Lots Of Changes In Store For Antelope County Fair This Week

“Did I just see what I think I saw?” 

Fairgoers may do a double take this year as they see goats dressed in costumes walking around the fairgrounds.

But it is all part of a newly added contest at this year’s Antelope County Fair. Eleven 4-Hers have signed up their goats for this event. 

A goat costume contest is just one of the fun new additions and changes that are in store for the 2019 Antelope County Fair, according to Tessa Hain, 4-H Youth Development Coordinator.

“That will be a fun class to see, absolutely,” she said. “Im looking forward to seeing that.”

Hain said she is also excited for the major change in the first-year bucket calf show, which has seen a significant growth spurt over the past few years.

“This year we have 38 first year bucket calves for the 8-12 year olds, and for Clover Kids we have another 30,” she said.

The 2018 numbers were some of the largest the fair has seen in recent years, but this year’s numbers have grown even more.

Last year, Hain said the beef superintendent, 4-H council, fair board and extension staff got together to discuss ways they could improve the bucket calf show “because we have so many.” 

“We thought about the safety standpoint and also giving them the time they deserve — more one on one time with the judge,” she said. 

The young 4-Hers will now show their calves at a separate time from the rest of the beef entries, allowing them more time in the show ring. In addition, their record books will be judged in advance so judges have more time to offer feedback.

Another big change for the fair is moving up the photography entries and interviews from Tuesday night during the fair to the Friday before the fair starts.

“It will free up quite a bit of space in our exhibit building, so we have more space for our Clover Kids interview times there,” Hain said. “And it will also get rid of some of that stress on entry day too, hopefully.” 

See below for a full list of 2019 fair changes and additions:

Livestock Show Times:
•All livestock must be in place by Thursday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m.
•Horse show time has been changed to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1.
•Bucket calf show will be on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 3 p.m.
•Rabbit and poultry shows will occur at the same time on Friday, Aug. 2, starting at 8:30 a.m. (both shows will take place in the show ring)
•Small animal round robin has been moved up to 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2.
•Goat show will be moved up to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2, followed by the sheep show

Livestock:
•Option for early weigh in for non-rate of gain participants on Wednesday, July 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
•Clover Kids will get their own special stalls for their animals that stay the duration of the fair
•Wood chips: Spot clean stalls only. No making lounges, no hoarding excess amounts of wood chip bags. Only take what you will use.

Bucket Calves:
•2nd year bucket calves will be separated from the regular Market Beef Carcass Contest
•1st year bucket calves will be shown on Thursday, Aug. 1, starting at 3 p.m. (This is only for Clover Kids and 4-H members. Open class peewee bucket calves will still show on Saturday.)
•Record books will be turned in prior to fair so the judge has sufficient time to review them. They need to be taken to the extension office on Monday, July 29.
•New this year, 4-Hers will interview about their bucket calf projects before they show. The interviews will happen on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, July 31 and Aug. 1.
•The record book, interview and the show components will each be tallied for a cumulative score, which will decide the overall winner. Additional awards will be presented for outstanding record book and interview.


Goats:
•Goat show time has been moved up to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2.
•The Angora Class has been changed to Fiber Goat Class.
•Breeding Goat Class has been changed to Breeding Doe Class
•Market Deo and Market Wether classes will be separated.
•Dairy producing and non-producing will be separate classes.
•Several classes will be added: Market Goat Pen of Three, Club Group of Five Market Goats and Dairy Goat Herd Class (kid, yearling and producing doe).
•There will be a Goat Costume Contest. Goats will be paraded around on Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. A photo of the goat will be on display in the exhibit building throughout the fair so the public can vote for their favorite. Winners will be announced Sunday at the awards ceremony.
•Exhibitor may bring four goats in each area instead of just three.

Horse:
•Thursday’s horse show will now start at 11 a.m.
•Several classes have been added: Ranch Riding, Hunter Seat Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle (Jr. and Sr. divisions).
•Western Riding has been eliminated.
•Trail classes will now show on Friday, Aug. 2.

Photography:
•The photography entries will be brought in and interviewed on Friday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to noon in the courthouse basement, the same day as the fashion revue day.
•Antelope Memorial Hospital is hosting a photography contest this year with one entry per 4-Her. The Nebraska-related photo may also be used from their 4-H photography exhibits.
•State Fair Photography Class: Unit 3 photographers are invited to exhibit a N150 theme print demonstrating how the University of Nebraska has impacted them, their family or their community.

Other Classes:
•Horticulture is adding a pea class.
•The county-wide project challenge this year is a project using mason jars.
•Sewing for Fun will be for beginning sewers only.
•Sewing exhibits no longer need to be brought to judging day with a clear plastic bag.
•State Fair Stepping Stone Showcase: 4-Hers are invited to show their creativity and University of Nebraska pride by making a stepping stone that represents the N150 milestone. One stepping stone from each county will be chosen for the state fair.

Clover Kids:
•Clover Kids will have a maximum of 10 static entries, a maximum of three vegetable and three flower entries each and maximum Lego entries of one large (7 inches or more) and two small.
•Clover Kids will receive one wearable ribbon with a medal, instead of rainbow ribbons for each exhibit.

Release Times:
•The release times for Sunday, Aug. 4 have been extended to 2:30 p.m. for static 4-H exhibits and 3 p.m. for livestock. All entries must be picked up by 4:30 p.m. that day.

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