Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Annual fair underway in county

This year's fair is here.

The 68th Annual Nevada County Fair runs through Sept. 5, with the theme: "Wind up Your Summer at the Nevada County Fair".

There have been some changes to the fair this year, mostly in personnel. Sheila Cannon has taken over duties as the pageant coordinator.

Brandi Karlovec, talent show coordinator, said because of a lack of interest, the talent show has been cancelled. However, there entertainment will be provided at the Fair Pageant Saturday night.

Gate fees to get into the fairgrounds have been increased to $2 this year. This was done because the insurance premium for the fair went up $1,000 this year.

Rebecca Holley, president of the Fair Association, said there will be no parking by the livestock barns. "We have a lot of children working with their animals and having to go back and forth to wash racks, livestock barns and the show ring. The Fair Association is keeping their safety in mind and we hope everyone else does to."

The midway opens Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 3 p.m. Holley said between 12-14 rides are expected at this year's fair. There will also be several games along the midway.

There are 27 girls entered in eight divisions of the Fair Queen Pageant. Those categories are: Baby Miss, Little Miss; Tiny Miss, Petite Miss, Young Miss, Junior Miss, Teen Miss, and Miss Nevada County Fair Queen.

Cannon said the baby, little, tiny and petite divisions will be held Thursday, Sept. 2, with the pageants beginning at 6 p.m. Competition for the older girls will be held Saturday, Sept. 4, also starting at 6 p.m.

Those in the Baby division are: Kelsey Harris, Katherine Jordan, Elyse Smith, Brook Formby, Daisy Smith, Karissa McGuire, Haley Cox, Tamia Gulley and Hailey Patrick.

The tiny miss group includes: Tori Grant, Carly VanHook and Raegan Dougan.

There are four in the Little Miss class: Breanna Hendrix, Aariona Allen, Haleigh Wiley and Rayleigh Smith.

Lupe Ramos is in the Petite Miss contest.

Brook Adkins is in the Young Miss division.

The Junior Miss category includes: Ashley McBride, Brooke Cornelius, Emily Garrett and Lauran Avery.

Chelsie Ward and Kelsey Wren are in the Teen Miss contest.

The trio in the Queen contest includes: Jessica Honea, Meagan Martin and Miyako Franklin.

Exhibit buildings will open at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1,with the carnival midway opening at this time as well. The livestock show will be at 5:30. Should the parade be rained out Tuesday, the rain date is 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The carnival opens again at 3 o'clock Thursday, Sept. 2, with the livestock premium sale set for 6:30. The fair pageant begins for the baby, tiny, little and petite miss categories at 6 o'clock.

Friday will see the carnival and midway opening at 3, with the exhibit buildings open at 5. Following the Prescott-Gurdon football game there will be a watermelon supper. This is sponsored by the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday's big event is the fair queen pageant for young, junior, teen and the queen division. It will start at 6.

There will also be a rodeo Saturday at the arena, starting at 7 o'clock.

The events include chute dogging, bareback bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, calf riding, steer riding, barrel racing, calf scramble and mutton busting.

Entry fees for calf riding, steer riding, barrel racing and the mutton busting events are $10. All other entry fees are $30. Contestants are asked to pre-register.

The calf riding and steer riding are for cowboys 16 and under, while the barrel racing has two divisions. One is for racers 14-18 with the other for contestants 13 and under. The mutton busting event is for those eight and under.

For more information about the rodeo, contact Rebecca Holley at 887-6914.