Fair time in Findlay

FINDLAY — It won't be long until the Old Mill Stream Fairgrounds are filled with the sounds of screaming carnival riders, roaring tractors and cheers from the livestock shows. That means it's almost time for the Hancock County Fair. Visitors will find old favorites like harness racing, the demotion derby and the Junior Fair livestock auction. They'll also have an extra day to enjoy these activities — along with an array of the best fair food — when the annual event opens Tuesday and continues until Sept. 2. Move in day is Monday. The extra day was added to ease the full Junior Fair show schedule as well as to alleviate pressure from the Sept. 2 livestock sale and move out times for rides, concessions and vendors, according to information provided on the Hancock County Agricultural Society's website. Opening ceremonies for the 2024 edition of the fair will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the Old Mill Stream Fairgrounds. The first full day of activities is Tuesday. This year's theme is "Sew it, Grow it, Show it at the Hancock County Fair." Country music singer and songwriter Travis Denning will perform in concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in the North Grandstand. Denning's 2018 breakout song, "David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs," became a Top 40 debut which has since been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. His jet black 2019 hit, "After a Few," followed and became a Platinum Number One on the Billboard Country Airplay charts. Admission to the concert is free with a paid admission to the fair. Fairgoers will also get a chance to visit the new Junior Fair Building. Wednesday is Veterans Day at the fair, when veterans will be admitted free with proper identification. Throughout the day, visitors can watch the judging of open class farm products, horticulture, woodworking, domestic arts and crafts, hobbies and collections, honey and baking in the Grange Building. A baked goods auction begins at 5 p.m. The STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Bus from Ohio State University will visit and provide a variety of hands-on STEM activities at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Harness racing will be held Wednesday and Thursday in the South Grandstand. Senior Day is Thursday. Any senior age 65 and older will be admitted free with proper identification. A full day of activities will be held in the Old Mill Stream Centre, including demonstrations of some of the exercise classes offered at 50 North. Seniors will also have an opportunity to spin the wheel and possibly win a prize. Two sessions of bingo will also be offered. Koi Drag Racing is slated for 7 p.m. Friday in the South Grandstand, while the Hancock County Barrel Battle, at 8 p.m., will be held in the North Grandstand. The open class flower show begins at noon Friday. Youth can participate in a pedal pull at the Old Mill Stream Centre. The Junior Fair goat obstacle course will also be held. The demolition derby and open class horse team pulls are featured on Saturday. Sunday's visitors can look forward to the Showman and Showmen competition, the Biggest Little Pull in Northwest Ohio featuring tractors and trucks, and the Cloverbud graduation for the youngest 4-Hers who will be old enough for the traditional program next year. A church service will be held at the gospel pavilion. The annual Junior Fair livestock sale begins with registration at 8 a.m. Monday. The sale starts at 9. Admission tickets will be sold primarily online. Daily single admission is $10, which admits an adult and dependent members of their family ages 9 and younger. Admission is $5 for seniors age 65 and older, and youth ages 10-17. Children ages 9 and younger will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Prices include parking. Gates accepting cash for any fair ticket include the walk-in gate off East Sandusky Street, the McCleary Gate off Fishlock Avenue, and the