MANSFIELD — Christy Keith said the 176th Richland County Fair’s biggest attraction is not the rides, food or entertainment.

It’s the county’s young people.

“I think I am most excited for just the opportunity to showcase our county’s youth,” said Keith, the fair board president. “The kids have been working really hard this year.”

She said the fair gives families a chance to celebrate the work young people put into livestock projects, 4-H exhibits and displays inside the Youth Hall — while bringing the community together to celebrate agriculture.

Community support takes center stage

The Richland County Junior Fair Board will once again compete in the Fight Hunger Stock the Trailer competition. Keith said she hopes this year’s public push encourages more donations than ever before.

“We would really like to see the Richland County Junior Fair top what we’ve ever done in the past,” she said. “We’re really hoping that people will kind of jump on the wagon and bring items in.”

Keith said the competition benefits the Junior Fair if Richland County collects the most donations. But it also helps local families by providing food and other needed items.

“In today’s society, people are wanting, and there’s a need,” she said. “I think this is a great way for our county fair and for the community to help support that.”

The Junior Fair has participated in the competition for several years, Keith said. But this year brings a stronger public effort to encourage participation.

New attractions join returning favorites

Families will find several new attractions at this year’s fair, including the Original Goat Island Petting Zoo, a free KidZone activity.

“I’m really excited about it because I’m into goats,” Keith said. “They have all kinds of breeds of goats that kids can come up and interact with and feed.”

The fair also welcomes Pork Chop Revue, an act that appeared on America’s Got Talent.

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Returning favorites include the rodeo with Rough E Rodeo Productions, rodeo clown Dave “Showtime” Meyer, known as “Don’t Tell the Bishop,” and Mutton Bustin’.

When asked what first-time visitors should experience, Keith turned to two fair regulars for the answer — her children.

“They should see the games and rides,” her 10-year-old daughter Olivia Keith said. “And the animals.”

Her son, Owen Keith, encouraged visitors to see the projects being showcased.

Keith agreed, adding visitors should spend time in the livestock barns and youth exhibits. She also encouraged visitors to stop by the grandstand mural, which traces the fair’s history back to the 1850s and commemorates last year’s 175th fair.

The fair also features new food vendors and new businesses inside Fairhaven Hall.

She said the Fair Board and Junior Fair have worked hard to make improvements to the fairgrounds, including upgrades to the electrical infrastructure that created space for additional vendors.

Keith invited the community to attend the fair’s opening ceremony Sunday at 3 p.m. by the flagpoles.

“We’re just really looking forward to a great fair season and a great fair week,” she said.

Here are your fair ticket prices:

General admission (includes grandstand) (Children 48” and under free) – $10

Membership ticket (seven admissions) – $40

Season ticket (seven admissions) – $40

Commercial exhibitor’s pass (one day) – $10

Commercial exhibitor’s pass (seven admissions) – $40

Senior Citizens Day (Monday, Aug. 10, Senior Citizens Only) – $5

Armed Forces Day (Thursday, Aug. 13, 8 a.m. to closing) with ID to all veterans and active duty military – Free

Kids Day (Tuesday, Aug. 11, noon to 4 p.m., wristbands $10) (48” and under free)

Rides – $1 per ticket, 24 tickets for $20, Sunday through Wednesday wristband, $20, Thursday through Saturday wristband, $25

Here are your grandstand events:

Sunday, Aug. 9 – Harness racing, 5:30 p.m., free grandstand

Monday, Aug. 10 – Harness racing, 5:30 p.m., free grandstand

Tuesday, Aug. 11 – Weiner dog racing 7 p.m., free grandstand ($10 reserved seats)

Wednesday, Aug. 12 – Rodeo, 7 p.m., free grandstand, ($10 reserved seats)

Thursday, Aug. 13 – Hardin County Tractor Pullers/County Tractor Pull, 7 p.m. (free grandstand, $10 reserved seats, $10 pit, $20 back gate)

Friday, Aug. 14 – Motocross, 7 p.m. (free grandstand, $10 reserved seats, $10 pit, $20 back gate)

Saturday, Aug. 15 – Demolition Derby, 5 p.m. (free grandstand, $10 reserved seats, $20 back gate)

Click below for the entire fair schedule

https://richlandcountyfair.com/fair-schedule

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