95th Panhandle Exposition kicks off Wednesday

August 6, 2012

A view of the 2011 Panhandle Exposition in Guymon from the Ferris wheel. (Staff file photo/Shawn Yorks)

Texas County is gearing up for another famous way that the community celebrates its heritage. The Fair is coming to town and everyone is already getting started with registration and weigh-ins.
This year makes the 95th Annual Panhandle Exposition, and will take place Aug. 8-11 at the Texas County Fairgrounds, 5th and Sunset in Guymon.
Registration and pre-entries are accepted in all departments and contests, and although nobody will be turned away on entry day, all are urged to pre-enter as soon as possible.  Pre-entries are accepted by mail, fax, personal delivery to the Texas County Activity Center, or entry by website; texascountyfair.org.
Many different events fill up the fairgrounds on the west side of town, with the lights of the carnival the rides in horizon. The Oklahoma City Zoo will be at the fair Friday evening with over nine species of animals and two Zoo representatives. The Zoo will be available from approximately 5 p.m. until closing time.
Other fun fair activities include the Antique Tractor Pull and Machinery Show on Saturday at 6 p.m. and the traditional livestock and horse shows. Entries start as early as Tuesday, and the shows go on for the remainder of the fair with judging and showing all the way up to Saturday afternoon. The Great All-American Turtle Race will be held south of the Activity Center on Saturday and entries are at 11 a.m. There will be a huge variety of things available at the fair from photography and paintings, to candy and goodies, to veggies and animals, to quilts and clothes, to games and rides and fun for all.
With so much to do and see, the past generations are what to keep in mind with the theme of this year being Founding Farmers.
“My goal for our fair would be to do as well as past generations that have built the fair,” said Texas County Fair Board member, David Thrasher. “Think about what it looked like when they got here, when it used to be down in a tent.”
Another Board Member expresses his respect for the generations that put this together and their ability to allow people to share their skills and talents.
“When you think of Founding Farmers, I see pride,” said Board Member Shawn Grunewald. “They saw pride; a people’s opportunity to show off their handiworks, and obstacles didn’t deter the getting together of the community,” said Grunewald.
Tradition and growth play a huge part in this year’s Fair, and everyone is welcome to come share their skills and enjoy viewing others, along with taking part in activities and fun for the whole family. For more information, visit texascountyfair.org, call the Texas County Activity Center at 580-338-5446, or email at panexpo@ptsi.net.
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS OPEN
Activity Center - Commercial Building - Parking Lot
•Wednesday 6-9 p.m.
•Friday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
•Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
•Friday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
•Saturday 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
You will be able to enter Aug. 7 even if you haven’t pre entered. However, it will be very time consuming.
Articles for exhibition must be brought to the Activity Center Tuesday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
TUESDAY, Aug. 7
•9 a.m.-6 p.m. Entry of all departments in the Activity Center
Please bring your entries even if you were not able to pre enter.
Agriculture - Wheat Show
Antiques & Hobbies
Boy Scouts
Ceramics & Crafts
Domestic Arts - Quilt Block Contest
Domestic Science Ball/Kerr Award Wilton Cake
Wheathearts Bread Baking Contest
Fine Arts
4-H & FFA
Girl Scouts
Junior Arts & Crafts
Preschool - Elementary Health Poster Contest
Photographic Arts
Plants & Flowers
Junior & Senior High School Arts & Crafts
•1-5 p.m. Home & Community Education
•4-6 p.m. Entries for Poultry and Rabbits Poultry Barn
•6 p.m. Entries Close in all departments in Activity Center
•6:30 p.m. Judging of Plants & Flowers - (Judging times approximate depending on number of entries)
•6:30 p.m. Judging of Boy Scouts
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8
•9 a.m. Judging of:
Agriculture - Wheat Show
Antiques & Hobbies
Ceramics & Crafts
Domestic Arts—Quilt Block Contest
Domestic Science Ball/Kerr Award Wilton Cake
Wheathearts Bread Baking Contest
Home & Community Education
Fine Arts
4-H & FFA
Photographic Arts
Girl Scouts
Junior Arts & Crafts Preschool - Elementary Health Poster Contest
Poultry & Rabbits
Junior & Senior High School Arts & Crafts
•2-6 p.m. Setup of ALL inside Commercial Exhibits in Activity Center
•3-5 p.m. Entries for Swine Show & Swine Carcass Show & Contest
•6 p.m. GRAND OPENING - TEXAS COUNTY FAIR
•6 p.m. Swine Judging
•6 p.m. On foot judging of Swine Carcass Contest
Immediately following Swine Show
(Results of Swine Carcass Contest will be announced Tuesday, August 14, 5:00 p.m. at OPSU meat lab, Goodwell, OK)
ALL SWINE WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING JUDGING!
•9 p.m. Fair closes for the day
THURSDAY, Aug. 9
•10 a.m. FAIR OPENS FOR THE DAY
•3-5 p.m. Entries - Meat Goat Show
•4:30 p.m. Entry time for Design a Perky Veggie Contest (Inside Commercial Building)
•5-6 p.m. Perky Veggie Contest
•6 p.m. Meat Goat Show - judging
•6 p.m. Entries Kid’s Pedal Power Tractor Pull Contest
•6:30 p.m. Kid’s Pedal Power Tractor Pull Contest
•9 p.m. Fair closes for the day
FRIDAY, Aug. 10
•9:30 a.m. Tractor Operator’s Contest
•10 a.m. Fair opens for the day
•3-3:30 p.m. 4-H Home Economics Judging Contest
•4 p.m. Educational Grass Identification
•3-5 p.m. Entries for Sheep Show
•5 p.m. - Close. Oklahoma City Zoo
•6 p.m. Judging of Sheep Show
•10 p.m. Fair closes for the day
ALL SHEEP WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING JUDGING!!
SATURDAY, Aug. 11
•7-9 a.m. Entries for Beef Show and Bucket Calf Show
Panhandle Classic Runs Simultaneously
•10 a.m. Fair opens for the day
Cattle Show and Judging begins in arena building -fairgrounds
4-H & FFA Livestock Educational Judging Contest immediately following beef cattle show.
•11 a.m. Great All-American Turtle Race
•1:30 p.m. Entries for Panhandle Expo Pie Contest
•2 p.m. Judging of Panhandle Expo Pie Contest
•2-3 p.m. Entry For Tractor Pull
•5 p.m. Release of Poultry and Rabbits. See Rule 2.
•6 p.m. Antique Tractor Pull and Machinery Show - South end of Fairgrounds
•7 p.m. Fair closes
•7-8 p.m. Pick up Entries
ALL CATTLE WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING JUDGING
FAIR WILL CLOSE SATURDAY - Aug. 11
7 p.m. Exhibits may be claimed from 7-8 p.m. - ONLY – NO EARLY RELEASES.
PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME TO PICK UP EXHIBITS.
Exhibits can be picked up during office hours Monday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m.-Noon and 1-5 p.m.
SATURDAY - Aug. 11
PANHANDLE CLASSIC
•7-8:30 a.m. Entry 10 a.m. Show Starts and this will be going on simultaneously with jr. heifer and steer show.