Join the fun at the Allamakee County Fair this week

This week, July 15-19,  the 162nd Allamakee County Fair will be held for all to enjoy at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. A wide variety of entertainment is in place to headline this year’s fair at the grandstand, along with a great deal of other activities for everyone to enjoy each and every day throughout the five-day event.

GRANDSTAND TO FEATURE STAR POWER AND HORSE POWER
Kicking off this year’s grandstand entertainment line-up Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. will be a Truck and Tractor Pull featuring local tractors, pick-ups and semis as well as some powered-up regional competitors in a variety of high-revving classes.
Supercross Racing will fly through the grandstand area Thursday, July 16 as Motokazie brings its dirt bike and ATV racing series back to the Allamakee County Fair, beginning at 7 p.m. In addition to series racers braving jumps, turns and other thrills in 23 different classes, local riders can also sign up to participate on their own two- or four-wheeled machines.
A pair of quick-rising stars from different decades will be sharing the grandstand musical spotlight Friday evening, July 17, beginning at 7 p.m., after a bit of quick and productive shuffling by the Allamakee County Fair Board to maintain the star power of this year's musical grandstand act. The Board recently learned that original headlining act Chris Cagle had to cancel his Friday performance due to vocal cord issues, but quickly went to work to fill Cagle's vacancy with fiery, fun-loving redhead Jo Dee Messina, who will now provide this Friday's headlining performance after country music newcomer Dylan Scott performs his opening act.
Messina was a fixture on the Billboard country music charts around the recent turn of this century, becoming the first country music female to have three consecutive number-one hits from the same album. Those hits included “Bye, Bye," "I'm Alright" and "Stand Beside Me" from Messina's album "I'm Alright" released in 1998. She has charted nine number-one singles on the Billboard country music charts and has two Platinum and three Gold-certified albums. In addition to those three chart-topping hits from the same album, fans may also remember such fast-paced, fun-loving tunes as "Heads Carolina, Tails California" and "My Give a Damn's Busted!", as well as some of her softer-side releases, such as "Bring on the Rain" or "Because You Love Me."
Dylan Scott is a relative newcomer to the country music scene, himself, but has country music in his bloodlines. Influences such as George Strait and the late Keith Whitley have resulted in Scott creating such hits as "Makin' This Boy Go Crazy," "Hurtin' In the Morning" and "Mmm, Mmm, Mmm."
Raw, animal power will hit the grandstand Saturday, July 18 at 7 p.m. as area and sanctioned rodeo cowboys and cowgirls will compete in the T&C Rodeo, with fireworks after the rodeo performance. The band "Stampede," hailing from Independence, will provide free live entertainment from 9 p.m.-12 midnight near the grandstand following Saturday night's rodeo action.
The culminating grandstand event Sunday afternoon, July 19 will feature even more action, as area drivers will drive their trucks to the limit on a Tough Truck obstacle course filled with mud, jumps, hills and thrills, beginning at 1 p.m.

GRANDSTAND PASSES ONLINE
The ability to purchase grandstand tickets online is available for this season's performances as well. The fair's webpage, www.allamakeecountyfair.org, has a "Buy Tickets Now" button link (pictured at left below) that will take online purchasers through a check-out process. Tickets for the grandstand events can be purchased for all five evenings of grandstand entertainment at this year's fair, or for just a single event. Those tickets can then be picked up at the "will call" window at the grandstand entrance.
Advance tickets for grandstand events can also be purchased in Waukon at the Allamakee County ISU Extension office, Waukon State Bank, Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, Fidelity Bank & Trust, Village Farm & Home and Clark Tire Center.

QUEEN PAGEANT KICKS IT OFF
The Allamakee County Fair Queen Pageant will kick off this year's fair Tuesday evening, July 14, beginning at 7 p.m., and will take place in the Fairgrounds Pavilion. The overall event will begin with presentations by local high school FFA chapter members and 4-H Communications Day winners advancing on to the Iowa State Fair.
This year will also once again include an Allamakee County Royalty Showcase that will feature 2015 Allamakee County Dairy Princess Katie Kerndt, 2015 Allamakee County Beef Queen Shelby Troendle and their royalty court members, as well as the reigning Iowa State Guernsey Princess, Leslie Sivesind of Waukon.
This year's three Fair Queen candidates - Emily Hammel, Megan Leiran and Carmen Wille - will then take the spotlight to determine who will wear the crown of the 2015 Allamakee County Fair Queen.

