By SARAH LYNCH / The Independent
Carter County will kick off local fairs this summer with a week’s worth of events starting Sunday.
The county’s first featured event is a beauty pageant, which begins at 4 p.m. Sunday and is open to contestants in Carter, Boyd, Rowan, Elliott, Lawrence, Lewis and Greenup counties.
The fairgrounds open at 6 p.m. nightly with free admission on Monday.
Events include carnival rides, the 4-H and Future Farmers of America livestock show and auction, hay bale competitions and live music.
The fair’s grand finale is the rodeo sponsored by Bar W Rodeo farm in Boyd County.
“Cowboys come from all over to participate,” said farm owner Wes Webb. “There’s usually anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000 people that show up for the rodeo.”
This is the fifth year the rodeo has been the fair’s biggest event, Webb said.
“Bull riding is probably one of the world’s most dangerous sports. That’s most likely why it’s so popular.
“It’s like going to a car race. Everybody loves the race but likes to see the car wreck,” Webb continued. “Just like everybody loves to watch the riding but like to see a clown or a cowboy butted across the arena.”
Bar W Rodeo will provide a bull for those who want to participate. Entry free is between $60 and $70 per person.
Webb said the winner of the rodeo usually comes out with about $1,100.
“We’re expected about 20 to 25 riders,” he said. “The show is set for 9 p.m. but we usually get started around 8 p.m.”
The Boyd County Fair will be Aug. 15 through 19 at the Boyd County Fairgrounds.
President of the fair board, Yvonne Green, said there are a few new events planned this year.
“We will have an exotic animal petting zoo this year with all kinds of animals you’ve never seen before and some with names I can’t even pronounce,” Green laughed. “The zoo came with a hefty price tag. That’s something we are paying for, but we are hoping we can at least break even with what we collect at the gate.”
Admission to the Boyd County Fair will be $7 nightly, which includes the carnival rides.
“We wanted families to be able to come back a couple of nights without having to pay $120.”
Other events scheduled include a rodeo, mechanical bull riding, a rock climbing wall and motor sports, which Green said is always a “good crowd pleaser.”
Two new barns were being constructed on Friday for the fair, Lyndall Harned said.
Harned is the agriculture and natural resources agent at the Boyd County extension office.
“We needed the barns because we have 50 participants for the 4-H and FFA livestock show. In other years, we’ve averaged about 14 or 15 participants,” he said.
“The livestock show is something the kids are starting to look forward to every year.”
The show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 17. The auction for those animals will be 6 p.m. Aug. 19.
In addition, there will be a horse show on four days during the fair. The winner of the Aug. 18 show will be awarded a minimum of $500.
The Boyd County Idol contest is set for Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
“It’s basically a talent show everyone can enter and perform whatever talent they have as long as it’s family friendly,” Green said.
Finally, the Greenup County Fair will be Aug. 26 through Sept. 3.
Some featured events will include the Miss Greenup County Fair beauty pageant on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. and several 4-H and FFA livestock shows throughout the week. Also, there will be a B&M; Motor Cross event at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31.
The grand finale of the Greenup County Fair will be Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. with “A Little Bit County — A Little Bit Bluegrass” featuring the music of ETA, Roger Smith, Wellman Brothers, The Joe Freeman Bluegrass Band and Larry Pancake.
