Four run for Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair Royalty, fair is July 16-19

Four area high schoolers are competing to become the king and queen of the 2015 Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair, which will be held at the fairgrounds in Bloomington, July 16-19.

Queen candidate Darion Brooks, daughter of Pat and Renee Brooks, of Mt. Hope, is being sponsored by the River Ridge FFA. Darion has been an active member of the FFA for two years. She is also a student council member, National Honor Society member and part of the Friends Helping Friends organization. Darion participates in River Ridge basketball, volleyball and track.

Sponsoring Bea Mumm, daughter of Mark and Emilie Mumm, of Bloomington, is the Blake’s Prairie Bombers 4-H Club. Bea has been an active member of 4-H for nine years. She has exhibited her projects at the local fairs, attended 4-H camp and held multiple club officer positions. Along with her commitment to 4-H, Bea is involved in the River Ridge FFA, Spanish Club, Wellness Club, Science Club, National Honor Society, student council, forensics, band, choir and Friends Helping Friends. She has also been involved in softball and basketball.

King candidate Daniel Herbers, son of Mark and Gwen Herbers, of Bloomington, is sponsored by the Blake’s Prairie Bombers 4-H Club. Daniel has been involved in 4-H for eight years and is the current club president. Past officer positions held by Daniel were treasurer, reporter and sergeant of arms. Projects that Daniel has been involved in and showed at the local fairs include small grains, woodworking, rabbits, poultry, vegetables and photography. Other activities that keep Daniel busy are volunteering at the Bloomington Public Library and at St. Mary’s Church and school. He also assists the St. Mary’s School basketball and volleyball teams and plays trumpet for veterans’ funerals for the Bagley and Bloomington Legions.

Sponsoring Bo Kluesner, son of Tony and Brenda Kluesner, of Bloomington, is the River Ridge FFA. Bo is in his third year as a FFA member and is the chapter’s current vice-president. He has also held the officer position of chapter sentinel. Bo is a proud member of the meat evaluation team that competed in Kentucky this past year.

As in the past, you can cast your vote for the king and queen by purchasing a fair button. The buttons are sold by area 4-H clubs, the River Ridge FFA, Ma’s Bakery, Peoples State Bank (Patch Grove and Bloomington) Bloomington Stop N Go and the UW Extension Office. The buttons can give you access to all the fair activities. Children 7 and under will not need to purchase a button, but those 8 and older will need one, unless they are exhibitors and have an exhibitor’s pass. Buttons may be purchased in advance at a discount or at the gate. Daily admission buttons may also be purchased. There is free parking and free seating for all events.

The 148th annual Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair will kick off on Thursday, July 16. Leading off the evening’s entertainment will be Mutton-Bustin for all junior ranch hands. This contest is open to children 3 to 8 years old and weighing no more than 55 pounds. The first 30 contestants to sign up will compete. Sign up for this event begins at 6 p.m. There will be prizes for all the mutton busters. 

Once the muttons have been busted, there will be a Tug-o-War. Five-person teams will take center stage to see who will get bragging rights as the Tug-o-War champs and their portion of the $500 prize money. This year, there will be a prize for the “best dressed” team entered as well. A person may only be a member of one team. All rules for both the Mutton-Bustin and the Tug-o-War are listed on the fair’s website: www.blakesprairiefair.org. There is no admission for Thursday’s show. This event is being sponsored by Peoples State Bank. 

The results of the royalty contest will be kept secret until 7 p.m. Friday night when the installation will take place. The new king and queen will then assume their duties handing out ribbons at animal judging and greeting fair-goers all weekend.

Early on Friday evening, July 17, the sheep, swine and poultry exhibitors will kick-off the livestock judging at 6 p.m. at the sheep barn and poultry barn. The grandstand entertainment for the night will be an Open Tractor and Diesel Truck Pull that is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in front of the grandstand area. The day will close with wrist wrestling, immediately after the pull, with weigh-ins being held just prior to the competition.

On Saturday, July 18, there will be livestock and exhibit judging starting at 9 a.m. The goat judging will begin at 10 a.m., and rabbit exhibitors begin at 11 a.m. The ever-popular Old Fashioned Kids Games will begin at 1 p.m. Children meet at the grandstand area to participate in games and, possibly, win some prizes. The Meat Animal Auction will be at 3 p.m. this year. The Car and Pick-up Truck Demolition Derby will begin at 7 p.m. After the demolition, a fireworks show will again be held, weather permitting.

The horse and pony judging will start the last day of the fair, Sunday, July 19. All horse and pony exhibitors are to be on the grounds with their animals at 8:30 a.m., with judging starting at 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., the cat judging will take place near the general exhibit building. 

The River Ridge FFA will again sponsor its chicken barbecue. This will take place on Sunday morning, starting at 10:30 a.m., until 1 p.m. Serving will take place at the fairgrounds again this year.

Starting at 11:45 on Sunday morning  will be this year’s parade. The kids’ pedal tractor pull will start at 2 p.m. at the grandstand area, and the Senior Citizen’s Pie Contest will begin at 2 p.m. in the general exhibit building.

Sunday evening, the local tractor pull will take place. The pull is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. There will be an entry fee charged for each tractor entered and cash prizes paid to the first five places in each weight class. Each class winner will also receive a trophy and the “ladies special” gives each woman placing first in her class additional prize money.

S&J Enterprizes carnival will be on the grounds at this year’s Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair providing rides for kids of all ages and all the favorite fair foods. The West Grant Rescue Squad will have EMTs on the grounds during the fair and will be available to do free blood pressure checks. If you are interested in this service, check in at the fair office for more information. 

For more info on scheduled events, visit blakesprairiefair.org.