South Grandstand gate. Presale adult season tickets are $30 plus processing fees, available through Monday online and at the fair office. After Monday, season tickets are available online only. Youth season tickets for ages 10-17 are available online through 8 p.m. Monday. Several online specials are also available — "In by 3 p.m. is Free" on Tuesday and "$5 before 5 p.m." on Friday. These passes must be acquired from online services. Event tickets include: KOI drag racing — $10, which admits one adult and dependent members of their family ages 9 and younger; demolition derby — $10 grandstand, which admits one adult and dependent members of their family ages 9 and younger; demolition derby pit pass — $15 per person; tractor pull — $10, which admits one adult and dependent members of their family ages 9 and younger; and the figure 8 demolition derby — $10, which admits one adult and dependent members of their family ages 9 years and younger. Below is the fair's schedule of events: Monday Move In Day 7-11 a.m. – Swine weigh-in 9 a.m.-6 p.m. - Rabbit weigh-in, Rabbit Barn Noon-3 p.m. - Goat weigh-in, Legacy Pavilion Noon-6 p.m. - Poultry weigh-in, NWO Arena 3-6 p.m. - Lamb weigh-in, Legacy Pavilion 4:30-6:30 p.m. - Dairy feeder weigh-in, Buckeye Building 7 p.m. - Opening ceremonies, Old Mill Stream Centre 8 p.m. - Dairy steers weigh-in followed by market steers and beef feeders, Buckeye Building Tuesday In for Free by 3 p.m. 7:30 a.m. - Gates open 8 a.m. - Junior fair sheep showmanship followed by Junior Fair market lamb show and Junior Fair breeding sheep show, NWO Arena; Junior Fair light horse show, North Grandstand 9 a.m. - Open class poultry show, Poultry Barn; Junior Fair dog showmanship followed by dog obedience, rally and best dressed contest, Recker Arena; open class judging includes farm products, horticulture, domestic arts and crafts, honey and bee, theme gift baskets, Grange Building 11 a.m.- Family Fun with Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), "Make & Take Market Bags," Youth Pavilion Noon - Junior fair poultry show, NWO Arena 1 p.m. - Bang Whiz Science, Mini Park, and at 3 and 6 p.m.; Explore the 4-H's (Head) by using our thinking caps, Youth Pavilion 5 p.m. - Open class photography judging 7 p.m. - Bar A Rodeo – Bulls & Barrels, North Grandstand, free admission; Hancock County Band Show, South Grandstand, free admission, gates open one hour prior to show 11 p.m. - Fairgrounds close Wednesday Veterans Day 7:30 a.m. - Gates open 8 a.m. - Junior Fair swine show, NWO Arena; Junior Fair light horse show, North Grandstand 9 a.m. - Junior fair dog agility, Recker Arena; open class judging includes woodworking, baking, cookie jar, hobbies and collectibles, Grange Building 11 a.m. - Family Fun with FCS, "MyPlate Bingo," Youth Pavilion Noon - Junior Fair draft horse show 1 p.m. - Junior Fair poultry showmanship, NWO Arena; Explore the 4-H's, (Heart), loyalty starts at the heart, Youth Pavilion; Guitars for Vets, Mini Park 1-4 p.m. - Junior Fair premium pick-up from Tuesday's show, Junior Fair office 3 p.m. - Junior Fair rabbit showmanship, NWO Arena; open class draft farm show, North Grandstand 5 p.m. - Open class baked goods auction, Grange Building 6 p.m. - Harness racing, south grandstand, free admission 6:30 p.m. - PeeWee swine showmanship, NWO Arena 7:30 p.m. - Calf scramble, North Grandstand, free admission 11 p.m. - Fairgrounds close Thursday Senior Day 7:30 a.m. - Gates open; open class lamb carcass show, NWO Arena 8 a.m. - Junior Fair boer goat show, NWO Arena; Junior Fair cross breed dairy feeder show, Recker Arena; Junior Fair light horse show, North Grandstand 9 a.m. - Canning and antiques judging, Grange Building 10 a.m. - Hosler-Corbin dairy feeder show, Recker Arena 11 a.m. - Family Fun with FCS, "Brain Games," Youth Pavilion 1 p.m. - Explore the 4-H's, (Hands) take part in a service project, Youth Pavilion 1-4 p.m. - Junior Fair premium pick-up from Wednesday's show, Junior Fair office 5 p.m. - Open