Volunteers doing final prep work at Hamilton County Fairgrounds

Booth set-up underway this weekend

To many, the Hamilton County Fair starts with the parade, which will be held on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. But there are a lot of people working long before opening day, preparing for the fair each summer.

"We start planning the next years fair before the current year is complete," said Jamie Griffith, Hamilton County Fair Manager and board secretary. "We come across things that we can't change for this year and we make plans to do those things differently for the following year."

Members of the Hamilton County Fair Board members have been working hard to get the grounds ready for this years events.

"What the board does, are both big and small things; some things are not noticeable, like trimming trees, mowing, fixing pens and opening and repairing barn windows," said Griffith. "There are a lot of logistics to consider, such as where things can be placed based on electrical needs, and other issues we can't predict.

Two of the groups which look to the fair as an annual deadline are the FFA and 4-H members and their families. Their work throughout the year is presented as exhibits during fair week, whether it is animals that they have raised, food they have prepared, projects they have created or demonstrations they have practiced.

Exhibits for each of the clubs in the county are prepared by the youth for public inspection during the fair each year. They are judged and rated, and if deemed top of their category, they may send those items to the state fair.

4-H and FFA has the support of families, leaders and others in the communities, and when they age out of the process of showing items at the fair, the fair takes on another perspective.

Judging for the 4-H and FFA exhibits begin on Monday, before the fair opens to the public. Starting at 9:30 a.m., the 4-H exhibits for the 4-H building are judged. At the same time the FFA projects in the Career Ag Academy building also are judged.

Check-in begins at the Van Diest Building.

Also on Monday are the Clover Kids Static Exhibit Conference judging from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Van Diest building.

Check-in for the open class exhibits are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Hobby Craft, Textile, Fine Arts and photography at the Ed Prince building. Open class exhibits are for any age and those who are not members of 4-H or FFA. The Fair booklet explains the various classes and requirements.

On Tuesday, the 4-H and FFA members can check in at 7:30 a.m. for the Dog Obedience show, which begins at 8 a.m. at the Show Arena. From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., owners may bring their horses into stalls, with check-in from 7 to 8 p.m.

Also on Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., poultry can be checked in at the poultry barn, and rabbits can be checked in at the rabbit barn.

The work behind the scenes also includes some of the same people who exhibit during the fair.

"I know that at the end of June we have 4-H clubs come out and have a pre-work day," said Griffith. "Then basically the whole month of July is just tackling everything that has to be done before the parade is over."

Hamilton County Fair board members who have been serving year-round and helping complete the work at the fair are Zach Williams, President; Adam Richardson, Vice President; Tennie Carlson, Treasurer; Whitney Lincoln, Marty Johnson, Dana Casey, Zach Sukraw, Cody Crouch, Todd Pille, Dan Ostrem, Taylor Johnson and Scott Jacobsen.