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By Dawn Slade
Mille Lacs County Times
 Wash the pig, pick your best veggies and get reading for food and fun at the 118th annual Mille Lacs County Fair.
Check out all the prize-winning entries in the 118th annual Mille Lacs County Fair.
This year’s fair runs Thursday, Aug. 6 through Sunday, Aug. 9.
However, the annual 4-H dog show starts this weekend. The obedience and showmanship events are Saturday, Aug. 1 at 8 a.m. in the commercial building and the agility dog show takes place on Sunday, Aug. 2 at the livestock pavilion.
The fair board has kept admission at $5 for a fair button and parking is free.
New attractions this year include the talent of Sherwin and Pam Linton and “The Cotton Kings.” The group will perform a classic country show on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m., with a tribute to Johnny Cash at 9:30 p.m.
The couple already made a stop at the Princeton Elim Home on Wednesday, July 15 and performed for residents, knowing that not everyone can make it to the fair.
Kids will enjoy Ozseeker the Clown who will be strolling around the fair grounds all four days, making fun balloons for the kids.
Break out your dancing shoes as Peter and Paul Wendinger and the Wendinger Band perform Friday, which is Senior Day.
Their polka band will play around noon on the stage.
Some old favorites will return as well.
Chopper, the World’s Nuttiest D.J., will be on stage entertaining the crowds Thursday and Friday nights.
Tricia and the Toonies are back for children of all ages. Featuring puppets, skits, music and laughter, Tricia and the Toonies promote environmental awareness.
Bringing his magic to the fair is “Kid” Davie who is a multi-talented entertainer that includes fire eating, juggling, stilt walking and comedic characters.
Kid Davie will give performances throughout the four-day event.
Special Days
Senior Citizen Day is Friday and admission is just $2 for those 60 years and older. Show up between 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. to receive the reduced entrance rate.
Day Care Day is always a hit. Last year, the fair saw over 200 kids participate in Day Care Day. This year, over 300 have registered already for Friday’s Day Care Day in which licensed day cares in the county are invited to the fair at no charge. Kids also receive a goodie bag, including a coloring book and crayons.
According to fair board secretary Judy Gerth, one day care provider has every one of her kids enter something into the fair, having created projects throughout the year at day care.
Get ready for the rides! Arm band days are Friday and Sunday. Purchase a midway armband for $15 and ride as much as you like between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. This year’s carnival may include a Ferris wheel.
Contests
The premium list is available online at: www.millelacscountyfair.com, including a registration form that can be printed out and sent in or dropped off at the fairgrounds.
Aug. 2 is the deadline to enter your prize winning photograph, art project, vegetable, pie or quilt.
Other contests include the kids pedal tractor pull on Thursday at 2 p.m., the ranch rodeo Sunday at 10 a.m., the tractor pull Thursday night at 7, regular Friday night speedway races, and a demolition derby Saturday at 7 p.m.
Saturday includes a contest for homemade cinnamon rolls; red, white and blue flower arrangements; homemade dill pickles; and in honor of her 50th birthday - the best dressed Barbie doll contest.
The fifth annual fiddle contest will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. with $1,350 in prize money.
“That’s turned into quite a deal,” fair board member Gene Gerth said of the 20+ contestants last year.
If your 18 or older, on Sunday you can enter the nail driving contest, the bale throwing contest, or the hula hoop contest.
4-H events
4-H is growing.
Amanda Swenson, 4-H Coordinator, said overall membership is up, pre-registered exhibitors and the number of exhibits has increased as well.
This year’s horse show will feature a horse drill team of 15 horses at the pavilion on Friday at noon.
Along with the kids barn, the Little Farm Hands store will be open, featuring things like crayons made out of soy.
The 4-H Share the Fun acts will perform Sunday, featuring the first place winners - Garfield Climbers - who will go on to compete at the Minnesota State Fair.
4-H members have also been preparing for the annual market livestock auction.
This “blue ribbon” or premium only auction takes place Friday at 5:15 p.m. in the livestock pavilion.
Youth members have raised and cared for their livestock over the last year and bringing them to the fair is part of their animal project.
The community can support the 4-H members by “purchasing” the livestock. Eighty percent of the sale goes directly to the 4-H member, while the remaining 20 percent supports the auction and 4-H programs.
Buyers may not be going home with a cow or a goat, but they will go home with some food, a photo of you and the 4-H member with the animal, promotion in the Town & Country Shopper and the knowledge that a 4-H member has been supported.
Groups and businesses can bid on the livestock as well. For more information, contact Tom DeVries of the Milaca Buyer Group at 320-983-2960.
“We’ve always had great support from the community throughout the county,” Swenson said of the livestock auction.
Stop by the livestock buildings and check out the poultry, pigs, cows, sheep, goats and horses. 4-H members work hard to keep their animals healthy and in peak performance for the fair shows.
Of course, there are lots of vendors and this year there’s already a waiting list.
“I have so many different new booths,” Judy Gerth said with excitement.
Finally, kids will enjoy the free climbing wall provided by the Army National Guard.
Editor’s note: For more information, visit: www.millelacscountyfair.com
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