Women’s rodeo, local performers to debut at fair

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
This year’s Marion County Fair, set for Aug. 7-10, will bring back many favorites and debut two new events on the entertainment schedule.

The Women’s Ranch Rodeo will make its first appearance at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday’s opening night.

“I’m excited about the women’s rodeo,” said Pam Riesen, fair director. “We’re looking forward to putting it on.”

Chuck McLinden, event organizer, said ranch rodeos are gaining popularity as an offshoot of traditional rodeo.

“Ranch rodeos consist more of events that are done in everyday ranch-type work, only as a competitive event,” he said.

A ranch rodeo pits teams of four people competing in four events: trailer loading, calf doctoring, team sorting and calf branding.

McLinden said he has competed in ranch rodeos for men, but interest among women in the event is a relatively new development that is quickly gaining momentum.

Several women from Marion County are expected to participate at this year’s fair, but McLinden is expecting the event to draw entrants from across the state and beyond.

“We’re hoping to draw people from all over the state, because (ranch rodeo) has kind of taken on a life of its own as an offshoot of the men’s ranch rodeo,” he said. “Enough women became interested that they formed their own association.

Women interested in more information or in competing, can call McLinden at 620-878-4518. The entry fee is $200 for a four-member team. Prizes will be awarded to winners. The deadline for signing up is July 24.

Nightly talent show

The other new element on the entertainment menu at this year’s fair is nightly performances in the fair pavilion.

“It used to be we didn’t have anything in the pavilion while something was going on in the arena,” Riesen said. “This year we’re going to have something in the pavilion every night.”

Instead of bringing in “big name” performers, organizers have opted for area talent.

Vicky’s School of Dance from Hillsboro will perform on Wednesday. The Sunflower Stompers, a clogging team based in McPherson, will be featured on Thursday. On Friday, Just Cuz, a contemporary Christian singing and dancing group, will take the stage.

Wednesday and Friday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., while Thursday’s performance is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Return visits

Several attractions that debuted last year are returning for a second run.

Joker the Juggler, a.k.a Dennis Schafers, will be on site on Wednesday night to talk one-on-one with the children, make them balloon sculptures and, of course, juggle.

“This year he’ll walk through the parade and be on the grounds until 10:30 p.m.,” Riesen said.

“He was well received last year,” she added. “He said some of the kids cried when he left. He was anxious to come back.”

On Wednesday and Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., fair-goers can literally climb the wall-a portable 24-foot-tall rock wall provided by Over the Edge, a husband-wife enterprise operated by Terry and Teresa Schafer of Dodge City.

According to the Schafers, wall climbers have ranged in age from 31/2 to 70-and not one major injury or failure of the patented auto-belay safety system has occurred in more than 1 million climbs.

“It’s a pretty unique, simple and very safe system,” Terry Schafer said.

Riesen said the attraction was well received at last year’s fair, considering its unusual nature.

“The ‘wall people’ were more than happy to come back,” she said. “They’re hoping for better (participation) this year.”

A third returning attraction is the Van De Creek Pedal Pull on Thursday afternoon. Girls and boys ages 4 through 12 can participate in the pedal-tractor pull.

Registration begins at 1 p.m., and the pull starts at 2 p.m. at the Rodeo Arena. There is no cost to participate.

First- and second-place finishers in each age division will qualify for the pedal-tractor pull-off at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson in September.

Bill and Leigh Ann Van De Creek of Abilene are again bringing the event to this year’s fair.

Bill and his brother designed and hand-built the tractors, which are appropriately sized for children in the different age classes.

Perennial favorites

Riesen said fair-goers can expect to see their longtime favorite events again, too. Among them are:

– Opening parade. This year’s parade will again proceed down Hillsboro’s Main Street, from Third Street to D Street and then on to the fairgrounds to the west.

The theme for the parade and the fair is “Freedom to Soar at the Fair,” and prizes will be awarded for floats that best reflect it.

The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday.

– Emprise Bank Watermelon Feed. Immediately after the parade, fair-goers can enjoy a cool slice of watermelon at Emprise Bank’s free watermelon feed near the pavilion.

– Kraft Rodeo. The popular two-day Kraft Rodeo is set for 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, kids age 10 years and under can compete in Muttin’ Bustin’, Mini-Bull Riding and a Calf Scramble. On Friday, those events are open to children 11 through 14.

Rodeo tickets can be purchased at 109 S. Main in Hillsboro and at the gate. The cost for adults is $6 for one night or $10 for both nights. Tickets for children ages 6 to 12 cost $5 and children age 5 and under will be admitted without charge.

– Demolition Derby. Planners expect Saturday night’s 29th annual Demolition Derby to be the fair’s biggest attraction again this year.

Anyone interested in competing in the derby should contact the fair office for an information packet, which includes an entry form and contest rules and regulations. Residents of Marion County and contiguous counties are eligible to enter.

Prize money and trophies will be awarded for preliminary heats, a consolation heat and the championship heat.

Tickets to the derby will cost $8 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under can enter without charge.

– Carnival. Cornelson Fun Rides will provide this year’s carnival every night from 4 p.m. to closing. Ticket options are $2 per ride or a “Family Pak” of 10 tickets for $17.

4-H focus

As always, the Marion County Fair will be a showcase for 4-H members who have worked hard to develop their projects and talents. Some of the highlights of their schedule include:

– Horse show. As has been the case for some time, the free horse show actually precedes the opening of the fair. It begins at 6 p.m., Monday, in the Rodeo Arena.

– Judging of exhibits. 4-H exhibit check-in and judging runs from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday. The public is invited to view the exhibits and prizes after 3 p.m.

– Royalty Contest. The third annual selection of a 4-H king and queen will take place at 11 a.m., Wednesday, in the pavilion.

Each 4-H club is allowed two female and two male members to represent them in the competition. The royalty are chosen on the basis of an interview, leadership and activities questionnaire and 4-H record book.

– Style Review. The annual competition will take place in the pavilion at 7:30 p.m., Thursday.

– Round Robin Showmanship Contest. 4-H livestock exhibitors will put themselves under the judge’s inspection as they demonstrate their showmanship skills in this annual event, which begins at 4 p.m., Friday.

– Livestock Sale. Exhibitors will reap some financial reward for the long hours of work when they sell their animals at this annual sale, which will begin at 6:30 p.m., Friday.

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