The annual McClain County Free Fair kicks off Thursday, September 7 with three days of food, fun and competition for everyone to enjoy.
Exhibitors will check in Tuesday and Wednesday for the three-day event, which will be held at the McClain County Expo Center in Purcell.
Livestock and horse judging are first the events on the menu with an 8:30 a.m. start time Thursday.
The fair book is over 100 pages in length and recognizes the individuals and organizations that go into making the fair a success as well as spelling out rules and regulations.
First, there’s the McClain County Free Fair Association, more commonly known as the fair board.
Members are Scott Carroll, Lyndell West, Drew Jervis, Peggy Christian, Cindy Bates, Brenda Gladney, Jeff Evans, Paul Waitman, and Trevor Evans.
The fair manager is Johnny Roberts. Superintendents are: Emily Taylor, 4-H Building exhibits; Justin McDaniel, cattle; Evans, swine and livestock judging; Jervis and Evans, swine; Gladney, poultry; Melinda Tague, sheep; Brandon Morgan, market goats; Spence Bell, horse show; Tammy Elliott, rabbits; Lourrinda Renee, OHCE; and Christian, open class.
Agriculture education teachers in the county are: Erica Keen, Drew Hardaway, Jervis, Evans, Morgan and Tague.
County commissioners are: Glen Murray, Wilson Lyles, and Terry Daniel.
The schedule:
THURSDAY, SEPT. 7
8:30 a.m. – Horse and Livestock Judging Contests 10:30 a.m. – Tractor Driving Contest, Youth Cornhole Contest and Youth Dummy Roping Contest 1 p.m. – Pie, Cake & Salsa judging 1 p.m. – Livestock may arrive 5 p.m. – Stick Horse Rodeo 5:30 p.m. – Bean Supper & Ice Cream Social (sponsors Heart of Oklahoma Kiwanis and McClain Bank) 6 p.m. – Pie, Cake & Salsa Auction 7 p.m. - Kiddie Tractor Pull (ages 4-12 years; registration 30 minutes prior to contest) 12 a.m. – Barn closes FRIDAY, SEPT. 8
6 a.m. – Barn opens 7:30 to 9 a.m. – Livestock Weigh-in 9 a.m. – All livestock in place & weighed 9 a.m. – Horse Show 9 a.m. to noon – School Children’s Day Tours, 12 a.m. – Barn closes SATURDAY, SEPT. 9
6 a.m. – Barn opens 8 a.m. – Swine Show 9 a.m. – Poultry Show, Sheep Show 9 a.m. to noon – Dutch Oven Cooking Contest 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Elizabeth Letts (The Ride of Her Life - speak/book signing 10 a.m. – Rabbit Show, Market Goat Show 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Chuckwagon Sampling Noon – Cattle Show Livestock released at conclusion of their species’ showmanship competition. Building exhibits released at 3 p.m.
