This is the 74th annual Leavenworth County Fair, and in keeping with the tornado, Dorothy and Kansas, the theme this year will be “Land of Oz.”

The fair will be at the fairgrounds in Tonganoxie, Aug. 8-12. This year, as we start the 21st century, the “Big Top” will feature a free show on Wednesday and Silverstone and Kathy Lynn music shows on Thursday and Friday. There will be some new buildings to see this year and several other new special events.

Again this year there will be a shuttle running in the parking area from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Watch for the information booth and other improvements.

An interactive mobile classroom on cancer prevention will be featured at this year’s fair. Watch for it south of the Grandstand. An Adult Tractor Driving Contest will be held on Saturday afternoon. Activities will go on through Saturday, Aug. 12. Exhibits will be released between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13. Fairgrounds cleanup will begin immediately following exhibit release.

Actually there were pre-fair activities getting under way earlier than the fair dates. On Saturday, July 22, an Air Rifle 4-H Ribbon Shoot was held at the fairgrounds. The 4-H Cat and Pet Show was held at the Tonganoxie 4-H Building on the fairgrounds on Saturday, July 29, with the Archery and Shotgun 4-H Ribbon Shoot at Tri-County Gun Club in Linwood.

On Thursday, Aug. 3, the 4-H modeling of constructed garments will be judged at the Lansing High School starting at 9 a.m. with construction consultation judging at 1 p.m. Then on at 9 a.m., Friday, Aug. 4, the judging of the buymanship part of the 4-H clothing exhibits begins. Demonstration and illustrated talks competition begins at 9:30 a.m. Both of these will also be judged at the Lansing High School. The Public Fashion Revue will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 4, at the Lansing Middle School. This Fashion Revue is open to the public. Come and see the latest clothing fashions.

On Saturday, starting at 9 a.m., the 4-H Dog Show will be held at the show arena on the fairgrounds in Tonganoxie.

Fairgrounds cleanup is Sunday, Aug. 6, at 1 p.m. All 4-H and FFA members should be present to get the fairgrounds into shape. Each 4-H club is assigned a specific part of the fairgrounds.

On Monday, Aug. 7, more 4-H and FFA judging will be under way at the fairgrounds in Tonganoxie. The 4-H and FFA judging will be starting at 9 a.m. in the horse arena. The 4-H foods and nutrition and food preservation consultation judging will get under way in the Tonganoxie 4-H Building. At the same time, the 4-H skill arts and the 4-H woodworking consultation judging will take place in the Green Metal Building. The 4-H stitchery, quilting and stenciling, along with leather, carving and fabric and fibers will be judged from 10 a.m. to noon only.

Monday evening the swine exhibits are to be entered and weighed between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The new digital readout will be used again this year, which speeds up the weigh-in. Market hogs will be scanned as they enter to determine muscle and meat content for a carcass contest.

From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 7, the open class home economics and open class ceramics entries will be accepted at the Home Economics/Administration Building. The open class home economics entries will also be accepted on Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

From 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, and then 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Aug. 8, the Craft Patch items will be accepted in the Home Economics Building.

All swine and sheep will be entered and weighed in between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 7.

At 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 4-H/FFA and open class goats will be entered and weighed. The 4-H/FFA and open class beef will be weighed following the sheep, starting about 9 a.m. Following the beef weigh-in, the bucket calves will be weighed.

Entries will be accepted on Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to noon, for 4-H project displays, 4-H banners and rocketry exhibits. 4-H clothing are to be entered for display at this same time. 4-H/FFA and open class poultry exhibits will be accepted from 8 a.m. until noon and again from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8. 4-H photography entries are to be checked in from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

4-H electric exhibits may be entered and judged at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8. The open class home economics and ceramics exhibits will be judged beginning at 10 a.m. The Craft Patch sale will begin at 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Tuesday. The Craft Patch sale will then be open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, entries in field crops, horticulture and honey will be accepted until 4 p.m. Consultation judging will begin at 1 p.m. on 4-H entomology, forestry, geology, photography and 4-H mini exhibits and home environment. Knitting and crochet judging will begin at 2 p.m. The 4-H banners and project displays will be judged at 2 p.m. At 5 p.m. the field crops, horticulture and honey will be judged.