Class American Rabbit Breeders Association rabbit show, NWO Arena 6 p.m. - Harness racing, South Grandstand, free admission 7 p.m. - Travis Denning concert, North Grandstand, free admission 11 p.m. - Fairgrounds close Friday In By 5 p.m. for $5 7:30 a.m. - Gates open 8 a.m. - Junior Fair dairy goat show, NWO Arena 9 a.m. - Junior Fair/open class beef show, Recker Arena, order: beef showmanship, beef feeder, beef showmanship, Hosler-Corbin Insurance Agency, Inc. dairy steer, HCCC steer, market steer, ½-hour lunch break, Junior Fair beef breeding, open class beef breeding, open class light horse and pony show, North Grandstand 10 a.m. - Junior Fair dairy show followed by open class dairy show, NWO Arena 11 a.m. - Family Fun with FCS, "Financial Fun," Youth Pavilion Noon – Open class flower judging, Grange Building 1 p.m. - Zumba with Ali and Charro Saad of Power Up Fitness & Nutrition, Mini Park; Explore the 4-H's, (Health) better living for ourselves and the community, Youth Pavilion; youth pedal pull registration, Old Mill Stream Centre 1-4 p.m. - Junior Fair premium pick-up from Thursday's show, Junior Fair office 2 p.m. - Youth pedal pull, Old Mill Stream Centre 2:30 p.m. - Flower arranging competition followed by auction of arrangements, Grange Building 6 p.m. - Junior Fair goat obstacle course, Recker Arena 7 p.m. - KOI drag race eliminations, South Grandstand; Good Sun Band, Mini Park; barrel battle entries taken 8 p.m. - Barrel battle, North Grandstand 11 p.m. - Fairgrounds close Saturday 7:30 a.m. - Gates open 8 a.m. - Open class sheep breeding show followed by Junior Fair born and raised sheep show, open class market lamb show, NWO Arena; open class draft horse and pony show, North Grandstand 10 a.m. - Junior Fair dairy feeder base bid auction followed by beef feeder base bid auction, Recker Arena 10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Nerf Wars, Old Mill Stream Centre 11 a.m. - Junior Fair market/breed rabbit show, NWO Arena; coloring contest registration, judging at noon, Youth Pavilion Noon - Open draft and pony hitch show 1 p.m. - Explore the 4-H's, Youth Pavilion 1-4 p.m. Junior Fair premium pick-up from Friday's show, Junior Fair office 2:30 p.m. - PeeWee dairy feeder showmanship, Recker Arena 3 p.m. - 5 Star Baton, Mini Park 5-7 p.m. - Brad Beach Memorial Square Dance, Mini Park area 6 p.m. - Junior Fair beef obstacle course, Recker Arena 7 p.m. - Open class horse team pulls, North Grandstand; Brent Lowery music, Mini Park; demolition derby, South Grandstand 7:30 p.m. Junior Fair best dressed goat, NWO Arena 8 p.m. - PeeWee beef showmanship, Recker Arena 11 p.m. - Fairgrounds close Sunday 7:30 a.m. - Gates open 8 a.m. – Open class light horse show, North Grandstand 10 a.m. - Church service, Gospel Pavilion Noon - Livestock judging contest, NWO Arena; Biggest Little Pull of Northwest Ohio, South Grandstand 1 p.m. – Good Sun Band, Mini Park 1-4 p.m. - Junior Fair premium pick-up from Saturday's show, Junior Fair office 1:30 p.m. - Guys & gals lead, NWO Arena 2 p.m. - Best dressed small animal contest, Recker Arena; Cloverbud graduation, Old Mill Stream Centre; goat milking contest, Legacy Pavilion 4 p.m. - Showman of showman contest, NWO Arena; cookie eating contest, Mini Park 6 p.m. - Ohio Celtic Fiddlers of County Knox, Mini Park 6:30 p.m. - National Tractor Pullers Association pulls, South Grandstand 7 p.m. - Dodgeball tournament, North Grandstand 11 p.m. - Fairgrounds close Monday Free General Admission 7:30 a.m. - Gates open 8 a.m. - Junior Fair livestock sale registration, NWO Arena; sale starts at 9 a.m. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. - Hancock County Agricultural Society 2024 election, Old Mill Stream Centre meeting room; Junior Fair premium pick-up from Sunday's show, Junior Fair office 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Open class premium pick-up, Mini Park area Noon - Exhibits and Merchants Building released; Figure 8 demolition derby, South Grandstand