Cloud County Fair schedule packed full of activities

For the second time in three years the Cloud County Fair Board has had to adapt to unfortunate and uncontrollable circumstances when putting on the annual fair.
Two years ago, the fair board made the decision to host a fair that just included the 4-H and FFA judging because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a return to normalcy last year, the fair board was hit with another challenge when it was informed that WEEE Entertainment would not be providing the carnival for the fair.
Adjusting on the fly, the fair board made the decision to move forward without a carnival, and will offer bounce houses and inflatables free of charge for the children.
“It is frustrating, but in the end the 4-Hers worked hard all year long for their activities. There is still a lot to do, and we hope the things that we do have will still bring a lot of folks out. Look at the kids’ exhibits and maybe attend some of the shows,” fair board member Stacey Forshee said.
The fair, with the theme Mooving Forward Together, will run from July 5-10.
Forshee said that WEEE Entertainment bought out a bigger carnival company just after the first of the year and adjusted its schedule. That included pulling out of providing the carnival for the Cloud County Fair.
“We were not the only ones they backed out on,” Forshee said. “There were three or four of us calling Oklahoma and Texas and all of the carnivals we could find on the internet to see if anybody had an availability, even if we moved the fair. But, of course, nobody did.”
The fair board is already talking to carnival companies for next year.
“We haven’t signed anybody yet, but we're are looking at folks that can come,” Forshee said.
Unable to land another carnival company, the fair board made the decision to go ahead with the inflatables and the already scheduled activities.
Saturday is going to be a busy day at the fair with a full schedule of activities planned, including the “Cruise In & Pig Out Cook-Off” BBQ contest.
“We have a lot of stuff going on Saturday. We decided to make it a big day,” Forshee said.
Teams in the BBQ contest will be competing in four categories. Each entry will be judged on appearance, taste/flavor and tenderness/texture.
The first place prize in each category is $300. Second place is $200 and third place is $100.
There will be 150 tickets sold to the public, and they will judge the People’s Choice Award which has a $200 prize.
Judging for the People’s Choice Award will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available at Rod’s Food Store, United Bank & Trust and Citizens National Bank in Concordia and Clyde Ideal Market.
Entries for the cook-off are being taken until July 6. To enter, go to cloudcountyfair.org.
“Several of us wanted to do it (cook-off) to just kind of do something different, especially since we are having the car show and antique tractor show on that Saturday. We thought those things would kind of go hand in hand,” Forshee said. “ It appears that we are going to be drawing a decent crowd of teams.”
The Heartland Auto Club Car Show and the Antique Tractor Show will run from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Activities will kick off on Saturday with a fun run/walk hosted by the 4-H ambassadors at 7 a.m.
The 4-H ambassadors will host the barnyard olympics at 10 a.m. and the competitive water kickball at 11 a.m.
A corn hole tournament starts at 11:30 a.m. at the Ayres Shelter.
The pedal tractor pull is set for 12:30 p.m.
Moody Hue Studio will be offering painting in the Commercial Building meeting room from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
The final night of the NCK Saddle Club Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m.
M-31, a six-piece Manhattan-based band that plays rock and roadhouse blues, will perform on the stage located on the midway near the racetrack.
Fair activities get underway on Tuesday with the 4-H fashion review, crowning of the fair royalty and the food auction starting at 6:30 p.m. and mutton bustin' at 7 p.m. at the NCK Saddle Club Arena.
There will be a full slate of activities on Wednesday and Thursday.
Friday's activities include the baby show at 6:30 p.m., an ice cream social from 7:00-8:30 p.m., the NCK Saddle Club Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. and then a concert by the Soul Preachers beginning at 9 p.m.
The Soul Preachers have been performing together since 1996 and includes Aaron Householter on guitar and vocals, Dave Golden on bass and vocals and Eric Corby on drums and vocals.
The fair wraps up on Sunday with an antique tractor pull at 1 p.m. and Concordia Raceway races at 5 p.m.