Published: July 05, 2009 10:09 pm      

County fair is the place to be in July

The 2009 event begins July 13

GREENTOWN — For one week every July, Greentown is the place to be in Howard County, as it is home to the annual Howard County 4-H Fair.

This year’s fair begins July 13 at the Howard County Fairground, with livestock shows, 4-H projects on display, a queen contest, musical entertainment, midway rides and, of course, the much loved fair food.

This is the 59th year the Greentown Lions Club has hosted the event, and the 50th time it’s been at the fairground, on the east side of Greentown.

The old favorites will be back, along with some new events, including pioneer weddings at the Pioneer Village, a junior queen and princess pageant and a visit from the Indianapolis Colts.

For Howard County 4-H members, the week is the culmination of months of hard work preparing projects and livestock for display, hoping their work pays off with ribbons, trophies and recognition.

Ten-year 4-H member Maria Cranor said for those not showing a project or livestock, “they just see it as a week of fun and hanging out with friends. They probably don’t see all the work that goes into it.”

Fair committee member Bryan Kirkpatrick said for some people, the fair is their inexpensive vacation close to home, especially with people trying to live more frugally.

“They’re not taking vacations like in the past,” he said. He added that midway ride costs have not increased since 2008.

His fellow committee member Jay Freeman said for those who come to look and not ride rides or eat food, it’s a cheap vacation, because they’d only have to pay the $4 parking fee.

The Howard County 4-H Fair runs from July 13 to July 18.

• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at (765) 454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.