BY DEBBIE PAGE
Thrilling rides, yummy food, and entertaining shows are coming when the 89th Iredell County Agricultural Fair opens on Friday, August 29, at 5 p.m., with the official ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for 7 p.m.
The fair, held at the Iredell County Fairgrounds in Troutman, runs through Saturday, September 6, for nine full days of fun, exhibits, and competitions.
The Iredell County Cooperative Extension Service and the Kiwanis Club of Statesville partner to host the fair in an effort to promote local agriculture, improve youth participation in agricultural-related activities, and educate the public about the impact of agriculture in their community and daily lives.
The Kiwanis Club uses the profits from the fair to support local organizations or service projects. Past recipients include the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Relay for Life, United Way, Special Olympics, 4-H programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, My Sister’s House, and Hospice.
Kiwanis also gives out thousands in scholarships to the county’s high school seniors. Area youth also get involved with agriculture through 4-H, FFA, and other clubs involved in the fair.
CELEBRATING AGRICULTURE
Supporting and learning about county agriculture is important since Iredell is a state agricultural production leader. Farmers, gardeners, cooks, and craftspeople will show off their crops, and products in exhibits for fair attendees.
Agriculture-related business had a $662 million economic impact in the county last year, according to the Iredell Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). Of the 367,488 total acres in Iredell County, 133,346 acres, or 36 percent, is utilized by 1,055 farms, with an average farm size of 126 acres.
One hundred percent of farms are family-owned, with 1 percent farming organically. The county ranks first in dairy production in North Carolina, all cattle (both beef and dairy), and corn silage production.
In addition, Iredell ranks sixth in poultry (layers) and fifth in hay production. Other prominent crops include soybeans, corn, wheat, rapeseed, cotton, viniferous grapes, strawberries, nursery crops as well as forestry and forest products.
Iredell County also houses agribusinesses, including regional milling facilities and fertilizer manufacturers.
ADMISSION
Fair admission is $8, which includes parking and all shows. Children ages 6 years old and under are free. Credit and debit cards and cash will be accepted this year.
Gates open at 5 p.m. except on Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day when they will open at 3 p.m. The fair closes each night at 11 p.m.
No one will be readmitted after leaving the fairgrounds without the purchase of another ticket.
Free admission day for senior citizens (over 60) and veterans is Thursday, September 4.
Special deals on rides are also available, with a unlimited rides band for $20 on weekdays and $25 on Saturday, Sunday, and Labor Day.
At the ticket booth, a family pack of 24 ride tickets is $25, with individual tickets $1.50 each.
COMPETITIONS
The fair gives local farmers and 4-H Club youths opportunities to show off the county’s booming agriculture industry. Crafters, artists, seamstresses, gardeners, and homemakers can also show off their talents in various competition categories.
The busy Cooperative Extension staff is in charge of the livestock shows, educational exhibits, and entries in canning, cooking, clothing, flowers, plants, vegetables, and other areas.
Cash prizes are being offered for a wide variety of competitions in field and garden crops, farm display, garden clubs, flowers and plants, family and consumer science categories, clothing, furnishings, arts and crafts, 4-H and youth exhibits, livestock, rabbits, and poultry.
Exhibitors must pick up entries between 2 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 7, after the close of the fair. Entries not claimed will be disposed of by fair officials.
RIDES
B & K Carnival offers a variety of exciting rides, including the Roundup, Yoyo, Barrel of Fun, Circus Train, Orient Express, Racing Cars, Bumper Cars, Scrambler, Hurricane, Super Slide, Tiny Tractors, Car Motorcycle Jump, Eli Ferris Wheel, Hawg Heaven Fun House, Merry-Go-Round, Astroliner, Funny Farm Fun House, Radical Run, Sea Ray, and Sky Jump.
To check them out, visit B & K Carnival online at https://www.bandkcarnival.com/activities.
DAILY ENTERTAINMENT
♦ Cycle Circus Live (https://www.cyclecircuslive.com/) is the largest FMX freestyle entertainment show in the world, combining the top action sports athletes in the world and the crazy antics of world famous comedy daredevil Johnny Rockett. The show features high tech pyrotechnics, music, and lighting, along with the BMX world champions of freestyle, and the exciting performances will leave the audience sitting on the edge of their seat.
♦ The Amazing Bubble Factory (https://www.facebook.com/TheAmazingBubbleFactory/) will bring the amazing art of bubbles to life right in front of the audience’s eyes. Self-proclaimed Bubbleologist Jamie uses humor and showmanship that both excites and entertains the crowd as he creates thousands of bubbles from the size of a pea to the size of a minivan. The Amazing Bubble Factory Shows are performed in a turn of the century “medicine man” style with live music, bells, fast talking, audience participation, smiles, laughs, and bubbles. Kids are dressed in Circus Costumes and help perform in the show. After each show, the performers parade around the fairgrounds.
SPECIAL EVENTS
♦ The Micro Mania Midget Wrestling Tour (https://www.micromaniatour.com/) will perform on Saturday, August 30, at 7 p.m. The show is a full scale professional wrestling event and showcases the athletic skills and entertainment values of their performers.
♦ The dairy cattle show will be on Sunday, August 31, at 7 p.m.
♦ On Monday, September 1, the fair will have fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
♦ Tuesday, September 2, will feature a Beef Cattle Show at 6 p.m.
♦ On Thursday, September 4, fair-goers can enjoy the Sheep & Goat Show at 6 p.m., followed on Friday, September 5, with the Dairy Show at 7 pm.
♦ The fair’s final Saturday on September 6 will feature the 6th Annual Special Abilities Junior Dairy Show at 3 p.m. at the Indoor Arena. This show is for participants (youth through adults) with special needs to have the opportunity to work alongside of an exhibitor and show a dairy calf.
LEARN MORE
For more information, visit https://iredellfair.com.