By Chris Spangler
Mother Nature was a fair-weather friend as she smiled down on opening day of the Jefferson County Fair.
Celebrating the “Year of the Sheep,” the 169th annual event kicked off its five-day run Wednesday in Jefferson under sunny skies and pleasant temperatures.
Admission is $10 per day for adults, and $5 for children 12 and under and senior citizens 65 and up. Youngsters age 5 and under may enter for free.
Friday marks Kids’ Day, when children 12 and under are admitted for free from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A $20 kids’ carnival wristband special will cover all rides from noon to 4 p.m.
On Sunday, July 17, military servicepersons and veterans with an ID will be admitted for free.
There is free parking in the Fair Park’s north lot. Premium parking spots in the lot across from the south gate are available for $10 per day.
Reigning over the fair is Maddi Besch, 2022 Jefferson County Fairest of the Fair.
Junior and open-class judging of entries ranging from beef, dairy and poultry to crops, horses and woodworking takes place throughout the fair, with special entertainment slated, as well. The complete schedule appears at https://www.jcfairpark.com/p/fair.
Two new daily events — “Wolves of the World” and “Pier Pups’ Dock Diving Show” — will augment the popular Pig and Duck Races. They will take place, respectively, at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. through Saturday and 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily; and 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. through Saturday and 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Miller Lite Tent will feature The Bakers Union at 5:30 p.m. and deejay music at 8 p.m. Wednesday; Silverback at 5:30 p.m. and Roxtar at 9 p.m. Thursday; Floyd and Associates at 5:30 p.m. and Madison Country at 10:30 p.m. Friday; and the Knapton Music Garage Band at 2 p.m. and Dirt Road Rebels at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
La Movida Entertainment will share Hispanic music, culture and food Sunday beginning at noon.
Grandstand entertainment includes the Badger State Tractor Pull Wednesday night, Badger Truck Pull Thursday and the International Demolition Derby at 2 p.m. Sunday. Entry is free with fair admission.
Friday’s grandstand headliner is country singer Kip Moore with special guest Nora Collins. On Saturday, Diamond Rio will perform with special guest Alex Miller.
The shows begin at 8 p.m. both nights. Paid reserved seating and party pit standing spots in front of the stage are available; purchase tickets at JcFairPark.com or the fair office.
A variety of other activities are planned at Fair Park. The Meat Animal Project Auction and Youth Celebration will start at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Demonstration takes place daily on the Generac Activity Center stage at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday.
The Master Showperson Contest is set for 10 a.m. Sunday, while the Herdsmanship Awards will be presented at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Meat Animal Project venue.
Sheep rest quietly under a sign for Fort Atkinson FFA found in the sheep barn last year at the Jefferson County Fair. “Year of the Sheep” is this year’s fair theme. File photo/Kim McDarison.
Jefferson County Fair 2022 Fairest of the Fair Maddi Besch in May visits the Kutz farm. Besch is a resident of Fort Atkinson who is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She made an appearance at the farm’s annual tour offered to Jefferson County grade-school students as a special guest. She will also be on-hand this year at the Jefferson County Fair. File photo/Kim McDarison.
Lincoln Laabs of Oakfield stands with “Finnegan,” a 2-year-old registered Belgian during last year’s Jefferson County Fair. Laabs was learning how to braid a horse’s tail. Animals, carnival attractions, music, food and more await fair-goers. The five-day fair kicks off Wednesday and runs through Sunday. File photo/Kim McDarison.
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