County Fair To Be Held Sept. 13-18

After being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Stone County Fair returns this year. Events are set to take place Sept. 13-18 at the Stone County Fairgrounds in Mountain View.

This year’s midway is provided by Fun Time Shows, based in southeast Missouri. Clint Payne is a third generation carnival owner, having bought the business from his parents in 2008 after it was established by his grandparents in the 1970s.

The midway opens at 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. It closes at 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and closing time is flexible on Friday and Saturday. Armbands for unlimited ride admission are $25 at the fair but may be purchased in advance for $20 at banks and Harps Grocery in Mountain View.

Deadline to enter pageants is Sept. 8. Pageant forms are in the fair catalog, which is available at the Stone County Extension Service office and other locations in Mountain View. Contestants must be Stone County residents.

The fair starts as usual with pageants for the youngest age groups up to 2 years of age on Monday. Prize Baby Girl and Boy Contests start at 6:30, followed by Tiny Mr. and Miss Contests. Little Miss and Mr. pageants for ages 3-5 are Wednesday at 6:30, Little Miss Petite and Little Miss Princess pageants are Friday at 7 p.m., covering ages 6-10. Young Miss, Jr. Miss and Miss Stone County Fair Queen pageants begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tuesday is a busy day with education and commercial booth set-up , as well as check-in of home economics divisions, and field crops/garden during the afternoon.

All exhibitors must pre-register by visiting the Extension Office to receive an exhibitor number and tags. The office on Martin Avenue is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

On Tuesday, poultry and rabbits will be checked in 5-7 p.m. Aquaculture check-in is at 6 p.m. with judging at 6:30.
Wednesday features check-in for sheep, goats, cattle and swine until noon, and judging of home economics entries, field crops/garden, and educational booths.

Poultry and rabbits in pens will be judged in the morning, with showmanship at 4 p.m.

Also on Wednesday, Kids Talent Show for ages 6-9, and Youth Talent Show for ages 10-20 are scheduled to begin at 7:30 and 8 p.m.

Admission gates open at 4:30 p.m. each day Wednesday through Friday, and at 3 p.m. Saturday. Cash prize drawings from paid admission tickets are held each night at 9:30. Ticket holder must be present to claim $100.

Thursday’s big event is the Cattle and Swine Show at 6 p.m., while the Sheep and Goat Show is on Friday at 6 p.m.

Saturday offers a new event this year: a cornhole tournament at noon. It will take place near the livestock barn on the north side of the fairgrounds. Entry deadline was Monday.

On Saturday morning, the 4-H Poultry Chain Layer Show and Sale will be held at 10 in the poultry barn.

Exhibit buildings open at noon and the commercial building opens at 3 p.m. There will be a Parade of Animals in the livestock barn at 4:30.

See the full schedule of events on the fair page in the Sept. 8 issue.