Community members were reminded Thursday of the vast number of people it takes to put on the Barton County Fair. At a breakfast in Expo II, Fair Board President Charles Atkinson welcomed business people, the Fair Board, the Cottonwood Extension District staff, 4-Hers and 4-H Ambassadors, to name a few.

He encouraged people who visit the fair to check out the commercial exhibits in Expo I. The building is full, with 43 vendors from across the state and from outside of the state.

The Expo grounds west of Great Bend have been the location of the Barton County Fair for 32 years now, Atkinson said. One tradition that predates that – back when the fair was held at the 4-H grounds between Great Bend and Hoisington – was for the Dick Dougherty family to cook the pancake and sausage breakfast. Dougherty and his wife Reva, along with their son Stacy, were once again in charge of Thursday’s breakfast, which doubled as this week’s Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee. Reva said the cooks helping this year included Larry Boor, Kevin Mauler and Aaron Smith.

The fair continues through Sunday.

Fair schedule

Saturday, July 8  KIDS Day

7:00 AM Registration Runway Run 1 Mile (Walk/Run) & 5K Run

7:30 AM Start 5K Run

7:45 AM Start 1 Mile (Walk/Run)

8:00 AM 4-H Horse Show (Outdoor Arena)

9:00 AM 4-H Hand Pets (Expo II)

10:30 AM Open Class Sheep Check-in

11:00 AM Open Class Sheep Show (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

10:00 AM Antique Tractor Pull Registration

11:00 AM Antique Tractor Pull (North of Expo III)

12:30 PM      Registration Mutton Bustin’ (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

1:00 PM Mutton Bustin’ (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

3:00 PM Motorcycle Drag Races - Bikers for Christ event (North of Expo III)

4:00 PM 4-H Small Animal Round Robin (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

5:00 PM Peoples Bank & Trust Watermelon Feed (Commons Area)

5 - 6:30 PM Open Class Swine Check-in (Expo III)

5 - 10 PM Commercial Exhibits Open (Expo I)

5:00 PM Cruise Barton County Poker Run (Start at Expo)

5:30 PM Registration Kids Pedal Tractor Pull (Expo II)

5:45 PM 4-H Livestock Round Robin Showmanship (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

5 -11:00 PM Jelly Ball Event  

6:00 PM Carnival - WEEE Entertainment 

6:00 PM Kids Pedal Tractor Pull (Expo II)

6:30 PM Registration Adult Pedal Tractor Pull (Expo II)     

 Adult Pedal Tractor Pull Directly after the Kids (Expo II)

6 - 8:00 PM 4-H Showcasing on Free Stage (Expo II)

7:00 PM Gary Ewing Memorial Open Class Swine Show (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

7:00 PM Adult Corn Hole Competition (Outside Beer Garden)

8:00 PM Rock & Roll Night – The Rock Gods, (Farmers Bank & Trust Stage)  

Sunday, July 9

8:00 AM Sunrise Service

8:30 AM Breakfast ~Sponsored by 4-H Holding Board for 4-H, Extension, Fair Association, Fair Friends

11:00 AM 4-H BBQ 

1:00 PM Celebrity Showmanship (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

2:00 PM 4-H Showcase Awards (Aaron’s Repair Arena), Farm Bureau Assn. Root Beer Float Social (Expo III)

2:30 PM Sale of Champions (Aaron’s Repair Arena)

4:00 PM Buildings Closed for Check out preparations

4:30 PM Check out Exhibits

Monday, July 10

All Day All Volunteers Welcome

Tear down and storage

5:00 PM Final Check Out of remaining Exhibits and Clean up