A walk through the Bourbon County Fair on Wednesday afternoon was comfortable with a breeze and upper 80s temperature.
This was perfect weather for viewing the activity on the fairgrounds.
Thursday’s events include the Chamber Coffee, swine judging, exhibits in the Myer’s Building, 4-H Fashion Show, cornhole tournament, Christmas in July at the Merchant’s Building, and ends with a 4-H Member Dance.
Friday’s: livestock judging contest, exhibits, 4-H Barnyard Olympics, Christmas in July at the Merchant’s Building, Buyers Appreciation Supper, and the junior livestock sale.
Saturday is clean-up day and ends the fair with live music performances at 6:30 p.m.
Here are a few of Wednesday’s sights.
Mayla Foster tells about the articles for sale at the Momentum Youth Market in the Merchant’s Building.Keri Crisler, left, and Izzy Coutler show off the edible caterpillar they created at the Bourbon County Conservation District booth.Beech Street Eats Food Trailer menu. The restaurant on wheels is located near the 4-H Building.
Some of the grand champions in the 4-H Building:
Snow cones for sale to cool off the day.A pig rests in the swine barn.Jolynne Mitchell and Abbie Powell sell accessories and handbags at the Flying P Ranch booth in the Merchant’s Building.Georgia Brown mans the Sunshine Boutique Booth at the Merchant’s Building.A poster telling of the fair finale event.The U, a t-shirt business run by Uniontown High School Students Mason O’Brien and Kristie Beene, is located in the Momentum Youth Market at the Merchant’s Building.
Honey is sold at the Uppa Creek Ranch Booth at the Merchant’s Building.
A customer looks over the Paparazzi Accessories booth at the Merchant’s Building.
Carrie Southwell mans the Miller Feed Store booth at the Merchant’s Building, which featured toys, and accessories.
The St. Mary Queen of Angels Church booth was manned by Mary Beth Sheehy at the Merchant’s Building.
Julie Norris and daughter man the Magical Nail Kingdom booth at the Merchant’s Building, selling nail polish strips.Paula Vincent sells Tallow Soaps and Crafts in the Merchant’s Building,Kristie Beene washes her crossbreed cow in preparation for the show that evening.KOMB 103.9 Radio Announcer Deana Wade, left, interviews Mayla and Davina Foster at the Merchant’s Building.
It’s that time of year, spending time with family, friends, and neighbors at the Bourbon County Fair.
The fair showcases talents, and provides entertainment, and offers local products to buy. Local entertainers will be featured at the final event on Saturday night.
This year’s Bourbon County Fair starts this tonight at the fairgrounds located on south Horton Street, across from Fort Scott Community College.
“The rodeo starts Friday, July 9th (at 8 p.m.) and events continue clear till Saturday, July 17th,” Diane Brillhart, treasurer of the fair board, said.
Adult tickets to the rodeo are $12, kids six-years-old and up $7 and kids under 6 are free.
“New this year is ‘Christmas at the Fair,'” she said. “Retail booths will be set up in the Merchant’s Building Monday through Friday from 4-9 p.m. We have a great assortment of items.”
Hands-on activities will be happening in the 4-H Building, sponsored by Southwind K-State Extension, the Museum of Creativity, and the Bourbon County Conservation District.
A Decluttering Program by Starlite FCE, led by Glenda Miller, Karen Peery, and Terri Williams, will be presented Wednesday, 2 p.m., at the Myers Building.
Food trucks will be onsite opening at 10:30 a.m. each day. Breakfast will be available in the 4-H Building 7-9:30 a.m.
“We are having the Fair Finale on Saturday, July 17th,” Brillhart said. “D.J. Brown and the Bourbon County Revival along with The Barnstormers will be providing a great night of entertainment.”
Gates open at 6 p.m. and music will start at about 7 p.m. Tickets are $5.
In addition, there will be food trucks and refreshments available, she said.
Continuing this year is the draft horse pull on Tuesday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. and the 4-H Dance and Cornhole Tournament, Thursday, July 15.
“Ben Cole, the voice of the Bourbon County Fair, will be announcing our Market Livestock Shows,” Brillhart said.
A goat show at the Bourbon County Fair in 2017.
Bourbon County Fair Board Officers are President Dale Griffiths; Vice-President Mark Crystal ; Secretary Lynda Foster; Assistant Secretary Sue Reinecke; Treasurer Diane Brillhart; Assistant Treasurer Mark Brillhart; Grandstand Superintendent Stewart Gulager and Assistant Grandstand Superintendent Bobby Reed.
There will be an Open Class at the Bourbon County Fair this year. Lots of things will be happening.
In addition to the exhibits, there will be several contests. The King Arthur Baking Company will be sponsoring a baking contest again this year. The King Arthur Flour has arrived and is ready for distribution. Everyone who will be entering the baking contest will receive a 5-pound bag of King Arthur All-Purpose Flour.
To enter the baking contest come to the Myers Building on Saturday, June 12 between 10 am and noon. You will receive your recipe for the contest and a bag of King Arthur Flour.
If this time does not work for you, please call Jackie Warren at 620-224-8161 and other arrangements will be made to pick up your recipe and flour.