FREE DAILY ENTERTAINMENT
In addition to the grandstand attractions, there will also be a wide variety of free entertainment performances and activities throughout this year’s fair.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 16-18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will feature a magic show, balloon art and face painting in front of the Fairgrounds Pavilion at various times. Breakfast at the Fair will also be served each of those three days in the Appreciation Building by area non-profit groups from 7-9:30 a.m. An "Artist Corner" in the Open Exhibit building will feature works of art by area youth from 1-2 p.m. each of those three days, in addition to Sunday, June 19.
Thursday, July 16 will offer a little something for everyone. An Ugly Cake Contest will allow local bakers to feature their creativity at 2 p.m. in the Open Exhibit Building. The Allamakee Master Gardeners are hosting "We Planted It. We Weeded It. We Watered It. Now What Do We Do With It?" from 3-5 p.m. in the Open Exhibit Building. The Ag Olympics, a timed obstacle relay race open to youth and area business "celebrities", takes place in the Show Barn at 5 p.m.
Friday, July 17 will feature Kid's Day activities, such as Lego and Art Contests, a Blender Bike and much more, free of charge behind the Fair Office from 12-4 p.m. and a Children's Cookie Decorating Contest will take place at 2 p.m. in the Open Exhibit Building, along with Canvas Painting at 1 and 3 p.m. A Kids Pedal Tractor Race begins with a 3:30 p.m. registration in front of the Pavilion.
New this year during Friday's Kid's Day will be a "Snakes Alive" presentation in the Appreciation Building. Herpetologist Tom Kessenich from Blanchardville, WI will share an exciting and educational look at reptiles featuring live snakes, an alligator and more.
Saturday, July 18 will involve some new activities, as well as some traditional favorites, all at the Open Exhibit Building. Kids Craft Activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, and a Two Chocolate Chip Baking Contest will also be taking entries up until 12 noon that day, with judging to begin at 1 p.m. "Greenie" the Balloon Artist will also be in front of the Pavilion building from 1-5 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday, July 19, a Quilt Trunking Show will be presented by local quilter Pam Kerndt from 2-3 p.m. Her presentation will feature Oriental and South American quilt designs.

AMUSEMENT MIDWAY
Superior Carnival from right here in Iowa will add to the thrills and enjoyment with the midway entertainment at this year’s fair. Wednesday, July 15 will feature a "Buddy Night" promotion from 6-10 p.m. The 6-10 p.m. timeframe Thursday, July 16 and Saturday, July 18, as well as from 12-4 p.m. Sunday, July 19, will feature the wristband promotion for the midway rides.

PROJECTS AND LIVESTOCK SHOWS
Along with the fun and thrills of this year’s entertainment line-up, the hard work and dedication of county youth and other exhibitors will be on display each and every day of the 2015 Allamakee County Fair. The 4-H and Open Exhibit buildings on the grounds will house the efforts of local exhibitors of all ages in a wide variety of creative, useful interests, with 4-H exhibit judging taking place Tuesday, July 14, beginning at 9 a.m. and livestock entry taking place Wednesday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Open Class exhibit entry will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 and again from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 15.
Daily livestock shows begin Thursday, July 16 with the Swine and Sheep Judging. Friday, July 18 will feature the Beef and Rabbit Judgings, with Poultry Judging not being allowed by State mandate this year in response to the avian influenza outbreak in Iowa but local 4-H'ers still being allowed to create presentations featuring Poultry topics. Dairy cattle and goats will be judged Saturday morning, July 18, with a Dog Show that afternoon. Sunday morning, July 19 will wrap up the livestock shows with the Horse Judging.
The traditional appreciation supper and 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction will take place Sunday afternoon in the Show Barn. The supper begins at 4 p.m., with the auction getting underway at 5 p.m.

Further event details and even more schedule and other information about the 2015 Allamakee County Fair can be found in the special publication posted on the home page of The Standard website, www.waukonstandard.com and inserted in last week's (July 8) issue of The Standard or online at www.allamakeecountyfair.org.