This year’s Pottawatomie County Free Fair at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center, which will begin accepting non-livestock entries next Wednesday, Sep. 7, will feature several new activities.
Non-livestock entries may be brought to the Expo Center from 3-6 p.m. on that Wednesday.
The Farm Hand Olympics, coordinated by Josh Grundmann, begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Suzanne Gilbert is in her 32nd year helping to organize the fair and explains it will open Wednesday, Sep. 7, and run through Saturday evening, Sep. 10.
“It’s a free, family friendly event,” Gilbert emphasizes.
This will be the 83rd year of the Pottawatomie County Free Fair since there was not one in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Among some of the new events/activities will be a Corn Hole Tournament, a Big Bass Fishing Contest, about a half dozen food trucks.
Trent Boles is coordinating the Big Bass contest. The $20 entry fee is due by 8 p.m. Wednesday evening and the weigh-in will be from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Sep. 8.
The Farmer/Rancher Appreciation dinner is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, there is an open barrel racing competition starting at 8 p.m. Friday.
The Corn Hole tournament, coordinated by Gary and Charlotte Barnett, is on Friday from 4 until 8 p.m. There is also a $20 entry fee.
Participants must use the boards and bags provided by the Fair.
The different food trucks scheduled to be there include those with barbecue, tacos, snow cones, kettle corn, corn dogs and sweet treats.
Gilbert said there is no Children’s Barnyard again this year.
A karoke singing contest starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday Livestock judging is on Friday and Saturday. The beef cattle show is at 1 p.m. Friday followed by the dairy cattle show, then the beef cattle judging is after the dairy show.
The livestock judging contest begins on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. with swine, sheep and goats.
This is the 27th year for the Ann Gilbert Memorial Award. Cooper Kline from North Rock Creek won it last year.
The tractor pulling contest is at 7 p.m. on Saturday and the awards assembly is 6 p.m. on Saturday.