Marshall County Fair Association updates ATC about upcoming fair

The Argos Town Council was given an update on this year’s upcoming fair during their last meeting.

“Basically, we want to provide a safe and secure place for the kids to have fun during the fair time,” said the Marshall County Fair Association general manager, Kevin Holland.

Holland thanked the Town of Argos, Fire Department, Police Department, and the Electric Department for their efforts with the fair every year.

Holland said that there will be an open dairy show Friday, July 16. The Marshall County Fair will be from Saturday, July 17 to Saturday, July

24. Opening ceremonies will be Saturday, July

17. As far as activities go, Holland stated that there will be a lot of different activities this year.

“Some of them we had to cancel for last year and they’ve all called and want to come back,” said Holland.

Dancing tractors will be back as well as donkey races, small exotic animals, kiddie day, laser tag, and KOI Drag Racing.

KOI Drag Racing is a racing organization that revolves around local and non-local racers. That will be on Saturday, July 24 at the tractor pull strip.

There will be about four or five bands set to perform throughout the week. Bands will be in the styles of 60’s to 70’s, Bluegrass gospel, and classic rock.

“Our new building, the Marshall County Community Center, we’re going to have exhibits in there. Vendors, we’re hoping to get it almost full,” said Holland. The Commercial Building is looking to be full as well.

As far as food, Holland said that they are going to make a food court out on the blacktop in front of the new building. There will mostly be food vendors, but he said that there will also be some “odds and ends” vendors as well. While there will be some old favorite food vendors returning, Holland said that there will also be some new ones too.

“The Open Class will still be the same,” Holland said. He also said that the 4-H projects will still be there to view. Animal shows will still be shown as will the auction, which will be on Friday, April 23.

“I’m hoping that we have a good thing and nothing happens with this virus and they shut us down again,” said Holland.

Fair Board President Jim Griewank also thanked the Town of Argos. He also took a moment to assure the council that the priority of the Fair Association was still on the kids.

“Just because we’ve become a commercial fair, our mission is still for the 4-H kids. In our new understanding with Purdue, they will have a 99 year lease. So, they’re not going anywhere for the rest of my lifetime anyways. What that did was allow us to generate funds to support the new Marshall County Community Center. They had such a tight hold on what we could do for fund raising,” said Griewank.

He said that the change would allow the fair association to apply for a gaming license, for example.

They are currently working on the official Fair schedule and will have it out to the public soon.