BY MADISON SHAPLAND
Scott County will be hosting its annual Scott County Free Fair beginning Saturday until July 16 at the fairgrounds in Scott City. This event will feature a variety of activities for patrons of all ages to enjoy, including 4-H project exhibits, shows, and auctions as well as a parade, kids day, tasting booths, barrel racing, face painting, Figure 8 Racing, free Beefiesta BBQ, Benish and Kisner free concert, Ranch Rodeo with muttin’ bustin, and multiple contests.
The Fair begins at 7:30 on Saturday morning at the City Park with the Pancake on a Stick feed. Pancakes on a stick will be available to grab until 10 am when the parade is scheduled to go through Main Street. The parade will begin on Park Avenue and Main Street and will end at East First Street and Main.
Attendees can expect to catch a glimpse of horses, antique cars, trucks, floats, bikes, and grab many goodies surpassing that of just candy. When the parade finishes, attendees can experience some of the city’s best food at the tasting booths in the park from 12-1 pm.
A church service and lunch will be provided by the Prairie Land Church on Sunday at the Fairgrounds awning pavilion.
Monday kicks off the 4-H events with consultation judging of foods, clothing construction, visual arts, space tech, entomology, photography, electricity, geology, and woodworking that will be held in the William Carpenter 4-H Building at the fairgrounds. While the 4-Her’s projects are being judged, fairgowers can grab a sweet at the 4-H Bake Sale that will take place in the same building from 10 am – 1 pm.
The 4-H Horse Show will take place at 8 am on Tuesday. In the evening, the Scott County Barrel Race will begin at 6:30 pm, followed by Scott County Roping.
The Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep, and Beef Show happen on Wednesday at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 am, and 4 pm respectively. In between shows, attendees can head over to the William Carpenter Building to see the other exhibits and their placings anytime between 9 am and 9:30 pm.
The figure 8 races will start at 7 pm and will also feature lawnmower races. PowderPuff racing will take place after the figure 8 races. Stop by and take the kids to get their faces painted before the show begins at 5:30-8 pm or to jump on some inflatable bounce houses from 6-10 pm.
Thursday, July 14th, will feature the swine show at 8 am, the goat show at 3 pm, the free Beefiesta BBQ at 6 pm alongside the American AgCredit watermelon feed and the Benish and Kisner free Concert. The Grand Drive Livestock Awards will begin at 6:30 pm. Exhibits, face painting, and bouncy houses will have the same schedule as the previous day.
Round Robin Showmanship will be held at 9 am on Friday, July 15th, the 4-H Auction of Livestock and Champion Foods is scheduled for 6 pm along with the Ranch Rodeo with Muttin’ Bustin at 8 pm. On the same schedule as Wednesday is the Exhibits, face painting, and bouncy houses.
The final day of the Scott County Free Fair will include Turtle Races at 9 am, Kids Day/Ping Pong Ball Drop from a plane over the arena at 9:30 am, Kids Pedal Tractor Pull at 11:30 am, and the KPRA Rodeo with a Performance by the American Freedom Riders at 7:30 pm. Face painting and bouncy houses will take place during the same times as on previous days. Exhibits will be open from 9 am – 4 pm.
Fairs will also be happening in July in the surrounding areas including Wichita County’s Fair & Carnival on July 27-30th, the Lane County Fair on July 20-23rd, and the Finney County Fair on the 18-24th.