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Blake’s Prairie Fair July 12-15

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Katelyn Quick

Emily Struntz

Will Esser

Three area high schoolers are competing to become the king and queen of the 2018 Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair, which will be held at the fairgrounds in Bloomington July 12-15.

Queen candidate Katelyn Quick, daughter of Roy and Mickey Quick, of Bagley, is sponsored by the River Ridge FFA. Katelyn has been an active member of the FFA for four years, was her FFA chapter’s reporter and is the current vice-president. She has served on the Safety Day committee, livestock contest, greenhouse and banquet committee. She placed first at the Wisconsin soils contest in 2016 and also received the Star Chapter Award that same year. Katelyn has been awarded the Greenhand Award and the Chapter Degree. She volunteers at the Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair by taking tickets, cleaning up the fairgrounds, parking cars and helping with the chicken barbecue.

Sponsoring queen candidate Emily Struntz, daughter of Jennifer Hendricks and James Struntz, of Bloomington, is the Blake’s Prairie Bomber’s 4-H Club. Emily has been involved in 4-H for seven years and has been active in many projects including foods, arts and crafts and cats. She is also a member of the River Ridge FFA, Leo Club, science club, band, track and dance team. She enjoys music, dance and drawing, as well as showing her animals at local fairs.

King candidate Will Esser, son of Paul and Jeannette Esser, of Glen Haven, is sponsored by the River Ridge FFA. Will has been a FFA member for three years and has been given the Greenhand Award and Chapter Degrees. He volunteers at the Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair by helping with the chicken barbecue, taking tickets and parking cars.

As in the past, residents can cast their votes 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 in Patch Grove and Bloomington, Bloomington Stop N’ Go and the UW Extension Office. Buttons are the season pass to all the fair activities. Children 6-years-old and under will not need to purchase a button, but those older will need a button unless they are exhibitors and have an exhibitor’s pass. The cost is lower for each button if purchased before the gates close the night of Thursday, July 12. Buttons will also be sold Friday and Saturday for a higher cost. Daily admission is also an option. There is free parking, free seating for all events and free rides all weekend.

The 151st annual Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair will kick off with Thursday evening’s entertainment of mutton-bustin’ for all the junior ranch hands. This contest is open to children from 3- to 8-years-old and weighing no more than 55 pounds. The first 30 contestants to sign up will be entered; sign up begins at 6 p.m. There will be prizes for all participants. Once the little ones finish entertaining the adults, participants will get ready for the dodgeball competition. S & J Enterprizes will have the carnival set up and ready to go with food, beverages and carnival rides.

The results of the royalty contest will be kept secret until 7:15 p.m., Friday, July 13, 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. The fair board will also present the 2018 Fair Honoree at the royalty installation.

Cloverbud judging will be held in the main exhibit building from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday afternoon, and on Friday evening the sheep, swine and poultry exhibitors will kick off the livestock judging at 6 p.m. at the sheep barn and poultry barn. Live music will begin at 7:30 with Wheelhouse taking the stage. Wrist Wrestling will begin around 9:30 at the beer garden with weigh-ins just before the show.

On Saturday, July 14, there will be livestock and exhibit judging starting at 9 a.m. Goat judging begins at 10 a.m., and rabbit judging begins at 11 a.m. The ever-popular old fashioned kids games will begin at 1 p.m. Bring the kids and grandkids to the grandstand area to participate in the games and win some prizes. The meat animal auction will again take place at 3 p.m. at the livestock barns. The combine and car demolition derby begins at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks show will be held after the demolition derby, weather permitting, with live music Amber & Adam following at the beer garden.

The horse and pony judging will start the last day of the fair, Sunday, July 15. 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, the cat judging will take place near the general exhibit building. 

The River Ridge FFA will sponsor the chicken barbecue on the fairgrounds. This will take place on Sunday morning starting at 10:30 a.m. and will serve until 1 p.m. The kids’ pedal tractor pull will start at 2 p.m. at the grandstand area and bakers will need to have their pies ready for the pie contest that will begin at 2 p.m. in the general exhibit building. This year, the pie contest is open to everyone.

Sunday evening is time for the local truck and tractor pull with Too Hot to Farm. The pull is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. There will be an entry fee for each tractor, and cash prizes will be 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 an additional amount in prize money. 

S & J Enterprizes carnival will be on the grounds at this year’s Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair providing lots of rides for kids of all ages and all the favorite fair foods. The Holy Name Food Stand will be open for delicious burgers, pies and more. 

For more information, go to blakesprairiefair.org. 

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