Miller, Osage counties kick off fair season

Greta Cross/ News Tribune
Jacob Swann, 6, grabs at a piglet during the greased pig catching competition on the dirt track during the Osage County Fair Friday evening at Linn Fairgrounds and Park. The competition was divided into four age categories, including under 4 years old, 5-7 years old, 8-11 years old and 12-14 years old. Children lathered their hands in soap and water before running around a closed pen after a few piglets. First through third place winners were awarded cash prizes.
Greta Cross/ News Tribune Jacob Swann, 6, grabs at a piglet during the greased pig catching competition on the dirt track during the Osage County Fair Friday evening at Linn Fairgrounds and Park. The competition was divided into four age categories, including under 4 years old, 5-7 years old, 8-11 years old and 12-14 years old. Children lathered their hands in soap and water before running around a closed pen after a few piglets. First through third place winners were awarded cash prizes.

County fair season gets underway next week in Mid-Missouri.

First up is the Miller County Fair, which runs July 6-10 in Eldon. Later in the week, the Osage County Fair, July 8-10, kicks off in Linn.

More details on other Mid-Missouri county fairs will be presented in the weekly GoMidMo section of the News Tribune in advance of the events, but mark your calendars now: the Cole County Fair is July 26-31; Moniteau County is Aug. 2-7; and Maries County is Sept. 2-4.

Miller County Fair

With a "Small Town, Throw Down" theme, the Miller County Fair will kick off at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday with the annual parade in downtown Eldon.

In advance of the festivities, the Miss Miller County pageants will be at 6 p.m. Monday. Contestants in the pre-teen contest should be ages 10-12, teen contestants should be 13-16 and queen contestants should be 17-22. Contestants will compete in fitness wear, on-stage interview, evening gown and talent.

For the youngsters, the Little Royalty Contest is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Eldon High School Performing Arts Center. Children ages 4-7 from Miller and adjoining counties will compete for several titles.

Youth livestock shows and 4-H/FFA exhibits will be held at the fairgrounds on East 8th Street throughout the week, which wraps up with the livestock auction at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the show arena.

Evenings at the Miller County Fair will be packed with numerous entertainment activities. A UTV rodeo is on tap at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, compact figure 8 challenge is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and the demolition derby is at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Also on the docket, the Miller County Fair Corn Hole Tournament returns at 6:30 p.m. Thursday for the second year. To participate, it costs $50 per two-person team with a $100 prize.

The Fun Show Times carnival will be open 6-10:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at the fairgrounds; armbands cost $25 for unlimited riding. Armbands can be purchased in advance by Monday for $20 at Gerbes in Eldon.

Food will be available at the fair from 21/2 Men Concessions. Offerings include pork tenderloin, cheeseburgers, bratwursts, hot dogs and pizza.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.millercountyfair.com.

Osage County Fair

Sponsored by the Linn Lions Club, the three-day Osage County Fair gets underway at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at Linn Lions Club Park with opening ceremonies, including the crowing of the Miss Osage County winner.

Also on Thursday, the tractor pulling contest is at 7 p.m., as is the Little Miss and Mister Contest. Steve the Reptile Man will provide a "Lizard Experience" at 8 p.m., offering attendees the chance to hold lizards and pet snakes. Games for children are at 9 p.m., and the evening wraps up with DJ music by Joe Knollmeyer at 9:30 p.m.

Friday is Kids' Day at the Osage County Fair - a kids power wheels derby is at 6 p.m. on the track in conjunction with the demolition derby that evening; a kids tractor pull is at 7 p.m.; greased pig contest starts at 8 p.m., with registration at 6 p.m.; a parent-child look-a-like contest is at 8 p.m.; and a hula hoop and twist contest is at 8:30 p.m.

Music from the Dave Baker Band starting at 9 p.m. concludes Friday night at the fair.

A slew of activities are on the schedule for Saturday, including: a barbecue cookoff at 10 a.m.; washer tournament at noon; power wheels mud run at 1 p.m.; horseshoe throwing, basketball and chainsaw contests at 3 p.m.; and mud bowl at 3:30 p.m.

Saturday night will see a handful of music performances and activities, including a children's karaoke contest at 8 p.m. and adult karaoke starting at 9 p.m., both at the picnic pavilion. On the stage, the music lineup features "Old Time Country Music" by Osage Drifters at 7 p.m. and Prairie Moon at 9 p.m.

The fair concludes with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Saturday.

Livestock shows will take place in the fairgrounds arena throughout the event, and food stands and the beer garden will also be available.

Season passes for the Osage County Fair are $20 and can be purchased through Thursday night at all Legends Bank locations (Linn, Westphalia and Loose Creek) and Mid-America Bank in Linn. Individual day tickets are $15.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.osagecountyfair.com.