Staff writer
From craft and livestock exhibits to rodeo, concerts, and a demolition derby, the 79th annual Marion County Fair July 29 through Aug. 1 at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro will have something for many tastes.
A Saturday demolition derby is always a big draw, fair manager Stephanie Richmond said. It draws the most excitement and signifies the close of the fair.
New events include an antique tractor pull and Fire Jam concerts featuring Bucky Covington, the Greenhorns, T. Graham Brown, and Kebo Cyrus. The concerts benefit Marion County Fire Chiefs Association.
The fair has a history with tractor pulls, Myron Regier said. He participated with his father in tractor pulls in the mid-1970s.
In the 1970s, volunteers stepped onto a sled pulled by a tractor to increase the load as it went, Regier said. Today tractor pulls use automatic weight transfer sleds.
He said he expects competitive pullers from Emporia, Wellington, and Hutchinson, but he said locals with antique tractors should consider entering. Tractors made before 1970 are welcome.
Anyone with questions about the tractor pull can call Regier at (620) 367-8277 or e-mail at myron.regier@williams.com.
The parade will be 6:30 p.m. July 29. The theme is “Bringing Home the Bacon.”
Open class and 4-H exhibits are another important aspect of the fair. Open class events allow entrants of all ages, Richmond said. Entry check-in begins at 9 a.m. July 29 and ends at noon.
Entry fees are based on the number of items per division. Exhibitors pay nothing for one to three items, $1 for four to six, $2 for seven to 10, and $3 for 11 or more items.