Fall is just around the corner and that means it is county fair time in Murray County. Dates set for the 2024 County free fair are September 5 through 7 with the Expo being the event location.
County fairs have a strong history with the first fair in North America taking place in 1765. Historical records document fairs as far back as 500 B.C.
Today, about 2,000 fairs are held each year across the country. Additionally, agricultural fairs can be found throughout the United Kingdom, in Australia, Mexico, and other countries. Fairs provide exhibits, demonstrations, and competitions to advance livestock, horticulture, and agriculture, and emphasize educational activities for county 4-H and FFA youth development programs.
The first Murray County fair was sponsored by the Davis Chamber of Commerce over 100 years ago and was held on the main streets of Davis. After 102 years, the county fair continues, inviting everyone to attend and participate in this family friendly event.
This year’s fair begins by taking all inside entries on Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with poultry and rabbits being entered on-line and arriving on Thursday, Sept. 5 between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Judging begins at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 and will be open to the public for viewing at 2:00 p.m.Activities for the day include archery and shotgun competition starting at 10:00 a.m. and the barns open at 3:00 p.m. for the arrival of all livestock with all animals being in place by 6:00 p.m.
The evening is packed with live music from Shannon Raines, A One-Man band at 6:00 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. the race track will open for the 4 to 6-year-old tractor race.
Clover buds will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. with their cupcake decorating event followed by the cupcake war at 7:00 p.m. followed by the women’s skillet throwing contest at 7:30 p.m. and the annual cornhole tournament starting at 8:00.
All livestock is slated to show on Friday, Sept. 6 beginning at 9:00 a.m. with all animals leaving the barn at the conclusion of the shows. Friday also features “School Day” where groups will tour the fair and all county 4th graders participate in Fair-opoly, a special scavenger hunt designed to educate regarding agriculture.
Saturday, Sept. 7 will feature the county horse show kicking off at 9:00 a.m. in the arena and the third annual Lego building contest for youth starting at 10:00 a.m. All exhibits will be released at 2:00 p.m.
An annual fair tradition is the 4-H concession stand which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with homemade pies, cakes and the famous grilled burgers are all being offered.
Fair goers will also enjoy the OHCE booths that have been a fair tradition since the 1930’s. Here the talented club members compete with exhibits ranging from table-setting to crafting and baking.
Anyone can enter the Murray County Fair from the age of 2 and older. A catalog of entries being accepted is available at the OSU Extension office, located on the Expo grounds and the office is available for questions as well.
