Fair Kicks Off This Weekend
WCYF offers fun for all as fair starts
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Barry Halvorson Final Touches Never too young to volunteer, these boys help out by painting the towed people movers that will transport patrons of the Wharton County Youth Fair from the parking lot to the fairgrounds. These paint-spattered volunteers are, front from left, Kody Martin, Kyle Martin; back, Clay Glaze, James Kyle, Koy Kresta and Kory Supac.

It's time to shine your boots, iron your Wranglers and pull your best straw Stetson out of the closet: The fair gets rolling this weekend.

Another Wharton County Youth Fair & Exposition is set to launch at the fairgrounds in Crescent after a record-setting number of entrants kicked things off at last weekend's barbecue cook-off.

The county-wide annual event draws thousands to enjoy livestock exhibits, a carnival, live music, theme days for special guests, pageants, food and fun events for the entire family. All funds generated benefit the county's youth.

The Wharton County Junior College's National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association rodeo returns to the arena at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The WCJC team will join those from all over in saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying.

L-N Photo by Barry Halvorson Ready For The Show Making creative use of materials, volunteers hang insulation panels from the ceiling of the Crescent Gym to serve as sound dampeners in preparation for this year's Wharton County Youth Fair. After this year's fair, the gym will be renamed the Crescent Community Center and will be available for rent for large gatherings.

Today the WCJC team will host its second annual Crawfish Boil from 2-6 p.m., with plates available for $15. Music will be provided by Matt Thigpen, and all proceeds benefit the fair's Improvement Fund.

Once gates open Sunday, May 4, a dazzling array of events and themed days await fair goers.

The opening event of "Fair Week" will be a Cowboy Church service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in Crescent Hall.

The Creative Arts show, as always, features a large number of exhibits available for viewing starting at 1 p.m. Sunday,. Some 1,329 exhibitors will present 5,944 articles to be handled by 125 volunteers and perused by 40 judges.

Also on Sunday, all three fair pageants take place: Little Mr. and Little Miss, Junior Miss and Fair Queen.

Those events begin at 1, 3:30 and 7 p.m., respectively, all at Crescent Hall.

Other events that day include Polka Fest from 1-6 p.m., the Wee Folks Pet Show from 1 to 2:30 p.m., and live music will resonate all day, every day at the beer garden.

The poultry show starts at 2 p.m. in the Ammann Barn, while Johnson Arena will be busy with the Community Roping Club's Youth Rodeo at 2:30 p.m. and at 6 p.m., the Chute and Barrel Rodeo.

On Monday, May 5, gates open at 8 a.m. and the rabbit show starts at 9 a.m., followed by the horse show at 10 a.m. and the 4 p.m. swine show.

Family Fun Night starts at 7 p.m. at Johnson Arena, with chicken and pig chases for chlldren, as well as a wild cow saddling contest for the big guys and gals.

Market goat showing begins the day at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, followed by the steer show at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m., the Rockin W Ranch Rodeo.

A chicken chase held at a time to be announced, and Rudy and Alys will entertain from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Beer Garden.

Wednesday, May 7 is the always well attended Preschool and Special Students Day, with special events and prices for those attendees.

Wednesday is also opening day for the 20th straight year the Mighty Thomas Carnival entertains at the fair, thrills and fun that continues through Saturday, May 10.

The beef merit heifer show starts at 11 a.m., followed at 2 p.m. by the pen of three heifer show, and the lamb show at 6 p.m.

Up-and-coming Professional Bull Riders, Inc. riders and bulls should bring loads of excitement to the Bull Blowout, which starts Wednesday and continues the next night, starting both nights at 7 p.m.. Steel Country will perform starting at 8 p.m. at the Beer Garden.

The fair itself runs from this Sunday, May 4 to the following Saturday, May 10.

More detailed information on the rest of the week's events will appear in the next edition of the Leader-News.

For a full listing off all the WCYF events, visit www.whartoncountyyouthfair. org/events. aspx.