WILMINGTON — The barns are scrubbed down, the rides have arrived and 4-H’ers have their projects ready to go.
Thousands of Clinton Countians — from volunteers to Junior Fair and Senior Fair participants to those who simply plan to have some summer fun — are geared up for the 2015 Clinton County Fair.
Presented by the Clinton County Agricultural Society, the eight-day event continues a local tradition that began in 1832.
While Junior Fair and Pre-Fair activities have been under way for a month, the fair’s official opening ceremonies will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11 at the Clinton County Fairgrounds.
Beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday and concluding the following Saturday night will be everything from fair food to music to demonstrations and competitions, including the 4-H and FFA Olympics and truck and tractor pulls.
New this year is the 1st Annual Clinton County Fair Cheerleading Competition, and this is also the first fair to offer helicopter rides.
Other featured events include the Midwest VOICE Talent Search, and the Antique Power Club of Clinton County will fire up and open up their engines during the Big Engine Demonstration.
The 31st Fair Honoree will be Larry Roberts II, who will be honored at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15 before the start of the tractor pull. Roberts was a 4-H participant as a youth and he has supported the 4-H and Junior Fair programs. He has also assisted the Clinton County Agricultural Society with fairgrounds improvement projects. Currently more than 5,000 acres in Clinton and Highland counties are owned by Larry Roberts Farms.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, July 16 the Doster family will be the recipients of an Ohio Department of Agriculture Bicentennial Farm Presentation. The Dosters’ ancestors settled in Adams Township in 1814 and the farm is currently owned by the original owner’s great-great-great-grandchildren.
Ticket prices for the 2015 Clinton County Fair are $7 for daily gate entry, and ages 8 and younger are free. Membership tickets are $30.
Rides will operate 1 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. daily, and gates close at 11 p.m.
Grandstand & infield events include:
• Saturday, July 11, 7 p.m. — Demolition Derby
• Sunday, July 12, 4 p.m. — Harness Racing
• Monday, July 13, 7:30 p.m. — 4-H/FFA Olympics
• Tuesday, July 14, 6 p.m.— Cheerleading Competition
• Wednesday, July 15, 7 p.m. — Tractor Pull
• Thursday, July 16, 7 p.m. — Truck Pull 4WD
• Friday, July 17, 7 p.m. — Truck & Tractor Pull
• Saturday, July 18, 11:30 a.m. — Kiddie Tractor Pull; 7 p.m. — NTPA Truck & Tractor Pull
Musical entertainment features:
• Saturday, July 11, 8 p.m. — Richard Lynch Band
• Sunday, July 12, 8 p.m. — Mr. Chris & The Cruisers
• Monday, July 13, 8 p.m. — Alyssa Oeder
• Tuesday, July 14, 8 p.m. — Oak
• Wednesday, July 15, 8 p.m. — Evan Lanier & The Bluegrass Express
• Thursday, July 16, 6 p.m. —Midwest VOICE Talent Search
• Friday, July 17, 8 p.m. — Rock N Country
• Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m. — Kate Hasting Band
The entire fair program is online at www.wnewsj.com.
