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Kim Floyd knows from experience that many Del Norte County youth don’t spend the last 18 days before the fair planning what rides they’ll go on or how much funnel cake they’ll consume.

For kids in the local 4H, Grange and Future Farmers of America programs, their focus is on their animals — especially now.

“They’re giving their animals the finishing feeds to make sure they have the correct amount of fat and all that stuff,” Floyd told the Wild Rivers Outpost. “They’re getting their show gear ready, their uniforms, they’re practicing their showmanship, walking their animals — all of those things.”

Floyd, CEO of the Del Norte County Fairgrounds, said for about 15 years her own kids put in months of work to make sure their animals were in top condition for the show ring. During the event, many of those youngsters don’t leave the barn.

It’s a different animal than what the casual fairgoer normally experiences, and a lot of kids are getting in on the action. Floyd said she expects 11 steer, 84 hogs, 27 lambs, nine goats, 16 turkeys and 30 chickens. There are more than 20 rabbits and eight guinea pigs.

One young lady is entering a dozen or so quail, Floyd said.

“If you’ve never done it before, you don’t quite get what these kids are doing,” she said. “They love their animals. They take pride in what they do so it’s really cool.”

For most, the Del Norte County Fair starts with the opening ceremony at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 3. Highlights include live performances by Larry Fleet and Jr. Jones, David Nail and Pryor Baird and Lance Michael Cornwell.

There’s the 15th-annual Coast Central Credit Union Highway 101 Car Show on Aug. 4, Bulls, Barrels & Broncs on Aug. 5 and the Tuff Truck, PitBikes and UTV races and the Hillbilly Wheelbarrow Race on Aug. 6.

Admission tickets and carnival wristbands are on sale right now.
For those who have art, baked goods, flowers and other non-animal items to enter into the fair, they have until July 22 to submit their entry forms, Floyd said. They can email entry forms to info@dnfair.org or dhorner@dnfair.org.

People should bring their non-perishable items to the fairgrounds July 29 and 30. Perishable items, including flowers, produce and baked goods are due Aug. 2, Floyd said.

“When they bring items in, they will get a little slip. They’ll bring that slip into the office and they can purchase an exhibitors pass,” Floyd said. “Here’s the kicker: When a child turns 13, they’re considered an adult at the (main) gate. But when they enter something in the fair, they are still a junior until they’re 19 years old. So they can come in and purchase an exhibitors pass for all four days for only $15. Adults can get an exhibitor pass for all four days for $25.”

Season tickets for all four days are $30. Adult general admission is $12 per day. For more information about admission, click here.

Fairgoers will also find that the grounds themselves have gone through a facelift of sorts. This includes painting the main hall and floral building. Replacing the old vents in the Arts and Crafts building with windows — Floyd said her dad, former fairgrounds CEO Randy Hatfield, had covered them with plywood and painted over them.

Those who decide to take in a concert, Bulls, Barrels & Broncs or Tuff Truck events will have brand new bleachers to sit in.

“(The old bleachers) were condemned. They were there for over 70 years, so they had a really good run,” Floyd said. “I had taken the initiative to get all the bleachers and grandstands inspected by a certified engineer. It was a good thing I did because he condemned those grandstands.”

The new bleachers were installed last month and inspected and cleared by the State Fire Marshal.

“They’re beautiful, brand new and shiny,” Floyd said.

Other acts at this year’s fair include ventriloquist Joe Gandelman, the Little Mr. & Miss Del Norte contest, Little Farmers at the Fair and the Poifessor. For more information, click here.

For those who want to get their fair on this weekend, there’s the Jackson County Fair through Sunday in Central Point, Oregon.

Curry County will hold its fair July 26-29 — the weekend before Del Norte County’s fair.

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