BELLVILLE — The Bellville Fair may look different this year, but junior fair exhibitors will still reap the rewards of their hard work raising animals, growing crops and creating goods and artwork.
The 170th Bellville Street Fair got a quiet start with Sunday’s Fair Queen competition, but the Junior Fair officially starts Tuesday. Junior livestock shows begin Tuesday evening with rabbits and poultry, followed by sheep and cattle on Wednesday and goats and hogs on Thursday. The shows will take place at the tractor pull field behind the fire station, but attendance will be limited to exhibitors and their immediate families.
There are 91 youth and 130 entries signed up for the livestock show, according to Fair Manager Kerri Gottfried.
“I think our livestock (entry levels) are pretty normal,” Gottfried said. “I don’t think the pandemic has kept kids from doing their animals. Those are things you have to do sooner than later. You have to plan.”
Families are asked to bring their own lawn chairs to the show, to practice social distancing whenever possible, to wear masks when social distancing is not possible and to stay home if they feel ill.
“Our junior fair is going to look totally different this year. It’s not a normal year but we’re making the best of it,” Gottfried said. “It’s sad, but we have to do what we have to do and we have to follow the health department and the governor’s orders.”
While the livestock portion of the show is closed to the public, fair fans can still stop by to admire “still” exhibits.
Baked goods, canned goods, produce, flowers and houseplants, needlework and other special projects will be on display at the Old Fire Station on 115 Main Street on Tuesday thru Thursday from noon to 6 p.m.
Junior fair art and photography projects will be on display at the Bellville Branch Library from Tuesday morning thru Thursday afternoon. Exhibitors will start picking up their projects around 4 p.m. on Thursday.
“We really want to do community events, we want to be as involved in the community as we can and we saw this to be an opportunity for something not to be cancelled,” Manager Josh Andra said.
Visitors will be expected to respect regular health and safety regulations, including mask wearing and social distancing. Hand sanitizer is available inside the building.
The full fair schedule is available on the official fair website. This year’s livestock auction will take place online.
