County fair coming to town June 30
One of the most popular fair nights, Old Fashion Fair Night, features a watermelon eating, greased pig and needle in the haystack contest.
The 2012 Estill County Fair begins Saturday, June 30, and runs through Saturday, July 7. There are also several events the next weekend on July 13 and 14.
The Fair Board hopes this fair will be the “best in history.”
“We strive every year to make the fair better,” Fair Board President Teddy Hunt said.
Hunt said because of the economy he hopes people will make it a point to come out and enjoy their local fair.
“The economy is bad,” he said. “So, people want to come out and do local things. For one low price, they can see the events at the grandstand and ride the rides.”
The fair kicks off this year with the sheep show bright and early Saturday morning at 10. The meat and goat show begins later that day at 1 p.m.
That night beginning at 8 is the Miss Estill County Pageant followed by the Miss Estill County Teen Pageant at 9 p.m.
The Miss Estill County Pageant will include swimsuit, evening gown and interview competitions for girls between the ages of 16 and 21.
There will be three awards presented at the pageant.
Miss Estill County Fair will be selected from all participating contestants. Miss Estill County 2012 will be selected from only those girls participating who are Estill County residents. Miss Congeniality is voted on and selected by the contestants.
The teen pageant includes a formal gown competition for girls between the ages of 13 and 16. Awards for this pageant include Miss Teen Estill County, Miss Teen Estill County Fair and Miss Congeniality.
There is $25 entry fee for both pageants. Deadline for entry is Friday, June 29 at noon.
Monday, July 2, is the 4-H pet show. There are categories for dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets including smallest pet, largest pet and best owner/pet look a like.
There will be a champion, blue, red and white ribbon awarded for each category.
The Miss Estill County Pre-Teen and Little Mister and Little Miss pageants are Monday night.
The pre-teen pageant begins at 7 p.m. Contestants must be between the ages of eight and 12 and a resident of Estill County. Entry fee is $1. A winner, first runner up and second runner up will be awarded. The winner will compete in the Mss Kentucky Pre-Tee contest in October 2012. Deadline to enter is Friday, June 29.
The Little Mister and Little Miss Pageant begins at 8 p.m. for contestants who are between the ages of five and seven. Entry fee is $7. The winners will compete as a couple at the Kentucky State Fair.
The baby show is the following night beginning at 7 p.m.
In addition to the pageants there are a number of events including an exhibit hall that Hunt described as one of the best in the state.
Hunt said he encourages people to visit the hall to see what other people in the community are doing.
The exhibits include arts, crafts, photography and agriculture exhibits. The hall opens for viewing Thursday, July 5, at 5 p.m.
Other events include a Coca Cola Talent Contest in which prize money will be awarded. Winners of the preliminary at the fair will go on to compete at the Kentucky State Fair.
There will also be an open talent contest following the Coca Cola preliminaries.
The Old Fashion Fair night, a fair favorite, will be Wednesday, July 4, at 7 p.m. Old Fashion Fair night included a greased pig contest, watermelon eating contest and needle in a haystack contest.
The fair concludes Saturday night with fireworks and a truck pull.
Hunt said the fair is the perfect place to find good, clean family fun.
The board works diligently to plan the fair year round and has even made huge strides to insure the best company comes to town to provide the rides and equipment.
Hunt said the Estill County Fair won the most progressive fair award twice in the last eight years. The Estill County Fair is one of only two fairs to have won the award twice and the only fair to have won it within eight years of the most previous award.
“All of our fair board members are dedicated volunteers,” he said. “We know our fair will never get any bigger than it is now, but we want to make our fair the best little fair in the state.”
Hunt said the fair would not be possible without great business sponsors and support from the community.
With all of this the fair now offers a variety of activities, rides and events.
“There is something for everybody in the community to enjoy,” he said.
There is a small admission fee that differs throughout the week of the parade.
A complete list of events, including times, admission fees and registration fees can be found in the fair catalogue available at the Estill County Extension Office on Stacy Lane.