There are traditions at the Clark County Fair that community members look forward to every year, but the fair is always evolving and this year there are big changes coming to the fair.
The biggest change that is coming involves the livestock auction. All exhibitors will have the choice of selling their projects in one of two ways: Multiple Buyer Form or Live Auction. For the Multiple Buyer Form option, exhibitors are allowed a group of buyers to contribute any amount of their choosing to their project and exhibitors must turn in their form by noon the day following their final market show. There is a $25 minimum to contributing to these buyer forms. This was always an option for kids, but the big change that occurs is that exhibitors who sell their project using a Multiple Buyer Form will not participate in the live auction. This change was made because so many exhibitors were choosing this option that the auction was taking so long and the auctioneers really did not like doing it this way.
The other option for exhibitors is participating in the live auction. All of the grand or overall champions, reserve grand or overall champions including the scramble champions, and overall premier exhibitors must sell their animals during a new live auction they are calling the Champion Showcase. This Champion Showcase will be the morning of the last Friday of fair. The live auction for all species will take place immediately following the Champion Showcase. This changes how long some of the species will be at the fair, for example the sheep will be at the fair longer instead of leaving during the middle of the week. Exhibitors who choose to sell their animals through the live auction cannot use a Multiple Buyer Form. Projects sold at the live auction will be sold to the highest bidder without reserve.
This change will make things run much smoother and all these changes were made with the exhibitors in mind.
The auction is not the only change that is coming to the fair this year. There is always plenty to see and do down on the Midway, but there are new things visitors can expect to see this year. A crowd favorite that is returning to the fair this year is the Chainsaw Carver that makes beautiful pieces of art out of blocks of wood only using a chain saw and spray paint. One huge new attraction coming is a shark show that will leave visitors speechless. All of the shows will happen multiple times every day during the fair. A complete list of all the attractions coming to the Midway, Grand Stands, and barns can be found on the Clark County Fair’s Facebook page or in this year’s fair book which can be found at different local businesses around Clark County.
The Clark County Fair just announced the names of the participants in the pig and calf scrambles, which has always been a crowd favorite. This year there are 30 girls participating in the pig scramble with two alternates in case something happens. This year there is a good mix from all the schools competing this year. There are 13 boys that will participate in the calf scramble and just like the girls, there is a good mix of participants from all the areas schools. The scrambles will take place on the last Friday of fair in the Grand Stands.
Jamie Gothard, the current Clark County 4-H Queen, said she is ready to have fun at the fair this year.
“Last year was the final year I could show animals, so I get to enjoy fair from a new perspective this year,” Gothard said, “I know I will miss it, but I can spend more time relaxing and enjoying everything the fair has to offer.”
The new 4-H Queen will be named on Tuesday of fair week and that is when Gothard’s duties will end. She plans to spend the rest of the fair hanging out with friends and watching the livestock shows. The new Clark County Fair Queen will be named at the Fair Queen Contest which takes place on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. This year there are eight candidates and the winner will immediately take over her duties on Sunday.
