Sharp County Fair opens today offering new attractions, improvements and options for the public

The 2024 Sharp County Fair opens today and runs thought July 13 at the Sharp County Fairgrounds. Sharp County Fair Board Member Andrea Vogt said the board has worked hard preparing for this year’s fair, making improvements to the fairgrounds and events.

“We are especially proud of our brand new concession stand and bathrooms by the event arena! This was made possible by the Sharp County Quorum Court, the fair board and so many wonderful businesses and volunteers! The new concession stand is a replacement for the one that was on the arena grounds for many years,” Vogt said. “As most of the people know, the bathrooms in that facility have been out of commission for several years. The new facilities are very nice and will cut out the need for port-a-potty rentals during the fair.”

In addition to many livestock shows, pageants and exhibits, Vogt said not only will there be some new forms of entertainment, but some returning favorites as well.

“The Sharp County Fair is ready to see everyone out this week! The Midway is set up with the addition of a couple new rides including a Ferris Wheel!!! We have pageants every night starting Tuesday! You won’t want to miss the 2day PRCA Rodeo on Thursday and Friday nights! Saturday’s Annual Truck Pull has been expanded to be include a modified tractors class this year,” Vogt said. “As you walk through the fairgrounds, allow your attention to be drawn towards the far right corner. In that field you will find 155 American Flags proudly waving in the breeze. Each one of these flags has a face and a name attached to it. Each one of those faces is the face of an Arkansas Hero who died while serving on active duty post September 11, 2001. We are so honored to have Arkansas Run for the Fallen’s display at our fair this year. Please take a moment to view this spectacular display and maybe even have a moment of silence for the family and friends they left behind.
For the past several years, area veterans have been honored on Thursday, just prior to the FNBC Ice Cream Social, however; this year, Vogt said there have been some major changes. The decision to move the event to Saturday was made in order to allow for more participation by the community.

“Saturday morning’s Heroes Buffet will start at 8:30 a.m., and continuing until the start of the Veterans Salute at 10am, the Sharp County Junior Fair Board and Veterans Committee will be serving up a breakfast buffet fit for the heroes it is dedicated to. All veterans eat free and for non-veterans, the buffet cost is $7 for adults, $5 per kid, children 3 and under are free.”
The Veteran’s salute will immediately follow breakfast at 10 a.m. at the entertainment building with the posting of the colors. There will also be several musical talents from the area performing and Pastor Jason Ellis will serve as the key note speaker.

“We have even some new surprises to unveil, but you will have to wait and see the morning of the event. I’d love to see all of our area veterans that morning, as well as, the community that those men and women fought to protect while serving their various posts,” Vogt said.

Below is a complete schedule of events for this year’s Sharp County Fair.

5:00 p.m.​​​ Gates Open

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ​​ Halter Horse Check-In (Arena)

5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ​​Swine Arrival & Check-In (Junior & Blue Ribbon)

6:00 p.m.​​​ Carnival Open

6:00 p.m.​​​ Miss Sharp County, Junior Miss Sharp County, & Rodeo Queen, Junior Miss Rodeo and Pre-Teen Miss Pageants (Pavilion)

7:00 p.m.​​​ Halter Horse Show (Arena)

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.​ Judging of Family Living Exhibits, Horticulture, & Field Crops (Education Building closed to the public until gates open)

1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.​​ Aquaculture Check-in

1:30 p.m.​​​ Judging of Aquaculture (released after judging complete)

2:00p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ​​Sheep, Goat, & Swine Arrival/Check-In

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ​​Beef/Dairy Cattle Arrival/Check-In

5:00 p.m.​​​ Gates Open

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.​​ Poultry & Rabbit Check-In (Rabbit & Poultry Barn)

6:00 p.m.​​​ Carnival Opens

6:00 p.m.​​​ Little Miss & Mister, Petite Miss & Mister, and Young Miss Sharp ​​​​County Pageants

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.​​ Rabbit & Poultry Judging (Barn closed to public)

9:00 a.m. ​​​Junior Sheep Show, followed by Junior Goat Show (Barn)

11:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ​​Senior Day Lunch and Bingo Sponsored by WRAAA

1:00 p.m.​​​ Ice crea.m. