CELINA — The 164th Mercer County Fair begins Friday and continues through Aug. 18 at the fairgrounds located at 1001 W. Market St.
The Mercer County Fair is fairly well-attended, and has been increasing in gate admissions steadily according to Cara Muhlenkamp, Mercer County fair manager. Muhlenkamp credits that increase with the entertainment.
“We just recently started having country entertainment come in. This year Gary Allan and Ray Scott will be here at 8 p.m.” Friday, she said.
Track and box seats are $40 for this show. Grandstand/handicap seating is $30. Tickets can be purchased online at http://mercercountyohiofair.com or call the box office at 419-586-3239. Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards accepted.
It’s not just the entertainment though that brings the crowds to the Mercer County Fair.
“We definitely do a good job at being the No. 1 agriculture community in the state of Ohio. We have a lot of things to showcase during the week of the fair,” Muhlenkamp said. “We have over 2,000 students involved in our 4H and we also have another 2,000 in our FFA kids that participate.”
The fair board does a good job of listening to requests from the residents as well, she said.
“This year we are bringing back the rodeo. We are having it again this year on Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. at the grandstand. We have not had it for a few years and we had a lot of requests to bring it back,” Muhlenkamp said.
Saturday is motor sports all day. At 1 p.m. Michindoh Truck and Tractor Pulls, 6 p.m. Tough Truck contest, and the evening finishes up at 7:30 p.m. with Tug-A-Truck.
The creative side of Mercer County residents came into play on a contest that the fair board put on.
“Something new this year is our Bucket of Junk contest. We had 10 buckets that were available to be picked up with the exact same items in each of the 10 buckets. Folks picked them up and made their own creation with them. These creations will be viewed in our commercial building. Cash prizes will be awarded,” Muhlenkamp said.
And, taking into consideration the fitness crowd, the Mercer County Fair has brought a Ninja Obstacle Fitness Challenge to the fairgrounds.
“New this year is the Ninja Obstacle Fitness Challenge. This starts Aug. 12 and runs through Aug. 17. Cash prizes will be awarded. We have two different categories, youth and adult. The winners are entered into the finals at the Hancock County Fair,” Muhlenkamp said. “There are challenges each day, and there are open practice times each day. There will also be grudge matches if people want to go against someone. We are pretty excited about this.”
Poor Jack Amusements will be providing the rides at the fair, as they have done in the past.
“It is exciting that our ride company, Poor Jack Amusements, are celebrating their 50th year in the business. So, we have a good solid ride company,” Muhlenkamp said.
Harness racing is a staple yearly in front of the grandstand. There are two different days of racing at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and then 6 p.m. Aug. 15.
The Great Lake Timber Show is present through the weekend with eight different show times. This show has carvings, an ax throwing competition, log rolling competition and sawing competition.
Woodcarver, Jason Emmons from Bear Hollow Wood Carvers is at the fair. He carves Saturday through Aug. 15.
Aug. 17 “we auction his carvings off and then these proceeds go to two scholarships that we give out to the youth in the community,” Muhlenkamp said.
Daily admission at the gate is $6, and is charged for everyone age 5 and older. Children 4 years and younger are free, but those ages 4 and younger must purchase a ride wrist band at the ticket booth to ride mechanical rides. Daily ride wrist bands are $9.
Schedule of Events
Friday Aug. 12
Senior Fair
8 a.m. Fair opens
9 a.m. Agricultural judging
10 a.m. Home, arts, domestic and household judging
1 p.m. Commercial building opens
2 p.m. Floral judging
2 to 6 p.m. Red Cross Blood Mobile
3 p.m. Opening ceremony (front gate)
4 p.m. Rides and games start
5 p.m. Cakes, pies and produce auction
7 p.m. Town Team Horseshoe tournament
7 p.m. Erastus – Tailgate party before concert with T102
8 p.m. Gary Allan with special guest Ray Scott
9:30 p.m. Erastus
Junior Fair
8 a.m. Weigh market swine/swine exhibitors meeting/goat projects in place
9 a.m. Dairy cattle show. All beef, sheep and alpaca projects in place.
