Something for everyone at this year’s Phillips County Fair

The Phillips County Fair will show its patriotism and appreciation to veterans at the year’s July 25-30 fair with the them “Red, White and Blue ­— Veterans, We Honor You!”

Visitors will see a mix of old and new.

Events begin Tuesday evening, July 25, with the Phillips and Sedgwick County Horse Show, with superintendents Jessica Oliver and Zane Hollingsworth, in the pavilion and barrel racing at the grandstands.

Tuesday will be the first day of bingo, and it will continue in the East Exhibit Hall each day of the fair.

The Phillips County Fair Board and Extension Office are encouraging county residents to enter their projects in the fair’s open show.

Entries can vary from sewing and craft projects to gardening and baking. A list of projects is available in the county fair book.

All Open projects will be entered Wednesday, July 26, from 1-6 p.m.

For questions, contact Carrie Anderson at the Extension office, 970-854-3616, or fair board member Kayla Kafka, 970-580-8019.

After entries are received Thursday, the exhibit building will be open over the weekend with projects on display.

New this year is the Emily Haynes Excellence in Baking Award sponsored by the Haynes family, and the Sew Red, Sew White, Sew Blue! quilting contest sponsored by the Haxtun American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 137.

The patriotic quilting contest entries will be donated to Operation First Response, which provides cot quilts in backpacks to wounded servicemen when they arrive at hospitals with no personal belongings.

Rodeo enthusiasts can enjoy the return of the Ranch Rodeo Wednesday night, as well as bronc riding and mutton bustin’. 

The beer garden will open Wednesday evening and run throughout the fair.

Entertainment continues Thursday, July 27, with Edward Wonder from 5-8 p.m. 

The fair queen and attendant royalty for next year’s fair will be announced sometime during the fair. Coronation will occur at the Haxtun Corn Fest in September.

Friday activities

The weekend will kick off Friday, July 28, with 4-H shows.

The Darl Atkins Memorial Horseshoe Pitching Contest will begin at 1 p.m. that afternoon.

The barbecue in the Biesemeier Room in the event center will begin at 5 p.m. 

Friday night wraps up with stock car races starting at 7 p.m.

The carnival begins its run at the fair Friday from 4-8 p.m. 

The mobile escape room returns that evening for one night from 5-8 p.m.

Saturday fun

The fair’s annual parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 29.

Parade grand marshals will be Phil and LaVonne Hart. The Haxtun couple has supported the Phillips County 4-H program throughout the years. Phil is also a long-time member of the Platte Valley Truck and Tractor Pullers club and an integral part of the Johnny Miller Memorial Tractor Pull at the Haxtun Corn Festival.

Activities that day also include the kids tractor pull, noon; salsa contest, 1 p.m.; the Darl Atkins Memorial Horseshoe Pitching Contest at 1 p.m.; beer garden and music by Jason Kimble, 9:30 p.m.;  and bingo, 10 p.m.-midnight.

Saturday evening, a Colorado Pro Rodeo Association sanctioned rodeo, plus kids bronc riding and more mutton bustin’, will start at 7 p.m.

Fair wraps up Sunday

The final events of the fair will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday, July 30, with the Bryan Kroeger memorial community church service.

Entries will open for the tractor pull at that time, as well. The tractor pull will begin at 10 a.m.

4-H schedule

4-H activities will begin Wednesday, with horse, rabbit and poultry entries being accepted from 1-4 p.m. Market animal weigh-in for beef, sheep, goats and hogs starts at 4 p.m.

The rabbit and poultry shows will be Thursday. The Tiny Tot shows will be first at 8:45 a.m., and the 4-H shows will be at 9 a.m. Jason Donovan will serve as the poultry and rabbits superintendent.

Goats will also make an appearance Thursday, starting with the show at 2 p.m. The Catch-It Goat contest and Tiny Tot show will follow. The goats superintendent is Minda Mares.

Rounding out Thursday’s 4-H shows will be swine competitors, and a Tiny Tot show will also be held. Dave Gibson will be the swine superintendent.

Friday morning begins with the Phillips County Farm Bureau free breakfast from 6-8 a.m.

The dairy cow show will begin at 9 a.m. and be immediately followed by the beef show, with the adult beef judging to follow. The beef superintendent is Grady Groshans.

The sheep show starts that afternoon at 1 p.m., with the show ending with the Tiny Tot show and Catch-It Sheep contest. The sheep superintendent is Kevin Beck.

For a chance to see all the winners, the Parade of Champions will be held Friday at 4 p.m.

Saturday will be the Round Robin competition at 1 p.m. and the Junior Livestock Sale at 2:30 p.m.

Livestock exhibits will be released Sunday morning at 9 a.m.