Darrell Todd Maurina

Pulaski County Regional Fair board member Carl Boone shows off a display of beets, broccoli, green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, onions, carrots, yellow and zucchini squash, potatoes and tomatoes, all grown by Buck Moehle of Dixon.

SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 17, 2010) — The four-day Pulaski County Regional Fair kicked off Thursday afternoon with show animal check-ins, Clydesdale wagon rides, various games, and the beginning of judging for various events.

Fair Board member Carl Boone said attending the fair is a good way to learn more about area agriculture and see the hard work of local children and teenagers on their 4H or FFA projects, as well as having fun.

“They need to come out and have a great time. We’ve got a good carnival, we’ve got bull rides both Friday and Saturday night, we’ve got a big ATV rodeo on Sunday afternoon, gospel music and a benefit dinner in the community center on Sunday as well,” Boone said. “We’ve got great vendors, we’ve got other attractions, it’s all good.”

Traditional highlights of county fairs include livestock shows, and the steer and hog shows will be on Saturday, with a lamb show on Friday. All events are held in or near the St. Robert Community Center on Old Route 66.

“The primary purpose of the county fair has always been for the people in the agriculture community to come and brag about their produce or animals or whatever that might be,” Boone said. “The young ladies and gentlemen take care of their animals, they teach them to show in the show ring, they feed them and care for them. It teaches them a lot of responsibility, and then they get to come here and maybe win some prize money.”

Boone earns his living by day as an area banker, but he hasn’t forgotten the area’s rural roots and would like to show them to others.

“You get a little flavor on where some of that food on the grocery store shelf comes from. If they talk to these kids, they’ll get an idea of what it takes to produce that,” Boone said. “For someone who has not been around agriculture, just coming out and seeing the animals is a treat in and of itself. The ones you see at the fair are the best of the best. These are the ones that have had special attention; they are fitted and fed for the show ring and it shows some of the best of what agriculture has to offer.”

Most but not necessarily all of the animals shown are from members of local 4H groups or Future Farmers of America chapters.

“We have what we call an ‘open show;’ others can come and show if they want to, but it’s primarily the 4H and FFA kids that come out and show,” Boone said.

For those who want a fun weekend, there are also activities this weekend that aren’t ag-related.

“The carnival is always a big draw,” Boone said. “It’s games, it’s rides, it’s food. People can come out and have a good time and enjoy something that they don’t see every day. We have some great vendors, those from the local community, and some of them have traveled quite a distance to be there that have food and crafts and various types of information available.”

Those activities include a free bounce house and obstacle course for the kids.

“We just try to provide a variety of entertainment,” Boone said.

General admission to the fair and most of the events at the fair are free. There is a $10 charge for admission to the bull riding and $5 for the ATV rodeo, and carnival rides and vendors have individual prices. Advance purchases can be made for admission to all carnival rides on Thursday and Sunday for a cost of $15.

Related articles

Travelers square dance club preserves traditional American entertainment
Posted: Thursday, June 17, 2010 11:49 pm

Pulaski County Regional Fair schedule
Posted: Thursday, June 17, 2010 11:07 pm

THIS ARTICLE: Pulaski County Regional Fair kicks off Thursday with four days of events
Posted: Thursday, June 17, 2010 10:29 pm

Click here to follow the Pulaski County Daily News on Twitter
Click here to follow the Pulaski County Daily News on Facebook

Click here to comment for local opinion