9:30 a.m. All non-livestock projects in place
10 a.m. Booth judging
11 a.m. Weigh market lambs and sheep
12 p.m. Weigh market goats. Horse projects in place
1 p.m. measure and weigh beef
2 p.m. Weigh market rabbits
4 p.m. Rabbit market pens and showmanship
5:30 p.m. Special interest awards
6 p.m. Crowning of Swine Industry Queen
6:30 p.m. Junior Fair King and Queen contest
7:30 p.m. Specie royalty crowning
10 p.m. Junior fair building closes
Saturday, August 13
Senior Fair
8 a.m. Gates open, admission charged
9 a.m. Country horseshoe pitch class C & D
10 a.m. Baby contest, 13 to 18 months
11 a.m. Baby contest, 9 to 12 months
1 p.m. Rides and games start, country horseshoe tournament class A & B, baby contest, 4 to 8 months, Michindoh truck and tractor pulls
2 p.m. 18th annual pie contest (auction at 4 p.m.), Kaitlyn Schmit, baby contest, 0 to 3 months
5 p.m. Mercer County Fair Princess contest (ages 19 months to 3 years old), Wee Miss Mercer County Fair contest (ages 4 through 6); Little Miss Mercer County Fair contest (ages 7 through 9), Mercer County Fair Prince contest (ages 19 months to 3 years); Wee Mr. Mercer County Fair contest (ages 4 through 6)
6 p.m. Tough Truck
6:30 p.m. Pee Wee Showmanship
7 p.m. Sherry Chandler-Artist demonstration
7:30 p.m. Tug-A-Truck
8 p.m. The Thien Snipps
8 p.m. Empty Tank
Junior Fair
8 a.m. Poultry show and showmanship
9 a.m. Swine hurdle showmanship
12 p.m. Horse pleasure, versatility and English show
5 p.m. Market lamb and sheep breeding show
7 p.m. Dairy showmanship
10 p.m. Junior fair building closes
Sunday, August 14
Senior Fair
8 a.m. Gates open, admission charged
9 a.m. Invitational horseshoe pitch round robin tournament class B & C, Open horse pleasure show
9:30 a.m. Patriotic Rosary
10 a.m. Open poultry
10:30 a.m. Nondenominational church service
12:30 p.m. Harness racing
1 p.m. Rides and games start; Wright with Christ Bible study
1:30 p.m. Invitational horseshoe pitch round robin tournament class A; peewee showmanship
Approx. 1:30 p.m. Open market lamb
2 p.m. Kaitlyn Schmit; New start worship
Approx. 2:30 p.m. Open breeding sheep show
3 p.m. Abounding Grace worship
4 p.m. Jane Stachler religious experience
5 p.m. Rise worship; wing eating contest sponsored by C-Town Wings
6 p.m. Christian revival service
7:30 p.m. Open dairy; Haywired
8 p.m. Livestock scramble sponsored by Homestead Quality livestock bedding
Junior Fair
12 p.m. Sheep showmanship
1 p.m. Demonstration contest; rabbit fun show
5 p.m. Boer breeding, market goat and showmanship
5:30 p.m. Modeling revue practice
6:30 p.m. Cloverbud, foods and special interest; modeling revue
7:30 p.m. Clothing modeling revue
10 p.m. Junior fair building closes
Monday, August 15
Senior fair
8 a.m. Gates open, admission charged
10:30 a.m. Nursing home lunch/activities
1 p.m. Minute To Win It games, sponsored by Coldwater Explorers 4H Club
2 p.m. Floral judging; Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
4 p.m. Rides and games start
4:30 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
5 p.m. Clay demonstration by Anna Talei Fisher
6 p.m. Harness racing; Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
7 p.m. Scams seen in Mercer County by Sheriff Jeff Grey; Mercer County Youth Has Talent
8 p.m. The Unknowns
Junior Fair
9 a.m. Horse contesting show; swine show
4:30 p.m. Dairy goat and other non-market breeds show and showmanship
6 p.m. Beef show
7:30 p.m. Open dairy
8 p.m. Christian revival service
10 p.m. Junior fair building closes
Tuesday, August 16
Senior Fair
8 a.m. Gates open, admission charged
11 a.m. Senior citizens lunch/activities, age 65 and up; Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
12:30 p.m. Senior Citizens King and Queen contest
1 p.m. Hoola-Hoop, contest, sponsored by Coldwater Explores 4H Club
2:30 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
3:30 p.m. Senior Citizens BINGO
4 p.m. Rides and games open
5 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
5:30 p.m. Diaper Derby
6 p.m. Veteran’s ceremony; Bee Keeper demonstration; open swine show followed by men/women/pee wee showmanship
7 p.m. Broken Horn Rodeo; Doubles horseshoe tournament
8 p.m. Supervillin; Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
Junior Fair
10 a.m. Beef showmanship
11 a.m. Alpaca show
1 p.m. Beef judging contest
5 p.m. Rabbit show-fancy and commercial
9 p.m. Registration deadline for showman of showmen contest
10 p.m. Junior fair building closes
Wednesday, August 17
Senior Fair
Kids’ Day
8 a.m. Gates open, admission charged
8:30 a.m. Weigh in for kiddie pedal tractor pull
10 a.m. Kiddie pedal tractor pull
11 a.m. Hoof it! Scavenger Hunt
11:30 a.m. Mr. Potato Head contest sponsored by Celina Kiwanis
12:30 p.m. Treasure hunt, four age groups
1 p.m. Rides and games start
1:30 p.m. Cookie contest
3 p.m. Bella’s Italian Grill cooking demonstration
4 p.m. Kiddie Power Wheel pulls
5 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
6 p.m. Open steer/heifer/feeder calves show; mule races and running races
7 p.m. Oil pastel demonstration by Anna Talei Fisher; Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
7:30 p.m. Loader showdown, sponsored by Kenn-Feld Group
8 p.m. Saw Creek
9 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals; auction of Bear Hollow Wood Carvers’ masterpieces
Junior Fair
8 a.m. Dog show
9 a.m. Horse show
12:30 p.m. Showman of showmen contest
10 p.m. Junior fair building closes
Thursday, August 18
Senior Fair
8 a.m. Gates open, admission charged
10 a.m. “G.P.S. What you need to know to get you where you want to go”
2 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
3 p.m. Bubble gum blowing contest
4 p.m. Rides and games open
5 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
6 p.m. Martial arts demonstration by Celina Martial Arts Studio
6:30 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals
7 p.m. High School Band Show
8 p.m. Matt Mcatee and the Eventuals; DJ Fuzz
Junior Fair
9 a.m. Release of all livestock not being sold
11 a.m. Horse award banquet
1 p.m. Junior fair livestock auction
9 p.m. 4H projects may be removed
10 p.m. Junior fair building closes
Friday, August 19
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Barns and junior fair building clean up