Normally any Open Class exhibit would be accepted if completed after the 2020 Bourbon County Fair. Since the Open Class portion of the 2020 fair was cancelled due to the pandemic, you may submit any project that you have completed since the 2019 Fair. However, remember that you may only enter one project per class.
Do not forget the scarecrow contest and the small hay bale decorating contest. Please submit your registration so that a hay bale will be provided for you. Also, a bucket of sand will be provided to hold your scarecrow.
If you have any questions, call Terri Williams at 620-215-3202 or Jackie Warren at 620-224-8161
Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.
With county fair season behind us, it may appear youth livestock exhibitors in the Southwind District may have wrapped up their livestock projects for 2020. However, many are still working at home to prepare for the Kansas State Fair and Kansas Junior Livestock Show – which are still options to them despite the many event cancellations across the country. Not only are they practicing to drive their hogs, brace their sheep and goats and set up their cattle, they are working hard to keep them cool and on feed while managing summer temperatures and navigating a back-to-school schedule.
Lots of Southwind District 4-H members sold animals at their livestock premium sales, knowing they still had work to do at home. Youth who exhibit cattle care for and own their animals for about 280 days, and youth with sheep, meat goats and hogs care for and own their livestock for about 130 days. The time spent with animals teaches basic life skills and eventually help them develop into better citizens.
Following are some life skills that youth livestock project members can gain:
How to get along with people. A large number of people in society quit or lose their jobs because they cannot get along with others. 4-H members who show livestock are around people they have never met but have similar interests. They learn to communicate with these people.
Sportsmanship. At a livestock show, there is only one Grand Champion. However, there are many winners. Most 4-H members who show livestock for any period of time usually experience the extreme high feeling of an exceptional effort and the extreme disappointment of a project that didn’t turn out as well as was expected. Normally, win or lose, the competitors in the show can be seen after the show talking and enjoying life together.
Responsibility. Feeding and daily chores in a 4-H livestock project teach responsibility. Top feeders follow the time clock in their daily efforts. This is a good habit to start at a young age and may reap youngster’s substantial benefits in a career later in their lives.
Attend to details. Most young people take care of major items in a 4-H livestock projectlike fencing, feeding, etc. However many times it’s the little things that make a different: keeping water tanks and feed troughs clean, working on grooming and showmanship several months before the show, keeping pens clean and close observation for sickness and disease. Paying attention to details is beneficial in almost everything we do in life.
Decision making. Decision making is never easy at any point in our lives. 4-H livestock projects require several key decisions be made: selection of project animals, selection of feeding method, care and management decisions, fitting and grooming techniques, etc.
Goal setting. For every successful 4-H livestock project, there is usually a good plan. Most details and plans for the project on selection, feeding and management of the project have been planned well in advance. Goal setting is important for everyone regardless of future endeavors.
Next time you are at a livestock show, study the kids instead of the animals. Their 2020 projects may be far more diverse and advanced than the few animals taken to the County Fair, and plans are already underway to purchase stock for 2021 when we can hopefully return to normal.
For full results of your local County Fair in the Southwind District, visit www.Southwind.k-state.edu
Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent [email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749
7/16 – Seniors 60+ Farmers’ Market Voucher Signup Program, 1-4pm, Bourbon County Senior Citizen Center, Downtown, Income Requirements, click here for details.
Governor Laura Kelly appointed John Bottenberg to the Kansas State Fair Board, and reappointed Harmon Bliss, Nick Ketzner and Robert Atkisson.
The purpose of the Board is to promote and showcase Kansas agriculture, industry and culture; to create opportunity for commercial activity; and to provide an educational and entertaining experience that is the pride of all Kansans.
“The Fair provides tremendous opportunities for commerce, entertainment and education in Kansas each year,” Kelly said. “I feel confident that these appointees will ensure the success of the Fair through their service on the Board.”
Bottenberg, Topeka, served on the board previously and was appointed to an at-large seat. He is a former state representative.
Bliss, Jetmore, is the current Board president and was reappointed to the seat reserved for a representative from the southwest agriculture extension district.
Ketzner, Bird City, was reappointed to the northwest agriculture extension district seat.
Atkisson, Stockton, was reappointed to the seat reserved for a representative from the Kansas Fairs Association.
The Fort Scott Writing Festival and Author Fair will be held October 19, 2019 at the Lowell Milken Center. The festival is co-sponsored by the following: Bourbon County Arts Council, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Lowell Milken Center, Books and Grannies and Hedgehog.INK!
Morning Workshops session (8:50-12:00) – includes workshops by published authors for adults, college and high school students. The cost of the morning activities is $35 with pre-registration due by October 14. Late registration is $45. College students and high school students are free with school identification.
Afternoon Author’s Fair (1:30-3:30) – is free to the public. Authors may sign up for a space to promote their published works. The cost for each table is $10*. The author is responsible for bringing their own books, collecting money and paying taxes as required by the state of Kansas or use the event tax id#. Authors need to bring their own table (card table size) and folding chair. Authors may set-up during the lunch break from 12:00-1:30.
Author space will be available on a first-come basis. Please fill out the attached form and return to Jan Hedges at Hedgehog.INK! 16 S. Main Fort Scott, KS 66701 (hedgesbookstore.com) to reserve your spot. Please include the following information:
Name _____________________________________________________________
