Ringgold County fair opens Tuesday
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The 2025 Ringgold County Fair – “Cowboy Boots & Buckin’ Chutes” – runs Tuesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 13 with a full slate of activities.
This year’s fair features a combination of old favorites with new attractions to draw visitors to the fairgrounds located on the north edge of Mount Ayr.
(A special section in this week’s Mount Ayr Record-News and Diagonal Progress highlights many of the fair exhibitors, contest schedules, and entertainment options for this year’s fair.)
Tuesday, July 8
At 9 a.m. the Ringgold County Fair Rodeo Queen and Princess Contest will take place.
4-H Exhibit Building project judging will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
4-H State Fair Selection will run from 3-5 p.m. Only Extension staff, select volunteers, and judges are permitted in the Exhibit Building during this time.
Homestead Hall booths can begin set up at 4 p.m.
The Wishard Chapel Community Church will sponsor a free-will fish fry in the rodeo arena from 5-7 p.m. All proceeds will go toward 4-H/FFA premiums.
Swine unloading and vet check runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
All other animals may start coming in.
Wednesday, July 9
Wednesday activity begins with swine weigh-in at 8 a.m., sheep and meat goat weigh-in to at 9 a.m., and beef weigh-in at 10 a.m.
Open Class exhibit entries and judging will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Homestead Hall.
Horse check-in begins at 11 a.m. with rabbits and poultry check-in at 12 p.m.
In the 4-H Building at 3 p.m. the 4-H communications projects, including educational presentations, working exhibits and Share-the-Fun entries, will be judged.
Conference judging of the bucket calves/bucket calves +1 will take place will begin at 4 p.m.
Parade entries will gather at 5:30 p.m. at the high school parking lot.
The parade will begin at 6 p.m. by exiting the parking lot and proceeding through the main fairgrounds gate. Entries will exit through the north gate.
The Ringgold Foundation grant presentation begins at 6:45 p.m. in the rodeo arena.
Also in the rodeo arena, evening entertainment features the annual Ringgold County Fair queen and princess contest and Bill Riley Talent Show, beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 6-12, with kids 5 and under admitted free.
Thursday, July 10
Kicking off Thursday’s activities at 8 a.m. is the 4-H/FFA sheep show.
4-H/FFA goat show follows at 10:30 a.m.
The 4-H County Council has water activities planned from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. at the school house.
The 4-H/FFA poultry show will follow at 3 p.m.
Photos of Outstanding Junior exhibits, considered for state fair, and State Fair exhibitors will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Mutton Bustin’ will start at 6:30 p.m. followed by the rodeo at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12, with kids 5 and under admitted free.
Friday, July 11
The morning gets underway with the 4-H/FFA swine show at 8 a.m.
Senior games and Ringgold County Supportive Services games will begin at 10 a.m. in Homestead Hall.
The 4-H/FFA horse show begins at 11 a.m.
Registration for the Kids Pedal Tractor Pull opens at 1 p.m. at Homestead Hall with competition to start at 1:30 p.m.
The 4-H/FFA rabbit show starts at 3 p.m.
At 4:30 p.m. the 4-H County Council and Brenemen family will sponsor Ag Olympics in the horse arena.
Mud volleyball sponsored by the 4-H Council will be held north of Homestead Hall beginning at 6 p.m.
The evening’s entertainment is the Demo Derby with lawn mowers and vans beginning at at 7:30 p.m. in front of the grandstand. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12, with kids 5 and under admitted free.
The evening wraps up with music provided by Outlaw Jim and the Whiskey Benders in the rodeo arena at 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 12
Another big day of activity gets underway with the County Council pancake breakfast fund-raiser from 6 to 9 a.m. in the 4-H Building.
The 4-H/FFA Beef Show also gets started at 9 a.m.
Registration for the Baby Contest will open at 9:30 a.m. in Homestead Hall with the show staring at 10 a.m.
The Pee Wee Wrangler Show, where youth younger than 4-H age dress up to show their calves, will be held following the beef show at approximately 1 p.m. in the show arena.
Inflatables for the kids will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the old tractor pull track.
Kids games will begin at 2 p.m. in Homestead Hall.
The 4-H/FFA Pet Show begins at 3:30 p.m., and the Future 4-H’er Pet Show will follow at 4:30 p.m.
Check-in for the motocross event will run from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Practice laps will begin at 5:30 p.m. with competition in seven bike classes and three quad classes to start at 6 p.m.
A bags tournament will be held east of the horse barn. Registration begins at 6 p.m., and bags fly at 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 13
All 4-H/FFA animals will be released beginning at 5:30 a.m.
Homestead Hall booths may begin tear-down at 8 a.m.
Release of all 4-H Building exhibits begins at 9 a.m.
Release of all Homestead Hall open class exhibits runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
4-H Challenge Recipes may begin check in at 10 a.m. in the 4-H Building with judging to begin at 10:15 a.m.
The annual fair church service will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Homestead Hall.
4-H youth pie baking contest entries are due at the 4-H Building at 11 a.m.
Lunch provided by Farm Bureau will be served beginning at 12:30 p.m.
The 2025 fair wraps up with the 4-H/FFA premium sale at 2 p.m. in the show arena.
More information can be found on the official Ringgold County Fair web page located at http://www.ringgoldcountyfair.com.
The page includes schedules, events, rules, and other general information as well as contact information for fair organizers.
