BY DEBBIE PAGE

Thrilling rides, tasty fair food, and entertaining shows will abound as the 88th Iredell County Agricultural Fair opens on Friday, August 30, at 5 p.m., with the official ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled at 7 p.m.

The fair runs through Saturday, September 7, at the Iredell County Fairgrounds, located at 630 N. Main Street in Troutman. 

The Iredell County Cooperative Extension Service and the Kiwanis Club of Statesville partner to host the fair in an effort to promote local agriculture, improve youth participation in ag-related activities, and educate the public about the impact of agriculture in their community and daily lives.

The Kiwanis Club uses the profits from the fair to sponsor local organizations or service projects. Past recipients include the Boy and Girl Scouts, Relay for Life, United Way, Special Olympics, 4-H programs, Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont, My Sister’s House, and Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County.

Kiwanis also gives out thousands in scholarships to high school seniors. Area youth also get involved with agriculture through 4-H, FFA, and other clubs involved in the fair. 

CELEBRATING AGRICULTURE

Supporting and learning about local agriculture is important since Iredell is a leading agricultural production county. Farmers, gardeners, cooks, and craftspeople will showcase their crops, products, arts, crafts, and creations in extensive exhibits.

Agriculture-related business had a $662 million economic impact in the county last year, according to the Iredell Economic Development Corporation. Of the 367,488 total acres in Iredell County, 133,346 acres (36 percent) is utilized by 1,055 farms, with an average farm size of 126 acres.

One hundred percent of farms are family-owned, with 1 percent farming organically. The county ranks first in dairy production, all cattle (both beef and dairy), and corn silage production.

In addition, Iredell ranks sixth in poultry (layers) and fifth in hay production. Other prominent crops include soybeans, corn, wheat, rapeseed, cotton, viniferous grapes, strawberries, nursery crops as well as forestry and forest products.

Iredell County also houses agribusinesses, including regional milling facilities and fertilizer manufacturers.

ADMISSION

General Admission is $5 with children age 6 and under admitted free. Gates open at 5 p.m. except on Saturdays and Sundays when they will open at 3 p.m. The fair closes at 11 p.m.

No one will be readmitted after leaving the fairgrounds without the purchase of another ticket.

Free admission day for senior citizens (over 60) and veterans is Thursday, September 5.

Special deals on rides are also available, with a family pack of 24 tickets for $25. Fairgoers can purchase an unlimited rides wristband for $20 each day. Single tickets are $1.50 each.

Parking is $2 per car in Kiwanis-operated lots on the fairgrounds property.

COMPETITIONS

The fair gives local farmers and 4-H Club youths opportunities to show off the county’s agriculture industry. Crafters, artists, seamstresses, gardeners, and homemakers can also show their talents in various competition categories.

Entries are accepted Tuesday, August 27, and Wednesday, August 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. Poultry entries are accepted Thursday, August 29, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Cooperative Extension staff are in charge of the livestock shows, educational exhibits, and entries in canning, cooking, clothing, flowers, plants, vegetables, and other areas.

Over $60,000 in premiums are being offered for a wide variety of competitions in field and garden crops, farm display, garden clubs, flowers and plants, family and consumer science categories, clothing, furnishings, arts and crafts, 4-H and youth exhibits, livestock, rabbits, and poultry.

Online application forms, entry rules, and the premium book are available at https://iredellfair.com/pageserver/fair-forms.

RIDES

B & K Carnival offers a variety of exciting rides, including the Roundup, Yoyo, Barrel of Fun, Circus Train, Orient Express, Racing Cars, Bumper Cars, Scrambler, Hurricane, Super Slide, Tiny Tractors, Car Motorcycle Jump, Eli Ferris Wheel, Hawg Heaven Fun House, Merry-Go-Round, Astroliner, Funny Farm Fun House, Radical Run, Sea Ray, and Sky Jump.

Visit B & K Carnival online at https://www.bandkcarnival.com/activities.

DAILY ENTERTAINMENT

The Magic of Lance Gifford will be featured twice on week days and three times on weekends. Gifford performs unique illusions and magic tricks, including the “Metamorphosis,” once performed by Harry Houdini.

For more information, visit https://fairentertainer.com/index.html.

The Kids Circus will be performing on August 30 through September 3, with two shows each weekdays and three on weekends. Kids get to volunteer to be the stars of the circus, dressing in costumes and helping to perform in the show. After each show, the performers parade around the fairgrounds.

DAILY SPECIAL EVENTS

On the opening weekend, fans will get their thrills at the Go Kart Racing competition at 7 p.m. at the outdoor arena on Friday and Saturday nights. The dairy cattle show will be on Sunday at 7 p.m.

On Monday night, Go Kart racers will again take the track at 7 p.m. at the outdoor arena. Tuesday will feature a Beef Cattle Show along with the Mini Outlaws Racers competing, both at 7 p.m.

Mini Outlaw Racing will return on Wednesday at 7 p.m. On Thursday, fair-goers can enjoy the Sheep & Goat Show at 6 p.m., followed on Friday, September 8, with the Dairy Show at 7 pm.

The fair’s final Saturday on September 9 will feature the 6th Annual Special Abilities Junior Dairy Show at 3 p.m. at the Indoor Arena. This show is for participants (youth through adults) with special needs to have the opportunity to work alongside an exhibitor and show a dairy calf.