Jay County Fair schedule takes shape

Details of an abbreviated Jay County Fair have come together.

Faced with the coronavirus pandemic, the Jay County Fair Association and Jay County 4-H have revised and re-tooled the 2020 fair to make it safer for everyone.

They’ve also made gate admission free.

Things kick off on Saturday, July 4, with the re-dedication of the 4-H Community Building in honor of the late Bob Schmit and recognition of 4-H Supreme Achievers and 10-year members. The re-dedication ceremony is set for 2 p.m. on the Fourth.

Sunday, July 5, will see the fairgrounds as the site of wine and craft beer competition beginning at 5 p.m., followed by a backyard barbecue contest sponsored by Strohl Appliances and Electronics. The wine competition will be sponsored by the Tipsy Glass Winery, while Ole Shed Brewing Co. wills sponsor the craft beer judging.

Entries are due in the Women’s Building on Sunday to be judged.

The Portland Breakfast Optimist Club’s Jay County Fair Queen pageant will take place at 7 p.m. in the Bubp Building.

Monday, July 6, will see 4-H activity continue. All 4-H/Mini4-H projects except food, floriculture and gardening should check in that day.

The Jayland Trotting Association will provide a harness racing card at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8.

Friday, July 10, is the day to check in 4-H floriculture, food and gardening projects.

Saturday, July 11, the 4-H dog show will begin at 9 a.m., and the 4-H rabbit show at 1 p.m.

Sunday, July 12, will be the day for 4-H beef and beef feeder judging, beginning at 1 p.m. The 4-H poultry show also begins at 1 p.m. in the horse barn. At 4 p.m. there will be judging of consumer clothing, followed by a fashion revue at 5 p.m.

Women’s building entries will be accepted from 8 to 11 a.m. on Monday, July 13. The 4-H swine show begins at noon that day.

Tuesday, July 14, the 4-H dairy goat show will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the pygmy goat and meat goat show at 3 p.m.

Fair exhibitors will be moving into the Bubp Building, the Women’s Building, the Round House, and the Industrial Building from 5 to 8 p.m. that day.

Wider fair activities begin Wednesday, July 15. It will be Republican Day and Senior Citizens Day thanks to sponsorship from FCC (Indiana) and Fisher Meats.

That day kicks off with judging of a scarecrow contest in the Farmers’ Building, sponsored by Ruth Homan Crop Insurance and crop judging sponsored by MKT Farms from 10 a.m. to noon. There will also be a storytime event in the Farmers’ Building at 10 a.m. sponsored by Jay County Public Library. The pedal tractor pull is also set for 10 a.m.

The 4-H dairy show will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, followed by the 4-H sheep show at 3 p.m.

There will be a cake walk in the Farmers’ Building at 5 p.m.

Midway rides will be running from 4 p.m. until the fair closes for the night.

Wednesday night will be faith night at the fair, sponsored by River of Life Church, with a performance in the Farmers’ Building by the Tom Frye Family Band.

Thursday, July 16, will be Democrat Day at the fair, sponsored by Jay County REMC, Patriot Fitness and IU Health Jay.

Storytime and the pedal tractor pull are set for 10 a.m.

The 4-H dairy beef and feeder show will start at 11:30 a.m., and there will be an American Red Cross bloodmobile visit from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The midway will be in operation from 4 p.m. to closing.

The evening’s entertainment in the Farmers’ Building will be provided by 45 RPM.

Friday, July 17, will be McDonald’s Kids’ Day and Community Heroes Day at the fair, sponsored by Portland Optimist Clubs and First Bank of Berne.

Sweetcakes Entertainment will be performing in the Farmers’ Building at 9:30 a.m., followed by the pet parade at 10:30 a.m. Registration for the pet parade begins at 10 a.m. A magic show is set for 11 a.m. in the Farmers’ Building, followed by a bike give-away sponsored by Jayland Trotting Association and CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union.

Midway rides will start running at 1 p.m and continue until closing.

Indiana Wild will perform at noon in the Farmers’ Building, followed by bingo sponsored by CrownPointe.

The evening’s entertainment in the Farmers’ Building will feature Rachel Lipsky and Colton Chapman.

The fair wraps up on Saturday, July 18. Registration for the baby contest for little ones from 6 to 12 months is set for 8:30 to 9 a.m., with the contest set for 9 a.m.

Registration for a demolition derby starts at 10 a.m. Registration for a baby contest for those 12 to 18 months is from 10:30 to 11 a.m., with the contest to begin at 11 a.m.

The midway will be running from 11 a.m. until closing.

Motivational speaker Donnie Foster will be in the Farmers’ Building at 1 p.m.

Entries in a cherry pie and cookie auction are due from 2 to 2:30 p.m., with the auction following at 3:30 p.m.

The demolition derby is set to begin at 4 p.m.

A Touch of Mexico will perform in the Farmers’ Building from 4 to 7 p.m.

Every effort will be made to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 during all events