Skies are clear and temperatures are running close to 100 degrees each day — the essence of fair time in Labette County.
The 99th annual Labette County Fair is set to begin Sunday, July 25, and run through Saturday, July 31, and pre-fair events have already begun.
The clothing revue and judging was held Tuesday, and food exhibit judging will get underway Thursday, both of them held in Altamont.
The official fair set-up is set to begin Monday with superintendents and helpers putting the final touches on the fair exhibit building.
Another pre-fair event will be the dog show which is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, July 25 in the livestock show arena.
A big midway will be set up next week on the parking lot south of the main gate to the fairgrounds, operated by Pride Amusements.
The swine show will be held Monday at 6 p.m. and fairgrounds activity will pick up considerably. The exhibit building will be open from 1 to 9 p.m.
On Tuesday, the exhibit building will again be open (and each day for the fair) and other livestock will be properly stalled.
During the evening, the Lil Cowpokes Barrel Racing will be held in the livestock arena at 6:30 and the rodeo held at 7:30. The Cole family will perform in the Larry Allen Pavillion and a petting zoo will be set up.
Wednesday will be another big day with the beef show, rabbit show, poultry show, sheep show and numerous judging events held with 4-H and FFA awards presented, 4-H public style revue and 4-H coronation held in the early evening. The second performance of the rodeo will be at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday will be picture day for all 4-H and FFA grand and reserve grand champion winners (non-animal exhibits) and the 4-H and FFA livestock judging and skillathon will be held, as well as the round robin showmanship contest. The 4-H timed-event and roping horses Coggins will be that evening, along with a look-a-like contest.
Pat Robinson of the Liberty area will provide DJ music, entertainment, and karaoke on Thursday evening.
Friday will be the final full day at the fair with cattle and dairy goat judging, beef and dairy bucket calf interview judging, beef and dairy bucket calf judging, beef and dairy bucket calf showmanship, and dairy bucket calf round robin showmanship contest.
The kiddie tractor pull is also on tap along with the 4-H and FFA special awards program and the annual livestock premium sale.
The demolition derby will be the highlighted entertainment that night in the big arena.
Saturday is the day for releasing all exhibits and livestock, and holding the tractor operators’ contest along with lawn mower races.
Jayly Cook will perform on Saturday evening prior to the lawn mower races.
A full schedule of events is printed elsewhere in today’s Labette Avenue, along with the full fair edition sponsored by advertisers from this region, the Labette County Fair Board and Labette Avenue.