Rabbits may be entered from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, and from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

The “Photos of the Fair” contest entries will be due at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the Administration Building. Anyone who has photos of past Leavenworth County fairs is encouraged to enter. Prizes will be offered for the “oldest” photograph and also prizes for the years of 1926-1948, 1949-1970, 1971-1999. Photos can be any size snapshots and do not need to be framed, mounted or matted. They must have been taken at the Leavenworth County Fair. Photos will be judged at 7 p.m. Entries are due by 6 p.m., Aug. 8. The fair board is also looking for the oldest married couple in Leavenworth County. Entries are due by Aug. 7.

At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, the swine judging show will begin. Tuesday evening will be Dollar Night at the Carnival. All carnival rides will be just $1 that night. Also on Tuesday evening, the Open Class Horse Show will begin at 5:30 p.m. In the horse arena. The 4-H Rockets will be judged at 6:30 p.m.

There will be free immunizations for all ages from the Leavenworth County Health Department in the fair Administration Building from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening.

On Wednesday, Aug. 9, Rabbits may be entered from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The Rabbit Show and the Goat Show will begin at 8 a.m. The Open Class Flower Show entries will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Bucket Calf Consultation judging will begin at 8 a.m., and the Mini 4-H entries will be accepted and judged starting at 9 a.m. At 10:30, the Open Class Flower judging will begin.

The Bucket Calf Fitting and Showing will be judged at 2 p.m. In the show arena on Wednesday, and the 4-H/FFA/Open Class Poultry Show will start at 2 p.m.

The fair parade will be on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m. The theme for this year’s parade will be “Land of Oz.” Entries are due to Bill Seymour, P.O. Box 863, Tonganoxie, KS 66086, by Aug. 7. See the fair paper for an entry blank.

The Sheep Show is planned to get under way at 7:30 p.m. in the livestock show arena.

After the parade, a Draft Horse Pull competition will be held at the Horse Arena. A demonstration by the Kansas Miniature Horse Club will be held immediately after the parade on the west side of the fairgrounds. Following this, at 8 p.m., the night show for Wednesday will be under the Big Top. Admission is free.

Also at 8 p.m. at the Fair Grandstand, a Tonganoxie Twister 2000 Bull Buckout will be held. Proceeds will benefit Tornado Relief for the Tonganoxie area. During the Bull Buckout, a Mutton Bustin’ Competition will be held. This is for 3- to 6-year-olds, weighing less than 60 pounds. Limit to 10 entries. Sign up at the fair office the day of the event.

On Wednesday, Aug. 9, and Thursday, Aug. 10, the Leavenworth County Extension Council Elections for representatives to the extension Council in the areas of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H/Youth and Economic Development will be held in the fair administration building from 7-9 p.m. each night. All Leavenworth County residents, 18 years of age and older, are eligible to vote for candidates in the Commissioner District in which they live.

On Thursday, Aug. 10, the Dairy Cow Exhibits will be coming in from 8 a.m. to noon. At 9 a.m. the Beef Cattle Show will be held and the 4-H Rabbit Showmanship will be judged. From 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the 4-H Junior Leaders will be at the fairgrounds parking gates collecting canned goods to help the disadvantaged. Be sure to bring some canned food with you on Thursday evening.

Also on Thursday evening, the Dairy Show will be at 7 p.m. A Milking Goat Show will immediately follow the Dairy Cattle Show.

The evening entertainment on Thursday and Friday will be a full-fledged rodeo put on by Six Crowns Rodeo Company starting at 8 p.m. During the rodeo in the grandstand on Friday evening, there will be a Mutton Bustin’ Competition for 3- to 6-year-olds (less than 60 pounds). Those who are interested must sign up at the fair office on the day of the event. Only the first 10 registered will be accepted.

