Plans being finalized for annual St. Francis County Fair

Volunteers who help host the St. Francis County Fair are working throughout the month at the Wiley T. Jones Fairgrounds ahead of the annual event scheduled for later this month.

Bonnie Dodson, with the fair, said two changes, which were overlooked when the recently-published fair tabloid was finalized, need to be made to categories for this year.

According to Dodson, the fair will allow crossbred bulls to be entered in the beef cattle division. She also noted that there will be an adult or open competition in the horse, pony and mule competition categories.

Dodson also said the fair will accept entries this year in the poultry division after state officials recently lifted restrictions on showing poultry.

The fair, which features special events all week, is scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 29, and continue through Saturday, Sept. 3.

The Kountry Kitchen will be open each day of fair week, serving lunch specials at noon, Monday through Friday.

The fairgrounds will open on Monday, Aug. 29, at 5 p.m., with free admission. Those wanting to enter items in the fair may begin entering some divisions on Monday, between 2 and 7 p.m. Entries will also be accepted on Tuesday, from 8 to 10 a.m., before the exhibit building closes for judging.

Entries may also be made on Tuesday, from 2 to 8 p.m., and Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the flower show, livestock and poultry divisions.

The first day for the midway is set for Wednesday, Aug. 31, with armbands being $20 each. The armbands for the remainder of the week will be $25.

Senior citizens Bingo will be held on Wednesday, from 2 to 4 p.m., and Cockrell’s Country Critters will have its petting zoo set up at the fairgrounds Wednesday through Saturday.

The annual beauty pageants this year are being hosted by Junior Auxiliary of St. Francis County members. The pageants will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Rehearsals for all participants will be held at 2 p.m., on Sunday, Aug. 28.

The divisions to be featured on Tuesday will include baby miss, wee miss, tiny miss, little miss, baby stud and wee stud. The teen miss, junior miss and Miss SFC competitions will be held on Wednesday.

The annual youth talent show will be held on Thursday, beginning at 6 p.m.

Special entertainment on Friday will include live music and a cornhole tournament hosted by St. Francis County Farm Bureau.

On Saturday, live music will be featured on the main stage with Miles Kimble serving as emcee.

Brodie Johnson • Times-Herald In an effort to send aid to Kentucky residents affected by the recent flooding in that state, Forrest City Medical Center has begun a Keep Kentucky Afloat donation campaign. FCMC Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Caitlyn Sweet places a donation into the box this weekend at the Farmers Market. According to Sweet, future donations may be taken to the main entrance of the hospital.