Cottonwood County Fair begins today

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WINDOM — The Cottonwood County Fair kicks off today with a lineup of various 4-H events.

Today’s agenda will feature the horse and dog show, among other programs.

The swine and beef shows this year have the highest number of exhibitors. Both events are planned for Friday.

4-H has always been a major part of the fair and according to program coordinator Crystal Reith, there has been a lot of growth among 4-H members in the five years she’s been the coordinator.

“They’re expanding out of their comfort zones to try new things,” Reith said.

A new addition this year is the Photography People’s Choice Award Judging, where the public can vote for their favorite picture submitted by participating 4-H members. Voting will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. today at the Exhibit Building.

“We’re expecting a large crowd and the community has been really good in supporting 4-Hers,” Reith said.

Apart from livestock shows, there will be a Farm Fresh Silent Auction from Wednesday to Saturday. Among the items available for bidding are processed bundles of beef, lamb and pork, homemade ice cream, and sweet corn.

Bidding will end at 7 p.m. each day and all proceeds will benefit the Andrea Ruesch Scholarship fund. Reith said high school seniors and college freshmen who have been involved in 4-H are eligible to apply for the scholarships.

What will a county fair be without food? Among all the food and fun will be a rib eye steak dinner Friday and pork loin feed Saturday night.

The complete 4-H fair schedule is as follows:

Wednesday

7:30 to 8:30 a.m. — 4-H horse show registration

9 a.m. — 4-H horse show (Arena)

10 a.m. — Food stand opens

3 p.m. — 4-H Goat entries in place

3 to 5 p.m. — 4-H lamb and goat ID and weigh-in (Sheep Barn)

5 p.m. — 4-H dog show (Oleson Pavilion)

5 to 10 p.m. — Photography People’s Choice Award Judging

6 p.m. — 4-H dairy entries in place

6 to 8 p.m. — 4-H beef ID and weigh in (Beef Barn)

7 p.m. — 4-H rabbit and poultry in place.

Thursday

7:30 a.m. — Food stand opens

8 a.m. — 4-H poultry show (rabbit/poultry barn)

9 a.m. — 4-H swine in place

9 to 11 a.m. — 4-H swine ID and weigh-in (swine barn)

10:45 a.m. — 4-H dairy show (Arena)

11:30 a.m. — 4-H rabbit show (rabbit/poultry barn)

1 p.m. — 4-H goat show, (Oleson Pavilion)

3:15 p.m. — 4-H lamb lead (Oleson Pavilion)

3:30 p.m. — 4-H lamb show (Oleson Pavilion)

Friday

7:30 a.m. — Food stand opens,

7:30 a.m. — 4-H swine show (Oleson Pavilion)

Noon — 4-H beef show (Arena), 4-H cow/calf and pen of three (beef barn) immediately following beef show

2:30 to 5 p.m. — Livestock interviews (Oleson Pavilion)

6 p.m. — Livestock auction entries due (Fair Office)

6 p.m. — 4-H State Fair trip winners responses due (Fair Office)

Saturday

7:30 a.m. — Food stand opens

7:30 a.m. — Livestock auction buyers breakfast (food stand)

8:30 a.m. — 4-H livestock auction (Arena and Oleson Pavilion)

11:30 a.m. — 4-H horse show fun (Outdoor Arena)

11:30 a.m. — Dennis Franz premier showmanship contest (specie barns)

2 p.m. — State Fair livestock orientation (Oleson Pavilion)

3:30 p.m. — State Fair general orientation (Oleson Pavilion)

6 p.m. — Grand Champion general exhibit winner pictures (4-H Exhibit Building)

9:45 p.m. — 4-H Exhibit building closed

11 p.m. — All buildings closed

Sunday

7 to 11 a.m. — All 4-H entries released and 4-H livestock load out

9 to 11 a.m. — Purchase leftovers from 4-H food stand

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