Sioux Center—The Sioux County Youth Fair is ready to welcome everyone, from 4-H families to those looking for a variety of new and old events to enjoy between July 11 and 18.
This is the fair’s second year at the Sioux County Ag Expo grounds, which were previously the Sioux Center Municipal Airport and are located at 3028 360th St. north of Sioux Center. The youth fair website, siouxcountyfair.org, contains a complete schedule of events, as well as registration and ticket purchase options. The website contains all of the fair’s information, including events and opportunities to contribute or volunteer.
“I’m looking forward to year two,” Sioux County Youth Fair Board President LeAnn Englin said. “Walking through the Ag Expo grounds, you can feel the energy and excitement rising. It is important to me that people of all ages come together to celebrate their community and make lasting memories.
“County fairs are a quintessential part of American culture. You’re bringing communities together to celebrate agriculture while also providing entertainment and good, old-fashioned fun.
Last year, the fair received a lot of attention from the public. Although there were some concerns about how well people would find the new county fair location, Englin reported that attendance was at a record high.
With any luck, this year’s impressive lineup of 4-H events, entertainment, and more will attract at least as many people to the Sioux County Ag Expo grounds. More new events, as well as long-time favorites, will help to accomplish this.
This year, the Johnny Holms Band will perform at 8 p.m. on July 12. This group has performed at various events, including Sioux Center’s Summer Celebration. Throughout his five-decade career, the group’s eponymous leader has become a well-known performer in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa, electrifying audiences with a wide variety of songs and genres.
July 13 will feature a 10 a.m. Christian worship service followed by an omelet brunch provided by Center Fresh Group, while July 14 will see the addition of several new events to the schedule.
“Every Monday night, the N’West Iowa Youth Classic Swine Show is a big hit. It is an opportunity for young children to display pigs on the ground in an open show. But new this year is a stock dog competition, in which working dogs compete to round up livestock. “We’re extremely excited to bring this,” Englin stated.
Skid Loader Olympics was a huge success last year, so it’s returning for several nights, starting at 6:30 p.m. on July 14 and ending at 5 p.m. on July 15. It will feature youth and adult divisions, as it did last year, with competitors completing an obstacle course that includes challenges such as flipping tires and maneuvering around traffic cones. The finalists will face off in a championship round at 5:30 p.m. on July 16.
Similarly, the demo derby, a new event added to the lineup last year, will return this year, better than ever, at 7 p.m. on July 16.
“Last year, we had some moisture in our pit, but this year we have a new pit in a new location, ready for a fantastic show. We learned a few things last year and have implemented some changes. “We’re really looking forward to having that demo derby again,” Englin stated.
An exciting new event is planned: an arm-wrestling tournament. The weigh-ins for the various divisions will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. July 14, with the tournament beginning at 6 p.m.
“You can register, and there are prizes. Bring your muscles, challenge your opponents, and have a good old arm wrestling match,” Englin said.
The same night, at 7 p.m., there will be a straitjacket escape show.
Other popular events will continue, including the Double S Extreme Bull Company, which attracted over 1,500 people last year, and the greased pig contest. Both are popular events that the public cannot get enough of, which will result in some changes to how the greased pig contest is run this year.
“We’ll have online entries, with no limit on the number of teams. No teams will be turned away. “We’ll run two pits that evening,” Englin explained.
Breakfasts from 7:30 to 10 a.m., bingo games at 2 p.m., pony rides and a petting zoo in the morning and afternoon, and cow pie bingo are among the regular events scheduled for the week. With so many free entertainment options to enjoy, the fair is an excellent choice for families looking for something to do.
“Parents can come out with their children at almost no cost. It’s amazing how many opportunities are available thanks to the community and sponsorship money to provide for our children,” Englin said.
Other notable events include the Sioux County Fair Queen and Little Miss Sioux County coronations, which begin at 5:30 p.m. July 13. The final day of the fair is July 18, with only three events scheduled: the cleanup of all buildings and property, the ribbon auction, and the fair dance. Englin urged people to attend the ribbon auction at 10:30 a.m. to show their support for the 4-H members’ accomplishments.
“It speaks loudly of what Sioux County is like,” she told me. “This recognizes the children’s accomplishments and allows them to invest in next year’s project. It’s encouraging to see what the community and businesses see in our youth’s future and the value they bring to our communities.”
