The official Chautauqua County Fair Parade will be held Saturday, June 21 at 10 a.m. This year’s theme will be “65 Years of Rodeo.” Individuals, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to enter their float.

Parade float entries will be divided into three categories:
Division 1: All 4-H and other youth groups
Division 2: All adult organized groups
Division 3: Professional, business, and individuals without floats.

The fair board will provide prizes for all divisions. On parade day, all entrants are to report to Main Street and Montgomery to verify entry. Judging of entries will begin at 9 a.m.

Entry forms must be returned by today, June 18 to Linda Heinlein, 209 W. Cherokee, Sedan, or call 620-725-5682.

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The 2008 Chautauqua County Fair got underway Tuesday night with a bluegrass concert by the Farnum Family and there was a good turnout of area fair goers.

Events will continue through Saturday and there will be two nights of rodeo action.

Wednesday, the pie eating contest for kids ages 2-12 will get underway at 5:30 p.m., then the free barbecue and bean feed will draw a large crowd starting at 6 p.m. Everyone is urged to bring their own table service.

Then starting at 7 p.m., the haystack money scramble will get underway followed at 8 p.m. by free entertainment for the evening featuring “Outlaw Junkies.”

On Thursday, open class entries will open at 8 a.m.

The Caney Valley Electric safety demonstration will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the 4-H Building.
The photo contest judging is set for 6 p.m., closed to the public.

Also at 6 o’clock will be time for closing open class entries.

From 6 to 10 p.m. will be bingo, and Cardinal Amusements will provide a midway from 6 to 10 p.m.

At 7 p.m. will be the photography awards presentation and critique and the talent contest will start at 7 p.m.

On Friday, June 20, the day will start with cut flowers to be in place for judging at 8:30 a.m., and Atmos Energy will sponsor a safety demonstration between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Bingo will again be played from 6 to 10 p.m. and the midway will open during the same night-time hours.

The first performance of the rodeo will start at 8 p.m. in the Lou Todd Memorial Rodeo Arena, and the second performance will be on Saturday evening at 8 p.m.

On Saturday morning the antique and classic car show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the courthouse lawn.

The juvenile parade will be held in downtown Sedan at 10 a.m. followed by the grand fair parade. A watermelon feed will be held on the courthouse lawn immediately following the two parades sponsored by the Sedan FFA chapter.

Horseshoe pitching will be featured at 1 p.m. and free swimming will be offered from 1 to 4 p.m. at the swimming pool.

At 2 p.m. will be the Weenee Dog Races on the courthouse lawn.

From 7 to 9 p.m., winning exhibitors may pick up checks at the Exhibit Building. All open class entries must be removed.

The midway will be open again until 10 p.m. and bingo will be played from 6 to 10 o’clock.

The rodeo will be held again at 8 p.m. followed by a dance featuring “Black Widow.”

Again this year, the Chautauqua County 4-H Fair will be held on a separate date: July 23-26.

The fair board extends a big welcome to everyone to come and enjoy this Chautauqua County tradition.

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An amateur talent contest will be held at the Chautauqua County Fair this year. Contestants are asked to fill out the entry form, that can be found in this edition (below) and return it to Jann Bowman at the address listed on the form.

Contestants will be divided into two categories of youth and adult. All forms of talent are encouraged.

Singing, dancing, comedians, instrumental, magicians and anything that is family friendly, are invited to sign up for the contest.

Entry forms must be received by noon on Thursday, June 19. The contest will be held that evening at 7 p.m.

How to vote for your favorite “Chautauqua County Idol” Contestant:

Each age category will have a color associated with that age group.

Each contestant in a color group will have a number starting with #1.

Pick the contestant you like best, write his/her number on that color paper from the voting packet, put it in the box with that color age category.
Age categories:
Pre-School & Kindergarten Color: Purple
1st, 2nd & 3rd Grades Color: Yellow
4th, 5th & 6th Grades Color: Orange
7th, 8th & 9th Grades Color: Red
10th, 11th & 12th Grades Color: Blue
Adult (College and beyond) Color: Green

The contestant with the most votes will be the first place winner, the contestant with the second most votes will be the second place winner, and the contestant with the third most votes will be the third place winner.

There is an entry form printed on the front page of this wee’s Sedan Times-Star.

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The Chautauqua County Fair board is pleased to announce the contestants for the 2008 Little Mr. and Little Miss Chautauqua County Fair.

The contestants for Little Miss are: Marquia Bowers, daughter of Brandon and Sheila Bowers, sponsored by One-Stop; Jaymee Cunningham, daughter of Lyndella Fish sponsored by Duckwalls; Silverlyn Kirchner, daughter of Scotty and Sherry Kirchner, sponsored by Hilltop Cafe; Emalee Haden, daughter of Joel and Miquee Haden, sposored by Prairie Kitchen; Reagan Warburton, daughter of Steve and Angie Warburton, sponsored by Cedar Vale Short Stop; Kaylen Floyd, daughter of Austin and Ashley Floyd, sponsored by Floyd’s Supermarket; Malary Davis, daughter of Bruce and Rhonda Davis, sponsored by Main Street Cafe.

The contestants for Little Mr. are: Andon Carpenter, son of Jacque Carpenter, sponsored by Green Door; Rory Walker, son of Rory and Jamie Walker, sponsored by Floyd’s Supermarket.

Cans for each contestant will be in their sponsored business until 3 p.m. on June 18. You may vote for a favorite contestant by donating to the can. One penny equals one vote. Cans will be at the fair the evening of June 18 for final donations.

The crowning will take place at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at the Chautauqua County Kiddie Parade.

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