Pulling, riding, racing, showing: Madison County fair is full of fun for everyone
Brimming with livestock exhibits, a wide variety of competitions and arena events, the Madison County Fair is full of summertime fun.
“We feel we have one of the best county fairs in the state of Illinois,” said Fair Board president Wayne Steiner.
This year’s fair runs from Tuesday, July 26 to Sunday, July 31 at Lindendale Park in Highland. Admission to the fair is free. Parking is $5 per day, or $15 for a week-long pass.
If you enjoy livestock and 4-H shows, check the schedule for the times to see goats, dogs, swine, beef, cats, sheep, rabbits, poultry, and dairy. Plan to stay for the 4-H auction on Friday evening. Judging will go on throughout the length of the fair.
Interesting contests taking place at the fair include the Little Miss Pigtail Contest and the Pedal Tractor Pull for youngsters on Sunday and Farm Follies on Saturday.
The evenings continue the excitement with arena events, like the tractor/truck pull and combine demolition derby. Musical entertainment is offered each night with a different performer under the pavilion.
There will also be lots of food, a beer tent, games and carnival rides.
Arena Events
Motorheads will love the lineup of arena events this year, which includes demolition derbies, pulling contests and racing events.
Opening night of the fair, Tuesday, July 26 the ITPA truck and tractor pull will be in the arena, starting at 6 p.m.
Wednesday night will be the one non-motorized event, when the C-Bar Rodeo returns for its second year at the fair, starting at 7:30 p.m.
On Thursday night, the fair’s most poplar event — year after year — the combine demolition derby will begin smashing at 7:30 p.m.
Friday night will be more demolition fun — this time with cars and lawn mowers. The car demotion derby will start at 7 p.m., with lawn mower events run in between the car heats.
Box seats for all these events are $15. General admission for ages 13 and up is $12. Pit passes are $20. Children ages 12 and under get in free to the grandstand. Major credit cards are accepted for pit and grandstand events.
Scott Wernle/Kyle Roberts Memorial Race will be on Saturday, July 30. Classes racing are UMP B/Wet-B/Dry Solutions Late Models, UMP Steve Schmitt Modifieds, UMP Donnewald Distributing BMods, and Hamel Co-op Street Stocks. Admission is $12 for adults, and children 12 and under are free. Pit passes are $30. Hot laps are at 6:15 p.m., and racing starts at 6:45 p.m.
Sunday’s arena event, the 4-H tractor driving contest, has free entry for all. It begins at 2 p.m. There is still time to register. Deadline to register is July 22. Requirements are that participants must have a signed, must be enrolled in a 4-H tractor project and participate in a tractor driving course and safety inspection. If you are interested, sign up through the Extension Office by calling (618) 344-4230.
Agriculture Education Tent
This new exhibit is open for all ages and is being sponsored by the Farm Bureau, Madison County CAREE and many of the Farm Equipment Dealers around the county.
In this exhibit, visitors will be able to participate in free and interactive activities while learning about the many aspects of Madison County’s agriculture industry. When visiting the tent, spectators will be able to jump in the “corn pool,” join in craft making, and even play life-size Jenga.
Each day there will be a different activity in the tent, so be sure to check back daily.
If you are wondering about where your food comes from or just want to have a little fun at the fair, come visit the new Agriculture Education Tent.
Carnival rides
Armbands for unlimited rides will be available during the fair. Cost will be $20 the week of, or $18 in advance prior to fair week.
Rides will be open Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 2 to 11:30 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.
Bring two cans of food for the food pantry, and you can buy one ride armband and get one free.
Model train show
The New Switzerland Model Railroad Club will have a model train display from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday in the dance hall.
Free nightly bands
Live bands will play nightly from 8 p.m. to midnight under the main pavilion. The lineup is: Tuesday, Harvest Drive; Wednesday, Riding Shotgun; Thursday, Beaucoup Bottom Band; Friday, Buffalo Road; and Saturday, Black Top Boulevard.
Pedal tractor pull
The Madison County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee will host a youth pedal tractor pull on Sunday, July 31 under the main pavilion, starting at 1:30 p.m.
