The 2023 O’Brien County Fair is just around the corner. The 2023 Fair kicks off on Saturday, July 22nd with the non-livestock judging at the Primghar Community Bldg. at 9:00.
The open crafts will be judged on Saturday. You can begin to bring those items to the fairgrounds beginning at 7:30 a.m. Anyone from O’Brien Co. is encouraged to exhibit and the entry fee is only $1.00 per exhibitor! The special class in photography this year is “Country Fences, Mailboxes & Gates.” This must be an 8x 10” photo with no matting or frame. Baking bars is the feature open class baking division this year, with the classes being fruit, brownies or any other bar. Also there is a barn quilt square contest, with those 2 ft. x 2 ft. squares kept permanently at the O’Brien Co. Fairgrounds in the open crafts bldg. Those pre-cut boards can be picked up at the Neal Chase Lumbar in Primghar, at no cost. There is an increased interest this year for the barn quilts, so come check them out throughout the week! On Saturday evening, the Primghar JC’s will have their 5th race of the season, with the flag to drop at 7 p.m.
On Sunday morning there is going to be a worship service, organized by the Church of Christ and United Church of Primghar at 10 a.m. In the afternoon, the Horse Show will be held, beginning at 1 p.m. Dog show will be at 2 p.m. A Christian group, sponsored by the Primghar Christ Community Church, will entertain Sunday evening on the Wayne Maass Memorial stage at 7 p.m.
On Monday evening, the O’Brien Co Fair Board welcomes the Bill Riley Talent show to the Wayne Maass Memorial stage at 6 p.m. There will be 2 divisions, sprout and senior, with the winners advancing to compete at the Iowa State Fair. At 8:00 that evening, the 20233 O’Brien County Queen and King will be crowned. The fair board will also honor long time fair board member Dan Hunt, who retired from the board this year, after serving 45 years!
On Tuesday morning, you are welcomed to enjoy a pancake breakfast, prepared by the O’Brien Co. 4-H Foundation, beginning at 7 a.m. A spelling contest is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. at the Maass stage area. You may register for this event that morning, starting at 9:30. “George of the Juggle” will be performing on the stage at 12:30. Greg Kaler is from St. Cloud, MN, and has entertained children and families with magic and juggling with a twist. Every volunteer is a star! His show will make you smile and laugh. At 5:30 p.m. the Pedal Tractor Pull will begin registration, sponsored again by the NW Iowa REC.
At 2 p.m. Tuesday and again at 7 p.m. Edward Wunder, the “hypnotist” will provide the entertainment on the Maass stage. This will be a clean, high energy show to entertain the whole family. We hope you can come & enjoy!
On Wednesday, July 26th , “George of the Juggle” will again be on stage to entertain at 11 a.m. The Share the Fun acts by 4-H members will start at 5 p.m., followed by the style show and project awards. ATV races will be held at 6 p.m. and the JCs will have another figure-8 race at 7:30. This will make for a busy night of action! The Figure 8 race is always a popular event for fair families!
Thursday, July 27th, the livestock auction will be held. A Ribbon auction is also held for those 4-Hers who do not participate in the livestock projects.
The petting zoo will be open daily at 10 a.m. The O’Brien Co. Libraries will be doing a story time each day on the stage and the “fair train” will be providing rides for the kids throughout each day.
Fuller Digital, sponsored by the O’Brien Co. Farm Bureau, will provide live streaming of the livestock shows, beginning with the horse show on Sunday. Monday, beginning with the sheep at 12 noon, with goat and dairy shows to follow. Also Monday morning at 9 a.m. is the Rabbit Show, followed by the Poultry Show at 12;30 p.m. On Tuesday at 8 a.m. is the beef show with bottle bucket calves to show at 3 p.m. with the Clover kids to follow, showing their bottle bucket calves. The swine show is set to begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, with a “Premier Champion” in showmanship of all species to be awarded in the early afternoon.
For fair updates and a complete fair schedule, as well as times for the livestock shows throughout the week, can be found on the O’Brien Co. Fair website – obriencountyfairiowa.com and on the O’Brien County Fair Facebook page.
While at the fair, please take time to have lunch or supper at the food court. The many food vendors provide a great variety of food choices to choose from. Make plans to attend this year’s O’Brien County Fair! Your attendance and support of O’Brien County youth is greatly appreciated!