Thursday will be Arm Band Night at the Carnival $10 for an arm band will give admission to all the rides from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. At 8 p.m. Silverstone will be performing under the Big Top. Admission is free.

On Friday, Aug. 11, the 4-H and FFA Round-Robin Showmanship contest will be at 8 a.m. At 10:30 a.m. the Livestock Judging Contest will be held, and at 11:30 a.m. the 4-H Rockets will be launched.

The 4-H Flower entries will be accepted from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. They will be judged at 3 p.m.

On Friday evening at 6 p.m., there will be a Barbecue Supper for the 1999 Livestock Buyers. At 6:30 p.m., the 4-H Spirit Award and Scholarships will be presented, and the Swine Carcass awards will be presented.

At 6:45 p.m., there will be an auction of Chainsaw Art to benefit the fairgrounds.

The 35th annual 4-H/FFA Auction will begin at 7 p.m.

The Friday evening entertainment will be the Six Crowns Rodeo at 8 p.m.

There will be a show at 8 p.m. under the Big Top, featuring a performance by Kathy Lynn. Admission is free.

On Saturday, Aug. 13, Open Horse Show Racing Classes will be held at the Horse Arena at 8 p.m. The Shepherds Lead Contest will be at 9 p.m., and the Tractor Operators Event will be held at 9:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m. the Ag Olympics will be held for all 4-H and FFA members, and will be open to the public. At 1 p.m., the Turtle races will be held (provide your own turtle). Turtles should be registered from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Free immunizations will be available for all ages from the Leavenworth County Health Department from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., there will be an Adult Tractor Driving Contest held at the horse arena, limited to the first 50 entries. Call Dan Yates at (913) 441-8819 for more information. At 4 p.m., a Kids Pedal Tractor Pull will be held in the livestock show arena, sponsored by Farm Bureau.

A Demolition Derby will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the grandstand, and at 7:30 p.m., there will be a teen dance in the show arena sponsored by 4-H teens in the Kansas River Youth Leadership Program (KRYL).

The fair exhibits will be released from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13, and the fairgrounds cleanup will conclude this year’s fair.

As a follow-up, the Beef Carcass School and Contest will be 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at the Lansing 4-H Building.

A really good fair has been planned for this year, and you don’t want to miss it.

sale will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 10 p.m. on Tuesday. The Craft Patch sale will then be open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, entries in field crops, horticulture and honey will be accepted until 4 p.m. Consultation judging will begin at 1 p.m. on 4-H entomology, forestry, geology, photography and 4-H mini exhibits and home environment. Knitting and crochet judging will begin at 2 p.m. The 4-H banners and project displays will be judged at 2 p.m. At 5 p.m. field crops, horticulture and honey will be judged.

Rabbits may be entered from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, and from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

The “Photos of the Fair” contest entries are due at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Administration Building. Anyone who has photos of past Leavenworth County fairs is encouraged to enter. Prizes will be offered for the “oldest” photograph and prizes for the years of 1926-1948, 1949-1970, 1971-1999. Photos can be any size. Photos will be judged at 7 p.m. Entries are due by 6 p.m., Aug. 8. The fair board is looking for the oldest married couple in the county. Entries are due Aug. 7.

At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, swine judging will begin. Tuesday evening is Dollar Night at the Carnival. Also on Tuesday evening, the Open Class Horse Show will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the horse arena. The 4-H Rockets will be judged at 6:30 p.m.

Free immunizations for all ages will be offered by Leavenworth County Health Department in the fair Administration Building from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening.

On Wednesday, Aug. 9, rabbits may be entered from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The Rabbit Show and the Goat Show will begin at 8 a.m. The Open Class Flower Show entries will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Bucket Calf Consultation judging starts at 8 a.m., and the Mini 4-H entries will be accepted and judged starting at 9 a.m. At 10:30, the Open Class Flower judging begins.

