Lee County Fair kicks off Tuesday

BULL RIDING

That’s going to be a very good show. It’s the same people that bring the bull riding to the Tri-State Rodeo.”

Katie Wilson, Lee County Fair Manager

DONNELLSON – The Lee County Fair, founded more than 180 years ago and standing as the oldest County Fair in Iowa, kicks off next week.
Fair Manager Katie Wilson said she’s excited about this year’s fair, her 3rd as manager.
“With me taking it over three years ago, we haven’t made big changes. I feel like people have gotten this right. It’s one of those things that if it's not broken, let's not fix it, which I'm totally with. But we did go to e-tickets and just some little things that make a bigger impact,” Wilson said.
She said e-tickets allow a more accurate look at who’s at the fair at any given time, and a cleaner number on attendance over the span of the fair.
The fair began in 1841 centered around livestock shows and those shows continue in earnest this year with close to a dozen livestock shows and more exhibit sessions.
The fair begins on Tuesday night with the Double S Bull Riding at the grandstand and then Wednesday starts full Fair activities.
“That’s going to be a very good show,” Wilson said. “It’s the same people that bring the bull riding to the Tri-State Rodeo.”
Wednesday’s grandstand event features the Messy Madness Enduro race, which is a spin on the Demolition Derby, but runs cars through an obstacle course starting at 7 p.m. Vehicle check-in and inspection runs from noon to 5 p.m.
The Fair Queen, Jr. Queen, and Little Miss will also be crowned at the Show Barn at 6 p.m. There will be no Little Mister contest this year.
Thursday’s grandstand event is the ATV Big Air Tour where professionals come with all-terrain sport vehicles and perform stunt maneuvers for fans.
“I’ve heard that’s pretty cool. They do jumps and twists and stuff in the air, so I’m excited about that event, too.”
Friday is the Mohrfeld Solar Sprint Invaders on the racetrack. There will also be stock cars, sport modifieds, and sport compact races on that night. Saturday will bring the wildly popular Demolition Derby at 7 with the Kids Power Wheel Derby at 6:30 p.m. Sunday is the Fair Car Show from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Musical entertainment this year is by Faster Horses on Friday night and The Boys on Saturday. Both groups are Iowa groups. Faster Horses performs in Nashville, as well.
There will be a kids' pedal pull and, added this year, is an adult pedal pull, both on Saturday afternoon near the Learning Center.
Bob Bohm’s Family Entertainment will be on the grounds Wednesday through Saturday with shows afternoons and evenings.
Kenny’s Funland Carnival is returning again this year. Carnival hours are Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Armband passes are $25 for Wednesday and Thursday. $30 on Friday for extended carnival hours from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. and $30 on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. A weeklong band can be purchased for $60. Armbands are available at Pilot Grove Savings Bank locations.
The Kensington Senior Day is Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with free ice cream and dessert, along with information booths and BINGO.
Friday is Kids' Day at the Fair with games and activites from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. sponsored by Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center.
The Blue Ribbon Diner is open at 5 p.m. each night at the Grand Stand and Stockmans at 5 p.m. at the Abby Pavilion. There will be a bags tournament beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Entertainment Pavillion.
Monday is the exhibitor/buyer breakfast at 7:30 a.m. with the junior livestock auction to follow at 8:30 a.m.