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Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair announces 2019 event and royalty candidates

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Carolyn Tolle, Maddison Pierce and Kyra Drew

Archie Cooley and Ian Adrian

Five area high schoolers are competing to become Blake’s Prairie Fair King and Queen. The Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair will be held on July 19-21.

Mount Hope Cardinals 4-H Club is sponsoring queen candidate Carolyn Tolle, daughter of Darren and Laura Tolle. Carolyn has been a member of her club for nine years and has served as secretary and vice president. She has shown cultural arts, home environment, food, photography, rabbit and beef projects at the Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair and Grant County Fair. Carolyn also volunteers for the Mount Hope Dairy Days Parade and Ice Cream Social.

Maddison Pierce, daughter of Chenoa Ruecking and Matt Pierce, is sponsored in the running for queen by the Blake’s Prairie Bombers 4-H Club. Maddison has been a Blake’s Prairie Bomber for eight years and has exhibited cooking, arts and crafts, cats and other projects. Her favorite show project is cats. Maddison has volunteered with her club for many activities and is a member of the River Ridge FFA and Future Business Leaders of America. She enjoys playing basketball and competing in track and field at her school.

Queen candidate Kyra Drew, daughter of Brad and Cara Drew, has been sponsored by the River Ridge FFA. Kyra lives on a beef farm outside of Bloomington, where the family often rears sheep for fair projects during the summer months. Along with helping on the farm, Kyra is very active in her 4-H club and FFA chapter. She has served as secretary, treasurer and vice president in 4-H and is a part of the Grant County 4-H Out-Of-State Exchange group. Currently, Kyra serves as the vice president of the River Ridge FFA chapter. At her high school, she is the president of the student council, a member of the National Honor Society, and active in many other school clubs and sports teams.

King candidate Archie Cooley, son of Dan and Jen Cooley, has been sponsored by the River Ridge FFA. Archie helps his grandparents operate their farm and owns a few cows of his own. When he is not busy at the farm, Archie is active in his FFA chapter as a part of the officer team. He has been on their national meats team and national soil judging team, where he has traveled to Oklahoma and Indiana to compete. Archie is involved with many other school clubs and is on his school’s football and basketball teams.

Ian Adrian, son of Troy and Julie Adrian, is sponsored by the Blake’s Prairie Bombers 4-H Club and has been a member for seven years. Ian has participated in dairy, mechanical science, photography, tractors and shooting sports. He is a member of the River Ridge FFA and the Grant County 4-H Out-Of-State Exchange and will be traveling to Wyoming in July as part of the team. Ian will be a sophomore at River Ridge High School this fall and is active in football, basketball and baseball. 

Button details

As in the past, residents can cast their votes for the king and queen by purchasing a fair button. The buttons are sold by area 4-H club members, the River Ridge FFA, Ma’s Bakery, Peoples State Bank in Patch Grove and Bloomington, Bloomington Stop N’ Go and the Grant County UW-Extension Office. Buttons are the season pass to all the fair activities. Each person who wants to attend the fair will need to purchase a button, except children 6 years old and under and any exhibitor who has an exhibitor’s pass. Button costs increase July 18. Daily admission for the fair can also be the way to go. Parking, seating for all events, and the inflatable rides, are complimentary with admission purchase all weekend. 

Fair details

The 152st annual Blake’s Prairie Jr. Fair will kick off on Friday, July 19, when the gates open for free inflatable rides at 5 p.m. Cloverbud judging will be completed from 3 to 6 p.m. and the sheep, swine and poultry shows will begin at 6 p.m. The Blake’s Prairie Fair King and Queen and Fair Honoree Ceremony will begin at 7:15, where the royalty will be crowned and assume their duties handing out ribbons at the various animal shows and greeting fair-goers all weekend. The royalty ceremony will be followed by a concert by the band Wheelhouse (www.mightwheelhouse.com). Stick around for the wrist wrestling competition at 10 p.m. 

On Saturday, July 20, the dairy and beef shows will begin at 9 a.m. The goat show will begin at 10 a.m. and the rabbit show will begin at 11. The carnival will open at 12 p.m. with free inflatable rides. The ever-popular old-fashioned kids’ games will begin at 1 p.m. Bring the kids and grandkids to the grandstand area to participate in the games and win some prizes. The meat animal auction will again take place at 3 p.m. at the livestock barns. The combine and car demolition derby will be at 6 p.m. The fireworks show will be held after the demolition derby, weather permitting, with live music with Amber and Adam (www.amberandadammusic.com) following in the beer garden.

The horse and pony judging will head the final day of the fair, Sunday, July 21. All horse and pony exhibitors are required to be on the grounds with their animals at 8:30 a.m. and the show will begin at 9 a.m. The cat show will begin in the floral hall exhibit building at 9:30 a.m. The River Ridge FFA will again sponsor and run the chicken barbecue from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The kids’ pedal tractor pull will start at 2 p.m. at the grandstand area. The pie contest will also begin at 2 p.m. in the floral hall exhibit building. Once again, the pie contest is open to all to compete. On Sunday evening, the local truck and tractor pull with Too Hot To Farm class will begin at 6:30 p.m. There will be an entry fee for each tractor and cash prizes will be paid to the first five places in evert weight class. The first-place winner in each class will receive a trophy, and any woman who places first in a class will receive an additional “ladies special” prize incentive.

Kid Again will be providing the inflatable rides and, as always, the Holy Name Food Stand will be open for delicious burgers, pies and more. 

For more information, go to blakesprairiefair.org.

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