County fair sets the stage for family fun

The 2025 Hamilton County Fair is tuning up to bring excitement, fun and foot stomping music for all ages, with everything from 4-H shows to the grandstand stage.
Hamilton County Ag Society treasurer Christina Dose said preparations for the fair have been surprisingly calm leading up to this week.
“We’re to the point where we’re too calm so that we think we’re forgetting something,” Dose said.
Headlining this year’s entertainment is the long-awaited concert by country singer and songwriter Aaron Tippin and Loose Cannons, but Dose said Thursday through Saturday will be filled to the brim with musical talent.
Thursday night is Fiesta Night with the return of the Ain’t Dead Yet Band from 6-9 p.m. On Friday VIP gates for the Tippin concert will open at 5 p.m., with concert gates for general admission opening at 6 p.m.
Tippin will take the stage at 7 p.m., followed by the concert after party at 9 with Brandon and the Elevens under the tent.
Concertgoers will need to go through security check-in before entering the Grandstand and while bag check-ins will be in place, fans are encouraged not to bring them at all. Also outside liquids and water bottles will not be permitted.
The Kenestons will perform under the tent at 4 p.m. on Saturday and the Duelling Pianos will conclude the music lineup that night at 9 p.m. 
Saying she is excited to see Tippin perform, Dose said this year’s fair holds something for everyone.
“Saturday will be for everybody because that’s music and cars,” Dose said. “Then the Midway is running Thursday through Sunday. You’re going to get everything. My favorite night’s going to be Friday, because I love Aaron. I’m excited!”
One of the biggest changes to the grandstand schedule this year will be with the racing events. The trailer races, which have been a fair staple event for years, have been moved to Saturday, Aug. 16 because of a scheduling conflict. So the Figure 8 races which started at the Hamilton County Fair a number of years ago will come back on Saturday at 6 p.m. 
“We usually do trailer races, but with some conflict with other fairs, we’re moving that,” Dose said. “This year, we’re doing figure eights. That is going to be a lead into the Figure 8 Championship series on Aug. 15 at the fairgrounds.”
During the intermission at Saturday’s races the Aksarben Heritage Awards will be presented to families who have owned farms of 40 acres or more for 100 years.
Fair activities actually kicked off Monday with 4-H Favorite Foods and the Culinary Challenge, followed by the Hamilton County 4-H Youth  Fashion Show in the evening. 
FFA animal shows including the Dog Show and the Cat and Companion Animal Show were set for Tuesday. 
Activities on Wednesday start with the open class poultry and rabbit judging at 8 a.m. followed by the 4-H and FFA Poultry/Rabbit Show at 9. 
Also on Wednesday check-ins  and weigh-ins for open class and weigh-ins for 4-H and FFA large animals will take place at various times throughout the day (See the schedule elsewhere in this week’s edition for details on times).
“We have it down to a science,” Dose said. “Our 4-H kids show up in droves and just follow and continue to move across the fairgrounds.”
Opening ceremonies are set for 6 p.m. Thursday and will feature a special tribute. The 4-H Awards and the annual cake auction will follow inside the Farr Building. Also that evening the exhibit buildings will open to the public for viewing of open class and 4-H entries and will remain open through Sunday evening.
The DC Lynch Carnival returns to the fair again this year starting on Thursday and will feature rides, games, food and fun for the whole family. 
Dose said one change with the carnival this year, is the transition from ride tickets to wristbands which will cost $30.
“It’s all going to be wristbands,” she said. “When they purchase it, they have to wear their wristband each night. It’ll be different event wristbands. Everybody has to stop and get a wristband and that way you’re not walking in and out, you’re not sweating off your (hand stamp) mark.”
The final day of the fair on Sunday will be Family Day sponsored by the Edgerton Explorit Center. Events get underway at 1 p.m. with the Kids Tractor Pull followed by the Adult Tractor Pull.
The Hamilton County Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild will host a Quilt of Valor ceremony inside the Farr Building at 1 p.m. and TEMPO Dance will perform at 2 p.m.
For the first time since 2017, the fair will feature a mutton busting and calf riding event, scheduled to take place Sunday at 4 p.m.
Aside from the carnival, there will be no food trucks at the fair this year, but food can be purchased at the Grandstand and the 4-H Cafe.
Also, the York/Hamilton County Cattlemen’s Steak Dinner will take place on Saturday at 5 p.m.
The Beer Gardens will be providing beverages starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and on  Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.
Dose said there will be a designated parking lot for golf carts and requests that drivers not drive them on the fairgrounds. Golf carts are to be removed from the parking area before dark. 
“They can’t drive out to the livestock, they can’t drive down the south side of the fair,” she said. “They can drive out to the parking lot, but they can’t drive them within the fairgrounds.”