AMBOY – The Dairyland Donkeyball “Celebrity” donkey races will be in the grandstand Sunday afternoon, a first for the 170th Lee County 4-H Fair and Junior Show.
The fair opens to the public at noon on Thursday and runs through Sunday afternoon, when the Pedal Pull and Big Wheel races conclude the activities in the Show Barn.
In between, there will be plenty of activities at the Lee County 4-H Center and Fairgrounds, 1196 Franklin Road.
Up to 50 people can participate in the donkey races on a first-come, first-served basis. Riders 16 and older who weigh no more than 225 pounds and sign an insurance waiver are eligible to participate in qualifying heats, which begin at 1 p.m. Sunday. The “celebrity” winners will run in the final.
The 4-H portion of the fair is managed by the University of Illinois Extension-Lee County, while the Junior Show, grandstand entertainment and commercial exhibitors are managed by the County Fair Volunteer Association of Lee.
Entrance and grandstand tickets
Individual tickets are $5 daily, $15 for the season and $2 on Sundays.
Grandstand admission is $6 Thursday, $8 Friday, $7 Saturday and is free Sunday.
Grandstand pit passes are $15 on Thursday and $20 on Friday.
There is a $30 package for the fairgrounds and grandstand and a $15 4-H Fun Pass for Lee County 4-H members.
Ticket packages are available at the fair office starting Wednesday.
Tribune attractions
The Garden Tractor Pull by the Rock County Garden Tractor Pullers and the Lee County Fair Association Tractor and Truck Pull start at 6pm Thursday. The two-track show has trucks and tractors running at the same time. Among the participating classes are tractors from 1965 and earlier, gasoline trucks, diesel trucks and the mechanical special.
Friday at 6:30 p.m., the pulling of tractors and trucks by the Illini State Pullers and the fair association begins.
The Broken Horn Rodeo Buckle Series event, sanctioned by the Illinois Professional Rodeo Association, begins Saturday at 7 p.m. and features bareback riding, bull riding, saddle riding, roping, wrestling cattle, championship bull riding and cow barrel racing.
4-H events
The Amazing Race starts at 10am on Thursday. On Thursday, health and nutrition, rabbit, crops, floriculture and horticulture, goats and cats will be judged. Creative arts, clothing and interior design, animal science, poultry, swine and dairy will be judged on Friday. Sheep, Environmental Science, Global Civic Engagement, Mechanical Science, Carpentry, Beef and Cloverbud judging will be on Saturday.
Junior show
Crops will be judged on Thursday, carpentry on Friday, mechanical science on Saturday, visual arts and agricultural scene. Judging of junior show animals for beef, cats, dairy, goats, horses, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine will be concurrent with the 4-H’ers.
Other special events
Antique Showmanship allows family members to enter the ring in each livestock department and have senior 4-H exhibitors judge entries as a fundraiser.
Born and Bred in Lee County is the animal show for native livestock.
Bouncing on the Midway is a mobile arcade and bounce house provided by Extreme Rentals of Dixon. It opens from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, from 1 to 9 p.m. with an intermission on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Sunday.
County Fair Speedway remote control car races are Thursday at 3 and 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 2, 4 and 6 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 2 p.m.
The Farm Scene Contest allows for custom-made, realistic farm dioramas. The jury is on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Pin dodgeball is in its 11th year, with competition in the junior and senior divisions at 8pm on Friday at the Show Barn.
The 4-H members’ Quality Meat and Baked Sale begins Friday at 6 p.m. in the tent.
Teams of six will compete in the tug-of-war, Thursday at 7pm in the Show Barn.
The Marketplace includes vendors, artisans and home businesses, from 10 am to 3 pm Sunday.
Teen Turf Youth Club Pancake Breakfasts start at 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday on the playground.
The novelty and horse speed show is on Sunday at 8 am in the arena.
Halfway and others
The Midway opens at 4 p.m. Thursday, 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. Sunday. Includes the launch of Whoop Your Ax, games, a petting zoo and pony rides.
There will be Whimsey Pixie Paint from noon to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, and Magic Matt Family Fun Show at 1, 3, 5:30pm on Friday and Saturday and 11am and 1pm on Sunday at the venue.
Nocturnal activities
Night activities by dates:
Thursday: Learn to dance at 4 in the entertainment tent, bingo at 4:30 in the vendor tent, Italian beef dinner by Lee County Farm Bureau Young Farmers at 5 in the courtyard and performance by Starlight Dance Studio at 5:30. entertainment tent.
Friday: Bake Sale at 4 in the Auditorium, Pork Chop Dinner by Lee County Pork Producers at 5 in the Courtyard and Awards Ceremony at 5 in the Auditorium.
Saturday: Children’s mud pies at 2 in the entertainment tent, Ben’s Bubble Show at 3.30pm and 4.30pm in the auditorium, awards ceremony in the auditorium, master show competition at 6 in the Show Barn.
