Entertainment lineup already set

 

ROME TOWNSHIP — Work on the new barn and arena at the county fairgrounds has yet to begin, but already 4-Hers are getting ready for that special week in July — fair week.

Last week 38 members of county clubs showed up at the Pratt dairy farm in Chesapeake to have their steer entries tagged. With the old barn razed, an off-site location was needed since the animals must be taken off their trailers to be tagged. All steers must have been born by January 2011 and have been weaned and on grain by December 2011.

The next important date in getting ready for fair week, which will start this year on Sunday, July 8, is the hog, lamb and goat tag-in on April 28. That event will be at the fairgrounds since those animals can be tagged on the trailers.

In May the baby chicks will be in the 4-H office in the courthouse for pickup by those members entering the poultry show. On June 2 will be rabbits and feeder steer and heifers tag in.

April 1 is the deadline for any student wanting to join a 4-H club and Jan. 27 is the deadline for applying for a variety of college scholarships open to members.

There is a $1,000 annual scholarship given by Ohio River Bank. That can run for four years. There are also one-time scholarships given by the 4-H committee and the 4-H horse committee.

Applications are available at the extension office at the first floor of the county courthouse or online at http://lawrence.osu.edu.

Work on the new $400,000 barn and arena is expected to begin in February, but the fair board already has the entertainment lineup basically set.

LoCash Cowboys will be the attraction this year at the main stage on Thursday night. Last fair the group was the opening act for the Thursday show.

“They’ve had some more hits since then,” Freddie Hayes, fair board president, said.

One of the top events will be Saturday’s Demolition Derby that will offer a new $10,000 payout.

“There should be so many cars you won’t believe it,” Hayes said.

Monday night’s entertainment isn’t scheduled yet.

“We’re not sure,” he said. “We are going to go to the Columbus convention and try something different.”

Tuesday will be the Tough Truck competition; Wednesday the battle of the bands and Friday will be Bull Mania.

“We should start construction (on the barn) the first of February,” Hayes said. “Everything is in order. It should be within four or five weeks.”