Marion County Fair offers something for everyone
The Marion County Fair, scheduled for Aug. 6-9, is once again inviting area residents to participate in some of its most popular events, including the parade, demolition derby, rodeo events, and horseshoes tournament.
For the second year, entrants in the women's ranch rodeo also are being welcomed.
This year's parade, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 6, will travel a new route because of renovation work on Main Street in Hillsboro.
The new route will begin on North Ash at Third and travel south to D Street, then turn west to the fairgrounds.
Planners encourage open-class and 4-H entries to participate with floats, commercial entries, antique vehicles, demolition derby cars, bands, queens, and public officials.
Participants need not pre-register for the parade. Entries will be judged according to the theme, "Lights, Camera, Action
Church, civic, and individual floats can earn prize money ranging from $20 to $7.50. Bicycle, dog, cat, and pony entries can earn prize money between $3 and $7.
Contact the fair office at 620-947-2585 for entry information and parking arrangements at the end of the parade route.
The fair's most popular spectator event, the demolition derby on Saturday night, has room for more entrants, according to organizers.
The entrants will be assigned to one of four preliminary heats. The two winners in each heat will each receive $100 and a trophy. The remaining contestants will be eligible to compete in one or two consolation heats, where the top two finishers will each receive $100 and a trophy.
The championship heat will feature the eight winners of the preliminary heats and the winners of the two consolation heats. The top five finishers in the championship heat will receive cash prizes: $600 for first, $350 for second, $250 for third, $150 for fourth, and $100 for fifth.
The top three finishers also will receive trophies.
Participant packets, which include an entry form, release form, and contest rules and regulations, are available at the fair office at 109 South Main in Hillsboro. Drivers are welcome from Marion County and the surrounding counties of Dickinson, Morris, Chase, Harvey, Butler, and McPherson.
Local entrants again will be welcomed at this year's rodeo on Thursday and Friday nights. Events include bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding.
As in past years, three rodeo events are planned for children each night. Mutton bustin', where kids ride sheep, is intended for kids age 1-6; mini-bull riding is open to kids ages 7-10; and the Kids' Calf Scramble is for kids 10 and younger on Thursday and kids 7-10 Friday night.
Kids between 4 and 12 years of age will have another chance to compete when Bill and Leigh Van De Creek of Abilene bring their pedal tractor pull to the county fair. First and second-place finishers in each age division will qualify for the tractor pull at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson in September.
Registration begins at 5 p.m. and the pull starts at 6 p.m. at the fair pavilion. There is no cost to participate.
Organizers of the horseshoe tournament are hoping to add entrants to this annual competition. Singles action is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday on the southeast corner of the fairgrounds, adjacent to Memorial Park.
Wayne Hoffman, tournament superintendent, says anyone can enter. People with little or no previous experience can enter the Class C competition.
The rest of the entrants will be divided into Class A, B, and C, depending on their throwing percentages. Prize money will be awarded to the first three finishers in each class. Entrants need not preregister. For more information, contact Hoffman at 620-382-2696.
On Wednesday night, the women's ranch rodeo will make its second appearance at the fair. Four-person team events include trailer loading, calf doctoring, team sorting, and calf branding.
Women interested in receiving more information or in competing can call event organizer Chuck McLinden at 620-878-4518.
The entry fee per team is $200. Prizes will be awarded to winners. The sign-up deadline is Thursday (July 24).
More information about the fair can be found in the 2003 Marion County Fair tabloid or by contacting the fair office at 620-947-2585.
