Come on out to the county fair!

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Correspondent
 
The 2021 Weston County Fair, July 23-Aug. 1, has a lot to
offer for all community mem-
bers, according to Kara Fladstol Brown, fairgrounds manager. The theme is Keeping the American Dream Alive. 
“We’re excited this year,” Brown said. “We’ll have a little something for just about anyone.”
Fair 2021 boasts a lot of new events, Brown said, in addition to some events making a comeback after a smaller fair last year. Pig wrestling, on Monday, July 26, is one such comeback, and Brown said she is excited about that. 
Some new events include sprint track races the first evening of fair, Friday, July 23. While the races are a common community occurrence, this is the first time they’ve had the races at fair. 
After the Newcastle Ministerial Association’s chicken dinner on Sunday, July 25, they are going to have a family-friendly comedian. 
The ATV Gymkhana is also a new event, featuring regular gymkhana-style events, such as pole bending and barrel racing, except that riders will use four-wheelers and dirt bikes. Entry fees are $20 for adults and $10 for kids, all put into a jackpot for the winners. The ATV Gymkhana is Wednesday, July 28. 
A new bungee-jumping extreme ride is going to be offered a few nights of the fair. The ride is ticketed, Brown said, to save money for more of those fun rides in the future. 
Also making an appearance is a beer garden every evening of the fair, except for Sundays, and proceeds from that are going back into fairgrounds improvements. 
Other fair festivities include the mini rough stock rodeo, bouncy houses, ranch rodeo and much more. And, of course, all of the educational opportunities from all of the animals and projects being entered in the fair by 4-H students and community members.
Brittany Hamilton, 4-H/Youth Development extension educator, said that 4-H’ers have been working hard preparing their fair projects. 
“This is where they get to showcase their hard work,” Hamilton said. She added that it’s a beneficial educational opportunity for everyone because the kids get to explain their projects to judges and interested community supporters. It’s also a great opportunity
to have a lot of fun and take pride in all the hard work of 4-H’ers, volunteers and community members. 
Hamilton said she is very excited for all the events slated for this year’s fair and that fair is a perfect opportunity for community members from all walks of life to enjoy a week of fun and learning that caters to everyone. 
“It (fair) bridges the gap between agriculture and consumers,” Hamilton said. 
She also noted that the 4-H’ers love the support of the community. 
“It puts a smile on the kids’ faces,” she said. 
Brown and Hamilton said that all the events make for a busy and fun-filled fair week, and they welcome the whole community to come out to the Weston County Fair and keep the American dream alive. 
“We welcome everyone to come down and have a good time,” Brown said. “This is where the best of Weston County gets to show off what they can do.”