County gets ready for fair
It’s that time of year again, and the July 20-25 Phillips County Fair is approaching fast. Some events have sign-up deadlines, so it’s important to be ready to “Raise the Steaks” before the big event arrives.
Events and categories are described in the fairbook, which is available at local businesses or the Phillips County Extension office. See the fairbook for information and rules regarding livestock events.
Pre-entry of exhibits for the open division and special themes contests is preferred but not required. Visit https://phil.fairwire.com until July 21 to pre-enter exhibits.
Open division entries have something for everyone
All open exhibits must be taken to the Phillips County Event Center on Wednesday, July 21, from 1-6 p.m. Exhibits will be judged Thursday, July 22, beginning at 9 a.m.
Winners will receive $3 for first place, $2 for second and $1 for third. Exhibitors must pick up their premium checks at the Phillips County Extension office within 60 days of the last day of the fair.
The garden and field crops category includes everything from beans to peppers to fruit and vine crops. Garden fun classes of competition include vegetable caricatures with vegetables that look like a person or an animal, biggest live grasshopper, biggest live praying mantis and prettiest bug.
Floriculture includes cut flowers, summer flowering annual bulbs, container plants and bouquets. Floricultural arrangements will also be judged in adult and youth divisions with categories that include exhibitors’ interpretations of the “Raisin’ the Steaks” theme.
The baked and preserved goods department includes yeast breads, sourdough, coffee cakes, muffins, pies, cookies, canned fruits, juices, pickles, jellies, dried jerky and more.
People interested in activities like sewing, knitting, crocheting and Swedish weaving should look into the needlework category.
Exhibits like jewelry, leathercraft, Christmas ornaments and ceramics all fall under the crafts department.
Quilters should look at the many different quilting categories available at the fair. Creative Traditions is also sponsoring a “Wildlife” quilt contest.
The fine arts category includes pottery, pencil drawings, watercolor and more. It also has photo fun classes that include country, humorous, still life and more.
Children who are pre-kindergarten through third grade may enter items that are listed in the open crafts and fine arts categories. A maximum of three combined exhibits is allowed. The exhibits won’t be judged, and each exhibitor will receive a rosette.
Phillips County welders and crafters 18 years and older may enter projects made of wood, metal or a combination of both in the open vo-ag farm mechanics competition.
Special themes contests fun for every age
Special themes exhibits that are not pre-entered online must be entered when they’re taken to the event center Wednesday, July 21, from 1-6 p.m. Exhibits will be judged Thursday, July 22, beginning at 1 p.m.
Returning this year is a pet show at Homesteaders Park on Saturday, July 24, at 1 p.m. Categories include pet tricks, best vocal performance, best tail-waggin’ performance, fastest pet on four legs, softest fur, best dressed, longest ears, best kisser, mirror image/owner look-alike and best in show. No rabbits are allowed due to the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus.
A photography contest with the “Raisin’ the Steaks” theme is being sponsored by Al and Margi Wall. Prizes are $50 for first place, $30 for second and $20 for third.
The Decorate a Vegetable Contest sponsored by the Tim and Monica Becker family is open to all ages. The winning entry will receive $10.
Better Beef Makers 4-H Club is sponsoring the Build Your Best Lego contest, which features youth and adult divisions.
Entries in the Homemade Salsa/Guacamole Contest, sponsored by the Jolly Dozen FCE Club, must be submitted after the parade Saturday, July 24, between 1-1:30 p.m. at the Phillips County Event Center.
Categories include three levels of salsa: mild, hot and spicy, and most unusual. A fourth category is for guacamole. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category, and an overall salsa and guacamole prize will be awarded from “People’s Choice” after official judging. Contact Marianne Sullivan at 970-854-2518 for more information.
Heginbotham Library is sponsoring the Create-A-Book-Cover Contest. Kids will create a book title and theme of their choice and design artwork for the book’s cover. Contact Heginbotham Library at 970-854-2597 for more information.
Parade entries requested by July 16
The “Raisin’ the Steaks” parade is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, at 10 a.m. Entries are requested by Friday, July 16, but will be accepted up to the day of the parade.
Entry forms, which are in the back of the fairbook and in this week’s Enterprise, should be mailed or delivered to the Elliott residence at 701 W. Johnson St. in Holyoke.
Check-in the day of the parade is at the entrance of Holyoke Elementary School beginning at 7:30 a.m. To be judged, entries must be checked in and in line by 8:30 a.m. All entries must be checked in and in line by 9:30 a.m. Entrants should write a short resume of their club or organization, including information about the float or entry for the announcer’s use. Judged entries can win up to $100.
Each child age 6-12 who wears a costume, decorates a small battery- or leg-powered vehicle, pulls a wagon or rides a horse in the parade will be awarded 50 cents. Horse riders need to be accompanied by an adult.
Check-in is at the elementary school so the children’s names can be announced as they pass the announcer’s stand. Children under 6 may not ride tricycles or other vehicles in the parade.
For questions, call Julie Elliott at 970-854-5294.
Kids can enter catch-it goat/sheep contests, rabbit and chicken bingo
Kids age 8-18 as of Dec. 31, 2021, can enter the catch-it goat contest, catch-it sheep contest, and the rabbit and chicken bingo contests. Applicants must enroll in Phillips County 4-H by March 15, 2022, or be enrolled in FFA for the 2021-22 year.
The events will be held in the livestock show arena in the Bank of Colorado Pavilion.
The catch-it goat contest will be Thursday, July 22, following the goat show.
The catch-it sheep contest will follow the sheep show Friday, July 23.
The rabbit and chicken bingo contests are scheduled for Friday, July 23, following the parade of champions.
The application deadline for all three events is Thursday, July 15, at 4:30 p.m. Applications are available at the Phillips County Extension office. Contact Jessie Stewart for more information at 970-854-3616.