The Moniteau County Fair begins its 151st event Saturday.
The pre-festivities of the big event, which will run through Aug. 12, include the 5 p.m. parade and Wayne Bueker Trail Challenge. The first and last events Saturday are food-related - the Fair Ham Breakfast from 7-9 a.m. and the Moniteau County Cattlemen's Association Steak Night Dinner at 5 p.m.
The fair closes Aug. 12 with the Junior Ham Auction at 6 p.m., sponsored by 4-H, in the Livestock Sale Barn and the demolition derby at 8 p.m. Saturday at the main arena. Also on the last Saturday is the baby show at 6 p.m. in the upper floor of Centennial Hall.
There is no fee this year to enter the baby show. Babies must be residents of Moniteau County, and an entry form for registration must be submitted by Tuesday. For additional information, contact Carol Rackers at 573-796-2476.
Musical interludes are available during the fair. Shiloh Country Band will perform country and classic rock Tuesday. The art hall is open daily at 6 p.m.
The Kay Brothers will return to their hometown to perform music they self-describe as "Genyewine Bonafide Hootin' N' Hollerin' Hillybillyin' Ozark Stompgrass and What Nots" at 8 p.m. Thursday.
The California Community Ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday in the main arena, followed at 7:30 p.m. by the outdoor Vespers Service hosted by the ministerial alliance. The speaker will be the Rev. Alan Bailey, pastor of California First Christian Church.
In keeping with the history of the Moniteau County Fair, several horse events are on the schedule. The trail challenge is the first. The Sho-Me Circuit Horse Show, sponsored by the Moniteau County Saddle Club, begins at 5:30 p.m. after the parade. The Draft Horse Pull is at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Sappington Arena. The rodeo is at 7 p.m. in the main arena.
Tractor pulling begins at 6 p.m. Monday in the main arena, followed by the MMTTPA Sanctioned Truck and Tractor Pull at 7 p.m. That same day, the breeding swine show begins at 9 a.m., followed by the breeding beef show, breeding sheep show, goat show and dairy show.
The contest for Miss Moniteau County will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the main arena. Contestants must be female, single and 16-21 years old. For additional information, contact Rackers.
The Little Mr. and Miss Moniteau County Contest directly follows the Miss Moniteau Scholarship Contest. All entrants must be a county resident, 3-5 years of age and attend the tea party Tuesday. Girls need to be at Centennial Hall at 9 a.m., boys at 10:30 a.m. For information, contact Toni Kueffer at 573-796-3097.
The "Hart" Land Garden Tractor Pull will be at 7 p.m. in the Sappington Arena, wrapping up a day featuring the rabbit and lamb shows, followed by the goat show and market hog show. The junior and homegrown steers will follow the market hogs, to be followed by junior and homegrown steers.
Wednesday's big event is a rodeo starting at 7 p.m. in the main arena. The draft horse pull is at 8 p.m. in the Sappington Arena. The poultry show begins at 2 p.m.
Thursday is Senior Citizens Day from 1:30-3:30 p.m. The Children's Barnyard is 5-7 p.m. in the livestock barn. At 7 p.m., the ATV rodeo will be in Sappington Arena. The halter calf show starts at 7 p.m.
The Compact Figure 8 Scramble and Tuff Truck Challenge starts at 7 p.m. Friday. The scramble feature compact cars dodging through a figure-eight course, while the truck challenge ahs vehicles going over jumps and obstacles in the least amount of time.
The last day of the fair features several events, starting at noon with the Cow Patty Drop at the livestock sale barn. The baby show and the Junior Ham Auction both start at 6 p.m., with the baby show in Centennial Hall and the 4-H event in the livestock sale barn. A full-size demolition derby and compact derby round out the night at 8 p.m.
In addition, Granpa Cratchet will perform across from the carnival Tuesday -Friday. Horseshoe pitching will be at 7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday. Washerboards will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.