy at this year’s Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair. Rides and inflatables will be free during the first day of the festival on Friday. (Photo Provided)

* 10 a.m.: Opening Ceremony, St. Marys AmVets

* 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Blennerhassett Corvette Club, Car Show

* 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: Face Painting by Happy Face Paints; Balloon Artist

* 12-7 p.m.: Inflatables and Kiddie Rides, $10 Wristband Required; 4-H Project Exhibits; Coloring Contest Display; Most Creative Pumpkin Display

* 1 p.m.: Jake Binegar (On Stage)

* 1:30 p.m.: Kids’ Best Dressed Animal Contest

* 2 p.m.: Kids’ Costume Contest

* 2:30 p.m.: Moon King (On Stage)

* 3 p.m.: Corn Bin Coin Hunt, Ages 3-12 years

* 4-8 p.m.: Strolling Magician and Balloon Artist

* 4 p.m.: Matt VanFossen Band (On Stage)

* 5 p.m.: Plan B (On Stage)

* 7 p.m.: Midnight Outlaws (On Stage)

BARN AREA-

* 9 a.m.: Antique Farm Equipment; Market Swine Show; ATV Drag Race Registration

* 10 a.m.-9 p.m.: Mountaineer Safari Petting Zoo

* 10:30 a.m.: ATV Drag Racing

* 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Strolling Magician

* 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Angela’s Misfits, Airbrush Tattoos; WV DNR Laser Shooting Trailer

* 12 p.m.: Woodchop Show and Competition

* 1:30 p.m.: Livestock Skillathon

* 3 p.m.: Garden Tractor Pull Registration

* 4 p.m.: Garden Tractor Pulls; Market Livestock Sale

* 4-6:30 p.m.: Demolition Derby Registration

* 6:30 p.m.: Kid’s Power Wheels and Demolition Derby

SUNDAY

MARINA AREA-

* 11 a.m.: Ohio Valley Jeep Club Display

* 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Bubble Wagon

* 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Inflatables and Kiddie Rides, $10 Wristband Required; Alpaca Run Farm; Strolling Magician; Balloon Artist

* 11:30 a.m.: Dino-Roar

* 1-4 p.m.: Face Painting by Happy Face Paints

* 1 p.m.: Logan Reynolds (On Stage); Cornhole Tournament Registration

* 1-3 p.m.: 4-H Project Exhibits; Coloring Contest Display; Most Creative Pumpkin Display

* 1:30 p.m.: Dino-Roar; Cornhole Tournament

* 2-3:30 p.m.: The Country Club Band (On Stage)

* 3 p.m.: Cutest Baby Contest Winners Announced (On Stage)

* 3:30 p.m.: Dino-Roar

BARN AREA-

* 9 a.m.: Antique Farm Equipment

* 11 a.m.: Open Cattle Show

* 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Angela’s Misfits, Airbrush Tattoos

* 11:30 a.m.: Hot Dog Eating Contest Registration

* 12 p.m.: Pony Pull; Hot Dog Eating Contest

* 12:30 p.m.: Nail Driving

* 1 p.m.: Hay Bale Toss; Youth ATV Rodeo, Battery Operated and Gas Powered

* 1:30-3 p.m.: FFA Boosters Youth Games

* 2 p.m.: Hog Raffle Drawing; Corn Bin Coin Hunt, Ages 3-12