Join the fun at the Allamakee County Fair this week

This week, July 17-21, the 160th Allamakee County Fair will be held for all to enjoy at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. A wide variety of entertainment  - including some locally familiar and nationally recognized talent - is in place to headline this year’s fair at the grandstand, along with a great deal of other activities for everyone to enjoy each and every day throughout the five-day event.

"REVVED-UP" GRANDSTAND ENTERTAINMENT
Kicking off this year’s grandstand entertainment line-up Wednesday, July 17 at 7 p.m. will be a Truck and Tractor Pull featuring local tractors, pick-ups and semis as well as some powered-up regional competitors.
The grandstand's musical entertainment Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. will feature a double  dose of talent on the rise, both locally familiar and nationally recognized. Waukon High School 1994 graduate Jason Herman will return to his native hometown of Waukon for a performance with his latest musical interest, "The New Black 7," described as "an intoxicating dose of country music with a shot of 90 proof rock & roll added for good measure."
Country music youngster J.T. Hodges will also hit the stage Thursday evening. Hodges co-wrote nine of the 11 songs on his self-titled debut album, which included such chart hits as “Goodbyes Made You Mine” and “Sleepy Little Town.” He has also toured with Toby Keith on Keith's "Locked and Loaded Tour.".
From musical entertainment back to high-revving action, the grandstand will come alive Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. with the excitement of “Motokazie,” as the Motokazie Supercross Championship series returns to the Allamakee County Fair as one of its stops among its summer season venues of competition. Racing on a dirt track with bumps, jumps and occasional surprises, riders from beginner to pro compete for series awards and cash prizes, including some local favorites on two and four wheels.
Raw, animal power will hit the grandstand Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m. as area and sanctioned rodeo cowboys and cowgirls will compete in the Tuff-N-Nuff Rodeo. This new approach to a popular favorite will feature both the big, bruising, full-size bulls and "dynamite comes in small packages" miniature bulls for younger participants to ride, along with barrel racing and other rodeo action.
The culminating grandstand event Sunday afternoon, July 21 will feature even more action, as area drivers will drive their trucks to the limit on a Tough Truck course filled with mud, jumps, hills and thrills, beginning at 1 p.m.

GRANDSTAND PASSES ONLINE
The ability to purchase grandstand tickets online, introduced for last year's Allamakee County Fair grandstand attractions, returns for this season's performances as well. The fair's webpage, www.allamakeecountyfair.org, has a "Buy Tickets Now" button link (pictured at right) that will take online purchasers through a check-out process using Google Checkout® or PayPal®. Tickets for the grandstand events can be purchased for all five evenings of grandstand entertainment at this year's fair, or for just a single event. Those tickets can either be mailed to the purchaser or picked up at the "will call" window at the grandstand.
Advance tickets for grandstand events can also be purchased in Waukon at the Allamakee County ISU Extension and Outreach office, Waukon State Bank, Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, Fidelity Bank, Village Farm & Home and Clark Tire Center.

QUEEN PAGEANT KICKS IT OFF
The Allamakee County Fair Queen Pageant will kick off this year's fair Tuesday evening, July 16, beginning at 7 p.m., and will take place in the Fairgrounds Pavilion. The overall event will begin with presentations by Waukon High School FFA chapter members and 4-H Communications Day winners advancing on to the Iowa State Fair.
This year's five Fair Queen candidates - Ashley Fuhrman, Brittany Johnson, Mariah Kucera, Marissah Schulte and Shaylie Stortz - will then take the spotlight to determine who will wear the crown of the 2013 Allamakee County Fair Queen.

FREE DAILY ENTERTAINMENT
In addition to the grandstand attractions, there will also be a wide variety of free entertainment performances throughout this year’s fair.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 18-20, from 12 noon to 6 p.m., will feature a magic show, balloon art and face painting in front of the Fairgrounds Pavilion. Those three days will also include a caricature artist near that same location from 1-5 p.m. Breakfast at the Fair will also be served each of those three days by area non-profit groups from 7-9:30 a.m.
Thursday, July 18 will offer a little something for everyone. An Ugly Cake Contest will allow local bakers to feature their creativity at 3 p.m. in the Open Class Building. The Allamakee Master Gardeners are hosting a workshop on Plant Propagation from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Open Class Building as well. The Ag Olympics, a timed obstacle relay race open to youth and area business "celebrities", takes place in the Show Barn at 5 p.m.
Friday, July 19 will feature Kid's Day activities free of charge behind the Fair Office from 12-4 p.m. and a variety of other children's activities will take place from 12-2 p.m. in the Open Class Building. Kitchen Krafts is sponsoring the Children's Cookie Decorating Contest at 2 p.m. in the Ag Building, and a Kids Pedal Tractor Race begins with a 3:30 p.m. registration in front of the Pavilion.
Saturday, July 20 will begin with the "Waukon Adventure Race" to exercise the body and mind at 9 a.m. The Build-A-Scarecrow Contest returns at 2 p.m. in the Open Class Building for both individuals and groups, with viewer judging by the public taking place at 4 p.m. Returning by popular demand this year is the Skid Loader Rodeo scheduled to take place from 4-6 p.m. Saturday near the grandstand.
Taking place Sunday, July 21 will be a Scrap Quilting demonstration featuring projects made by Mary Kay Winke. That event is scheduled to take place from 1-2 p.m. in the Open Class Building. Craft demonstrations by local artisans will follow from 2-4 p.m., including flower arranging and an artist's corner.

AMUSEMENT MIDWAY
Superior Carnival from right here in Iowa will provide a lift to the midway entertainment at this year’s fair, and there will also be a number of new activities, contests and features for fair-goers of all ages to enjoy. Wednesday, July 17 will feature a "10 Tickets for $10" promotion. The 6-10 p.m. timeframe Thursday, July 18 and Saturday, July 20, as well as from 12-4 p.m. Sunday, July 21, will feature the wristband promotion for the midway rides.

PROJECTS AND LIVESTOCK SHOWS
Along with the fun and thrills of this year’s entertainment line-up, the hard work and dedication of county youth and other exhibitors will be on display each and every day of the 2013 Allamakee County Fair. The 4-H and Open Class buildings on the grounds will house the efforts of local exhibitors of all ages in a wide variety of creative, useful interests.
Daily livestock shows begin Thursday, July 18 with the Swine and Sheep Judging. Friday, July 19 will feature the Beef, Rabbit and Poultry Judgings. Dairy cattle and goats will be judged Saturday morning, July 20, with a Dog Show that afternoon. Sunday morning, July 21 will wrap up the livestock shows with the Horse Judging.
The traditional appreciation supper and 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction will take place Sunday afternoon in the Show Barn. The supper begins at 4 p.m., with the auction getting underway at 5 p.m.

For further event details and even more schedule and other information about the 2013 Allamakee County Fair, log on to the Allamakee County Fair website at www.allamakeecountyfair.org.