Country singer and former ?American Idol? contestant Bucky Covington is coming to the Marion County Fair Friday, July 31, thanks to the combined efforts of the Marion County Fire Chiefs? Associa?tion and the fair board.
The fair opens Wednesday, July 29, and continues through Saturday, Aug. 1.
Recognized local and national talent will offer fairgoers a variety of musical entertainment while helping area firefighters build a much-needed training center. More details will appear in a future edition.
Along with Bucky, other musicians performing at this year?s fair are: country-rock singer KeBo Cyrus, brother of Billy Ray Cyrus; a local group, GreenHorns; and T. Graham Brown, a country singer known for hit singles ?Don?t Go To Strangers? and ?Darlene.?
Area folks may be most familiar with Covington from his time on ?American Idol.? He finished in eighth place during the show?s fifth season.
Following ?American Idol,? Covington released his first album, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Three of his hit singles included, ?A Different World,? ?It?s Good to Be Us,? and ?I?ll Walk.?
Stephanie Richmond, fair manager, said stock contractor, Kraft Rodeo in Abbeyville will be back again this year for the annual rodeo.
?Other highlights will be clowns, girl?s breakaway roping, mini bullriding, calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, mutton busting and more,? she said.
Something new this year is an antique tractor pull at 7 p.m. Friday, July 31.
?Anybody can enter the event,? Richmond said. ?The big finale, though, is the demolition derby on Saturday.?
Another date Richmond said fairgoers might want to keep in mind is the Women?s Ranch Rodeo, Saturday, July 25, featuring riding, roping, sorting, penning cattle and other skills used in everyday ranch work.
The dog show, a highlight for many 4-Hers in the area, will test their animals? skills in showmanship, agility and obedience.
Details about the upcoming Marion County Fair will appear in future editions of the Free Press.
