Kendall County Fair Lineup: Festivities Kick Off Aug. 3

A look at what's happening at the annual event.

YORKVILLE, IL — “We hope you will join us at the Yorkville Fairgrounds celebrating 25 years at this location,” said Colleen Konop, Kendall County Fair General and Home Ec Superintendent.“4-H members along with local folks bring projects that they have made and compete at the Kendall County Fair for bragging rights, or for that large Champion ribbon.”

For hundreds (385) of local youth, 4-H project displays and animal shows are an important and fun part of the annual Kendall County Fair, which is scheduled for August 3-6 at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, 10826 Route 71.

Projects will be on display in Smith 4-H Hall on the fairgrounds include: visual arts, woodworking, electricity, clothing/fashion, food and nutrition, natural resources, computers, robotics, vegetables, photography, and more for 4-H members. Open show includes many of the same categories and add other fun categories in which to compete including Lego creations, pocket pets, Fairy gardens, cut flowers and flower arrangements, quilting, sewing with needle crafts as well. These project areas are judged before the fair, but open for viewing throughout the weekend, Konop said.

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During the fair, other 4-H project areas will host shows, including the livestock competitions. The Open and 4-H sheep shows will start at 8 a.m. Thursday, August 3, and the goat show begins at 8:30 a.m. At 12 p.m., the flag raising and opening ceremony kicks off the fair with help from 4-H Federation members and the Kendall County Fair King and Queen candidates, Ethan Heidrich Oswego, Allison Rott Sheridan and Evelyn Martin from Newark.

Also on Thursday, everyone can participate in the open show horse speed events beginning at 10 a.m. There are 17 Classes for Exhibition, Youth, Junior, 3-D Classes and Open: Ladies and Men divisions. $4,032 is the total premiums offered. Sign up the day of the show for $3 per class. Call superintendents Karol or Dean Bundy with questions 815-475-4520. The Open and 4-H poultry show begins at 4 p.m. and the swine show at 5 p.m.

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The fair is hosting a Theme Photo contest Thursday too. The Live Band Karaoke is welcomed back along with Ethan Bell Band in the afternoon and evening.

“ The fairgrounds will be decorated with over 90 pots of flowers in honor of our 25th anniversary at the Yorkville location,” says Fairboard director Lea Ann Koch. “the Newark FFA has done a wonderful job growing and planting these pots for us.”

The swine competitions continue on Friday, August 4 at 8:30 a.m., and the 4-H rabbit and Open and 4-H dairy shows begin at 9 a.m. Friday the Fox River Academy will perform on the main stage, Along with Billy Croft and Five Alarm, and Hillbilly Rockstarz. The 4-H King & Queen are crowned Friday at 4:45 pm.

The beef show kicks off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Livestock Arena, with the 4-H Rate of Gain winner announced. Those 4-H youth have been raising their cattle and weighed them in January 2017. The 4-H cat show judging begins at 10 a.m. in the Education Building, along with the Open Show pocket Pet competition there at noon. There is a teen’s bag tournament on Saturday as well. On the Main stage Virtues in Motion, Fox River Academy and Magician Rob Thompson, are also featured shows. The fair is continuing the Food competitions from last year: Culver’s Team Ice Cream challenge and Cooks of Kendall contest. kendallcountyfair.org is the fair website with all the details for joining in on the fun.

At 6 p.m., the annual 4-H Auction starts in the Livestock Show Arena. Fixed Emotion, Ahead of Ourselves, Mason Rivers, Whiskey Romance musical entertainment is the lineup for Saturday on the main stage. The Zombieland Movie will be in the arena for Kendall Countys’ viewing pleasure. All the acts listed are included in the entry ticket price. So come enjoy a day with your family in the country the first weekend of August.

The 4-H and open events at the fair, wrap up on Sunday, Aug. 6. Starting in the morning with a Church service followed in the afternoon with Kellers’ Watermelon Eating Contest, Keller’s Sweetcorn Chowdown, Cooks of Kendall contest, Joliet Junior college Jazz Faculty Quintet and ending with Ramer’s Demo Derby. Come eat, listen and see all the fun activities.

The Master Showmanship Contest at 10:30 a.m. Sunday is the last animal show. Sheep, Beef and Swine 4-H youth show each species and compete to see who knows the most about the animals’ species, and showing them. The winner win the opportunity to compete at the state contest. After that contest the kids Pedal Pull tractor contest is held in the livestock barn. On the Mainstage is the Junior Talent Contest. That winner goes on to compete against other talents from all over the state in Springfield.

The 4-H Fashion Review is at 3 p.m., of all the sewn garments that have been displayed in the General and Home Ec building throughout the fair. 4-H members wear the sewn outfits. The Parade of Champions goes on stage at 3:45 p.m. The 4-H youth who won trophies in the General and Home Ec building receive their trophies then. The fair closes at 5 pm

The Kendall County Fairgrounds is located at 10826 Illinois Route 71 in Yorkville. For more information on location, tickets or other event schedules, visitwww.kendallcountyfair.org.

4-H offers positive youth development programs that provide the opportunity for youth to feel a sense of belonging, develop independence, practice generosity, and experience mastery. If you are interested in learning more about 4-H in Kendall County, contact Eisnaugle at 630-553-5823 or at keisnaug@illinois.edu.