Registration will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Entry fee is a $1 minimum donation. All proceeds will be given to a local food pantry.
Entrants are classed by weight: 45 pounds and under, 46 to 60 pounds, and 61 to 80 pounds. No contestants over 80 pounds will be allowed to compete.
Pedal tractors are provided.
Farm Follies
Farm Follies, sponsored by the Madison County Young Farmers Committee and Highland FFA, is like a barn yard Olympics.
The event will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 30 in the Show Barn. It is fun for the whole family and open to ages 8 and over. There are three ages divisions: 8-12, 13-18 and 19 and over. First-place prizes of $100 will be awarded in each age division.
Events is the 8- to 12-year old division will be: egg toss, wagon relay, bucket brigade, tractor tire roll, milk chugging and tug o’war.
Events is the 13- to 18-year old division will be: bale stacking, wheelbarrow race, bucket brigade, scoop shovel race, milk chugging and tug o’war.
Events is the 19 and over division will be: bale stacking, wheelbarrow race, bucket brigade and scoop shovel race.
Entry fee is $5 per team of five (one alternate allowed). Entries on day of competition will be allowed, if space permits. For registration or more information, contact the Madison County Farm Bureau office at 656-5191.
Farm safety event
The HSHS St. Joseph’s Foundation will be hosting a Farm Safety event at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 in the Show Barn, following the Farm Follies. The event is presented by Highland Rural King. The event will feature information on how to prevent accidents related to farm equipment, buildings, animals, chemicals, ATVs and snowmobiles. The presentation will be one all ages can enjoy and learn from. All attendees will be given a complimentary safety manual, ice cream, and all will have a chance to win prizes.
Little Miss Pigtail Contest
The Little Miss Pigtail Contest, sponsored by Madison County Pork Producers, will be on Sunday, July 31 below the pavilion.
Registration will be from 12:30 to 1 p.m., and the winners will announced at 1:15 p.m. Each girl will have her pigtail measured at time of registration.
Girls ages 2 to 10 are eligible to participate in the contest. Age groups will be 2-4, 5-7 and ages 8-10. There will be three winners chosen from the three age groups, and there will be an overall winner selected as Little Miss Pigtail. All winners will be announced with their name, age and length of hair. Prizes will be given to the top four winners.
Previous winners cannot win again until the child moves to the next age group. Overall winners cannot win two consecutive years.
Cooling/first aid station
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital has partnered with the Madison County Fair to provide a cooling/first aid station at this year’s event, while also offering health related screenings and information for Fair attendees to take advantage of.
St. Joseph’s Hospital will have registered nurses and certified nursing assistants on site. The nurses will be there daily from 3 to 7 p.m. to treat any minor injuries, overheating, or other medical issues. Emergency Medical Services will be on standby for back up if needed. St. Joseph’s Hospital will also have a cooling station available during the same hours. The station will be located in the new HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Pavilion, located between the Exhibition Hall and the Food & Beverage Pavilion. It will be stocked with fans, water, ice packs, and popsicles for children.
Information about hospital services, as well as blood pressure and BMI screenings, will be available inside the St. Joseph’s Hospital Pavilion during the week of the fair from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. While inside the Hospital Pavilion fair goers can receive giveaways, as well as enter into a drawing for one of two prizes — a Go Pro camera and a Drone, provided by Rachel Crow with Country Financial in Highland.
Win a tractor
The Madison County Fair Association will hold a tractor raffle. Tickets are $100, but only 1,000 tickets will be sold. You could win your choice of a Kubota L3901HST with an LA525 loader from Bluff Equipment Inc., a New Holland Boomer 41 with loader from Midwest Tractor Sales, a Case IH Farmall 30C with L350 loader from Sievers Equipment Co., a John Deere 1025R with H120 loader from Sloan Implement Co. or $20,000 cash. Tickets are available from any Fair Board Member or in the office. You do not need be present to win. The drawing to be held at conclusion of Madison County Fair on July 31.
This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Pulling, riding, racing, showing: Madison County fair is full of fun for everyone."