The Ironton Tribune

PROCTORVILLE — This year’s Lawrence County Fair lineup could be the best in recent history, according to event organizers.

With country singer Tracy Byrd, an escape artist, bull riders and motocross drivers on tap, the fair is going to have something to offer just about everyone, said Lou Anne Capper, treasurer of the Lawrence County Agricultural Society.

The fair runs July 8-15 at the fairgrounds on State Route 7 in Proctorville.

“I think this is going to be our biggest year for our entertainment,” Capper said. “Especially with Tracy Byrd. He is the biggest name we’ve had in a long time. We’ve had some groups that were pretty good, but as far as a single performer, he’s pretty big.”

Headliner Byrd will perform at 9 p.m. July 14.

A generous donation from Liebert made bringing Byrd to the fair a reality, Capper said.

“I think we need to bring in big acts like Tracy Byrd if we are going to make money to support ourselves,” she said. “We always try to expand the fair and find new things to bring in. We have plans for new barns and new buildings, so we are hoping to fund those projects.”

Doug Clark, president of the agricultural society, said they group hasn’t tried anything new for awhile and was hoping to mix it up a bit this year.

For the first time, the fair will feature a performance by Michael Griffin — a performer billed as “The Master of Escape” — at 8 a.m. July 11.

“We’ve tried bluegrass and we’ve had wrestling, so we thought we’d do this. I saw (Griffin) perform in Columbus and wanted to get him to come here,” Clark said.

Other entertainment includes: demolition derbies, July 8, 10 and 15;

Wolfe Creek Motocross, July 9; local singer Fat Mac Daddy, July 11; Bull Mania, July 12; and a tractor and trailer pull, July 13.

Clark said he hopes the entertainment, as well as the quality livestock, 4-H and Future Farmers of America displays, will bring in a record number of visitors. Also, he said, high gas prices could force people to take shorter mini-vacation this summer to places such as the fair. He is expecting about 50,000 people to walk through the fair gates.

Admission to the fair is $7, which includes rides and all performances. Those over 65 and under 2 are free.

Lawrence County Fair entertainment schedule:

July 8

10 a.m. Llama show

2 p.m. Miniature donkey show

8 p.m. Demolition derby

July 9

8 p.m. Wolfe Creek Motocross

July 10

4 p.m. Lawrence County Fair Queen pageant

8 p.m. Demolition derby

July 11

1 p.m. Lawrence County horse pull

6 p.m. Fat Mac Daddy

8 p.m. Escape artist Michael Griffin

July 12

8 p.m. Bull Mania

July 13

6 p.m. Pedal pull

8 p.m. Truck and tractor pull

July 14

6 p.m. WTCR’s Colgate Country Showdown

9 p.m. Tracy Byrd

July 15

10 a.m. Pony pulling contest

2 p.m. Open class horse pull

8 p.m. Demolition derby

There will be 4-H and Future Farmers of America displays each day