The Bucket Calf Fitting and Showing will be judged at 2 p.m. in the show arena on Wednesday, and the 4-H/FFA/Open Class Poultry Show will start at 2 p.m.

The fair parade will be Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m. The theme is “Land of Oz.” Entries are due to Bill Seymour, P.O. Box 863, Tonganoxie, 66086, by Aug. 7. The Sheep Show is planned at 7:30 p.m. in the livestock show arena.

After the parade, a Draft Horse Pull competition will be at the Horse Arena. A demonstration by the Kansas Miniature Horse Club will follow the parade on the west side of the fairgrounds. At 8 p.m., the night show for Wednesday will be under the Big Top. Admission is free. Also at 8 p.m. at the Fair Grandstand, a Tonganoxie Twister 2000 Bull Buckout will be held. Proceeds will benefit tornado relief. During the Bull Buckout, a Mutton Bustin’ Competition will be held. This is for 3- to 6-year-olds, weighing less than 60 pounds. Limit to 10 entries.

On Wednesday, Aug. 9, and Thursday, Aug. 10, the Leavenworth County Extension Council Elections for representatives to the Extension Council in the areas of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H/Youth and Economic Development will be held in the fair administration building from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. All Leavenworth County residents, 18 years of age and older, are eligible to vote for candidates in the commissiondistrict in which they live.

On Thursday, Aug. 10, the Dairy Cow Exhibits will come in from 8 a.m. to noon. At 9 a.m. the Beef Cattle Show will be held and the 4-H Rabbit Showmanship will be judged. From 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the 4-H Junior Leaders will be at the fairgrounds parking gates collecting canned goods to help the disadvantaged. Also Thursday, the Dairy Show will be at 7 p.m. A Milking Goat Show will follow.

The evening entertainment on Thursday and Friday will be a full-fledged rodeo put on by Six Crowns Rodeo Company starting at 8 p.m. During the rodeo in the grandstand on Friday evening, there will be a Mutton Bustin’ Competition for 3- to 6-year-olds (less than 60 pounds).

Thursday will be Arm Band Night at the Carnival $10 for an arm band will give admission to all the rides from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. At 8 p.m. Silverstone will be performing under the Big Top. Admission is free.

On Friday, Aug. 11, the 4-H and FFA Round-Robin Showmanship contest will be at 8 a.m. At 10:30 a.m. the Livestock Judging Contest will be held, and at 11:30 a.m. the 4-H Rockets will be launched. The 4-H Flower entries will be accepted from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. They will be judged at 3 p.m.

On Friday at 6:30 p.m., the 4-H Spirit Award and Scholarships will be presented, and the Swine Carcass awards will be presented. At 6:45 p.m. is an auction of Chainsaw Art to benefit the fairgrounds. The 35th annual 4-H/FFA Auction begins at 7 p.m. The evening entertainment will be Six Crowns Rodeo at 8 p.m. A show at 8 p.m. under the Big Top features Kathy Lynn. Admission is free.

On Saturday, Aug. 12, Open Horse Show Racing Classes will be held at the Horse Arena at 8 p.m. The Shepherds Lead Contest will be at 9 p.m., and the Tractor Operators Event will be held at 9:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m. the Ag Olympics will be held for all 4-H and FFA members, and will be open to the public. At 1 p.m., the Turtle races will be held. Turtles should be registered from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Free immunizations will be available from the Leavenworth County Health Department from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., is an Adult Tractor Driving Contest at the horse arena. Call Dan Yates at (913) 441-8819 for more information. At 4 p.m., a Kids Pedal Tractor Pull will be in the livestock show arena, sponsored by Farm Bureau.

A Demolition Derby will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the grandstand, and at 7:30 p.m., there will be a teen dance in the show arena sponsored by 4-H teens in the Kansas River Youth Leadership Program (KRYL).