72nd Annual Effingham County Fair Opens Friday

"Carnival Lights, Country Nights" is the theme for the 72nd Annual Effingham County Fair. The fair opens Friday and runs through the following Saturday at Altamont.

Some changes have been made in the nightly lineup. 

The fair Talent Search will take place at 5:30pm Friday, followed by the Junior Miss competition at 7:30pm. Our own Greg Sapp will emcee the Talent Search, while our own Courtney Koester will host the Junior Miss pageant. Other Friday events will include Mid America Jumper inflatables from 5:30-10pm and two acts on the Free Stage...Highway 15 Band at 6:30pm and Chris Talley Trio at 8pm.

This Saturday will be busy, starting with a Car Show at 9am and the first of two days of Ranch Sorting at 10am. Mid America Jumper inflatables will be back from noon to 10pm, and the evening attraction will feature Pro Pulling League action at 6:30pm. There will be no band on the Free Stage Saturday night because of the pulling action, but Slant 6 will play rockabilly music at 10am during the car show under the grandstand.

Sunday will feature the first day of harness racing action with a 1pm post time. If you can't attend, listen to the races on 979XFM. Mid America Jumper inflatables will be back for one more day from noon to 10pm. Rob Thompson is back for another year with his magic show with performances at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm on the Free Stage. The Fair Parade will start one hour earlier than in the past, with the procession expected in front of the grandstand at 4:30pm. Master Showmanship is set for 5:30pm in the 4-H Arena. Country star Joe Diffie will perform Sunday night at 8pm with opening act Dylan Schneider at 7pm.

Monday activities will include harness racing at 1pm with the action heard that day and the rest of the week on KJ Country 102.3. The evening attraction will be Hastings Filters Truck, Tractor and Garden Tractor pulling at 6:30pm. On the Free Stage, the First Christian Church of Effingham Gospel Group will perform at 5:30pm.

Tuesday is a big day and night with harness racing at 1pm and the Miss Effingham County Fair Queen Pageant and Little Miss Pageant at 7pm. The Little Miss Pigtail contest is set for 6:15pm. On the Free Stage Tuesday, Quick and Bradley from the Newton area with country rock music.

Wednesday will include Topline Harness Racing at 1pm, the 4-H Auction at 5:30pm, tractor pull action at 6:30pm, and the Hastings Filters Truck, Tractor and Antique and Blower classes at 7pm.

Thursday will feature the final day of harness racing at 1pm, music by the group The Henningsens at 8pm sponsored by Beck's Hybrids, and country rock music by Cary Miller Band on the Free Stage at 7pm.

Friday, August 5 will feature throughbred and quarter horse racing at noon, and the rough stock rodeo at 7:30pm. Firebox will be on the Free Stage with bluegrass music at 8pm.

Saturday, August 6 will be the final day of the fair and will be COPS Kids and Teens Day sponsored by the Effingham County School Resource Officers. Attractions will include ATV pulling at 2pm and the Demolition Derby at 6:30pm.

4-H judging is always a big part of the fair. Here's the 4-H judging schedule:

Friday--9am--dairy goats

Saturday--8am--dogs...12:30pm--boer goats

Sunday--noon--beef show...6:30pm--master showmanship

Monday--7:45am--beef cattle and swine carcass class...8am--poultry and waterfowl, pigeons and doves...12:30pm--sheep

Tuesday--7:45am--market barrows and breeding stock

Wednesday--8am--cats and rabbits...5:30pm--4-H Auction

Thursday--9am--dairy cattle...1pm--pygmy goats

Friday--9am--llama show

Saturday, August 6--8:30am--horses

A reminder that Anna Wines will share results of 4-H judging each day of the fair at 8:45am on KJ Country 102.3. We'll also be broadcasting the noon news live from the fairgrounds each day during Fair Week.