GREENWOOD (KFSM)- Saturday (Aug. 23) marked the final day of the Sebastian County Fair.
The day’s festivities included a parade, pie-eating contest and more.
Sebastian County Extension Agent Jesse Bocksnick says the fair is a tradition more than 70 years in the making. University of Arkansas 4-H Extension Office officials estimate over 7,000 people attended this year’s fair.
“[We had a] really good turnout,” Bocksnick said. “All the exhibitor numbers were up; the kids have had a good time, but it has been a little hotter.”
The heat wave did require organizers to take extra precautions.
“We put fans up just to keep temperatures down at the barn to make sure animals were as comfortable as possible, in fact they’re more comfortable than most animals are at home,” Bocksnick said.
“I show heifers and bulls, and I show mainly beef cattle, and I’ve shown chickens some and just everything,” Kyle Russell, an eight-year member of the 4-H Club said.
The 17-year-old Greenwood High School senior won the grand championship title with his bull. Judges critique participants with a list of criteria.
“Just how the bull looks, his body confirmation, his size, how good of a bull he’d be later in life as a breeding bull,” he said.
While spectators can enjoy all the rides and fair food, the week is also a chance for 4-H and FFA members to showcase a year’s worth of hard work and preparation to the public.
“This is their Superbowl; this is their sport,” Bocksnick said. “This is what they do. It’s no different than the kids that play football or basketball or baseball except, these kids, they’re probably gonna grow up and do this for a living.”
Russell told 5NEWS he’d like to be an ag financial advisor and help farmers with their finances someday.
Admission to the fair didn’t increase this year. Organizers kept the prices at $5 for adults and $3 for kids.
“It costs more to go to the movies and everything else, this is very very cheap family entertainment, and I recommend every time the fair comes around, just to come in and enjoy it,” Bocksnick said.
The fair board will invest the profits from this year’s fair right back into the event next year. Clean-up is expected to last about a week.
