Organizers encouraged by forecast of fair weather; busy week lies ahead
The 2024 Hamilton County Fair which began this week is hoping to build on the success of its concert last year by up-and-coming country music star, Connor Smith, and in order to do that, it’s bringing back a familiar face and voice to local fairgoers whose star is rising even higher these days. The fair, which started on Monday, will build to a climax Saturday night with a grandstand concert by Casey Donahew who was the first concert artist ever brought in by the Ag Society for the fair.
“It would be probably 13 years ago now, and he has established himself as kind of a red dirt country artist, who really has a strong following in that genre,” Ag Society President Justin Hermanson said. “But he has a new song out right now on the radio that is getting airplay, and we’re fortunate that he doesn’t have a lot of other shows in the area this summer. And so we’re hoping to capitalize on that, and with his base to be able to pull from all of Central Nebraska hopefully to come see him and have that opportunity right here in Aurora.”
Hermanson said Donahew has more name recognition than Smith, but he believes last summer’s Aurora concert gave the newcomer a boost.
“Since he’s been at Hamilton County, he has exploded on the national scene,” Hermanson said. “And so we would like to think that we had a part in helping with that success, but also now we want to try and continue with the concerts. We feel that Aurora geographically is a prime location to pull from the Tri-City area, and we just feel that we can be a good concert venue if we do it right, and we’ve been very grateful with the sponsorships that have stepped up to help make it a reality.”
Hermanson says after last year’s concert the Ag Society received positive feedback from about a 60-mile radius and radio stations from as far away as Lincoln and Kearney are helping with the promotion. As of Friday, Hermanson said pre-sales of concert tickets are almost double what they were last year at that time, which he said has the Ag Society “very excited and optimistic that we’re going to have a good crowd like last year.”
He said the past couple of years the fair has had to rent additional bleachers to provide seating for events like the concert, the trailer races and the demolition derby, and this year several sets of bleachers were donated by the City of Aurora when Mitchell Field got new ones. Hermanson noted that a change from last year is flip-flopping the concert and the trailer races so that the races will be Friday night at 7 and the concert will be at the same time on Saturday.
Another event that was new last year is also being brought back–the Midwest Go-Kart Races set for 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
“We had a lot of positive feedback on that,” Hermanson said. “So it’s go-kart and lawn mower races. That’ll be again on Sunday for Family Day. Partnering with us for Family Day is the Edgerton Explorit Center. They are planning on bringing out their mobile activity center and their bubble machine.”
In keeping with the “Flip Flops, Leis and Hula Our Way” tropical theme of this year’s fair, Hermanson said the Jimmy Vuffett Tribute Band will play on Friday night after the trailer races.
“We’re excited,” Hermanson said. “We’ve had so much interest on social media about the Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band, and we’re encouraging everybody to wear their Hawaiian shirts and come out and enjoy the show.”
Another big draw for the fair is the DC Lynch Carnival which will be arriving Thursday afternoon and opening that evening at 6 and running until 11. On Friday the carnival will be operating from 6 p.m. to midnight, from 2 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and from 2-9 p.m. Sunday. Ride wristbands will be available for $30 at the fair. Also providing entertainment on Saturday and Sunday will be a strolling magician who will be performing at 2, 4 and 6 p.m.
Looking back on the heatwave that hit the area during fair week last year, Hermanson said he’s grateful the forecast looks more moderate for this week.
“A week out, the weather looks to be much milder than it was last year,” he said. And of course, you know, for the 4-H and FFA families that are bringing animals out that’s a huge benefit for those animals. And of course the crowds being able to enjoy some cooler temps for the entertainment, to come see all the animals and just enjoy the carnival rides and everything in moderate heat will be much welcomed from everybody across the board.”
Activities at the fairgrounds got underway right away Monday morning with the clothing judging and Favorite Foods and Culinary Challenge at 9 a.m. The day concluded with the 4-H Fashion Show at 6 p.m. Tuesday’s events included the Dog Show at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Cat and Companion Animal Show at 3 p.m. and the poultry/rabbit check-in from 5-7.
Poultry/rabbit judging takes place at 8 a.m. Wednesday, followed by the 4-H and FFA Poultry/Rabbit Show at 9 a.m. Also on Wednesday, check in for open class entries will be between 3 and 8 p.m. and the 4-H and FFA static exhibit check in will be from 4-9 p.m. The weigh in for 4-H and FFA sheep and goats will take place between 5 and 6:30 p.m. and the 4-H and FFA beef weigh-in will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Swine must be penned by 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Thursday begins with the swine weigh-in from 7 to 8 a.m. followed by the 4-H and FFA Sheep and Goat Shows starting at 8. That evening the Beer Garden will open at 5 and the Grandstand gates will open at 5:30. The 4-H Awards and Cake Auction will take place at 6 p.m., followed by the annual Demolition Derby at 7. Exhibit buildings will close at 9 p.m.
The 4-H and FFA Beef Show takes center stage on Friday morning at 8 and the exhibit buildings will open at 9. In the evening, the Beer Garden and Grandstand gates will again open at 5 and 5:30, respectively. The Trailer Races begin at 7 followed by the Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band playing at 9.
The 4-H and FFA Swine Show is set to begin Saturday morning at 8 and the exhibit buildings will open at 9 a.m. That day the Beer Garden will open at 11 a.m. and Elite Showmanship Testing will begin at 12:30 and be followed by the 4-H Elite Showmanship event at 1 p.m. The 4-H and FFA Premium Livestock Auction begins at 4 p.m. and at the same time the Ain’t Dead Yet Band will begin playing in the Beer Garden.
The Hamilton/York Cattlemen’s Steak Dinner will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday and the Grandstand Concert VIP gates will open at the same time. The regular gates for the concert will open at 6 before the concert by Casey Donahew at 7. At 9 p.m. Jordan Schoch will perform under the tent.
Sunday is Family Day at the fair and will begin with a 9 a.m. church service. The exhibit buildings will also open at 9. Livestock judging will begin at noon and the Kids Pedal Pull begins at 1 p.m. followed by the Adult Pedal Pull. At 1 p.m. there will be a Quilts of Valor presentation in the Farr Building and a 2 there will be a performance by TEMPO Dance.
The Midwest Go-Kart Racing begins at 4 p.m. and exhibit release will take place between 3 and 6 p.m.
Hermanson noted once again that without its dedicated team of volunteers and sponsors the fair wouldn’t happen.
Hamilton Telecommunications is stepping up to be the main sponsor for the concert, but we have sponsors from all corners of the county,” he said. “The volunteers–the 4-H and FFA families–have already been out working on setting up the barns and and getting the barns ready. Of course, the Fair Board is diligently working to have everything set up. And between friends, families, acquaintances–everybody helps make this a success.”