County fair to begin Saturday
Staff writer
Everybody should be able to find something of interest to see or do Saturday through July 29 at the Marion County Fair in Hillsboro.
Perhaps saving the best for last, the board has scheduled three new activities for the final night. They include an all-terrain vehicle rodeo, truck tug-of-war, and truck obstacle course. Contests will begin at 6 p.m., July 29.
An 8 a.m. dog show Saturday and a 6 p.m. horse show Sunday will kick the off a week of fair activities.
County 4-Hers will be submitting clothing, crafts, food, and show animals on Monday and Tuesday. Judging will happen throughout the week, culminating in an auction at 6:30 p.m. July 27.
A 6 p.m. parade July 25 on Main St. will launch a full slate of scheduled events through July 27, including a petting zoo and pedal tractor pull at the fairground after the parade.
Manager Bridgette Hamm, who took over in February, was happy about bringing the parade back to Wednesday.
“That’s what I remember,” she said.
4-H clubs will provide a food stand all three days.
A swine show will begin at 7:30 p.m. July 25. A rodeo and mutton bustin’ contest will begin at 8 p.m.
July 26 events will include a bucket calf and beef show at 6 p.m. and a rodeo, mutton bustin contest, and calf scramble at 8 p.m.
A truck and antique tractor show will be 7 p.m. July 27 at the arena. A horseshoe/corn hole contest will begin at 8 p.m. Hillsboro Young Professionals will be sponsoring a run at 9 p.m. at the park.
Events scheduled for July 28 include a 2 p.m. dodge ball tournament and a 7 p.m. demolition derby.
Hamm said the board was hoping to operate a beer garden at the derby but is waiting on a license from the state.
“We put a lot of work into it, so we’re hoping it will come through,” she said.
Managing the fair has been a good experience, she said, but it was more stressful than she thought it would be.
“I am trying to make improvements. Next year will be easier,” she said.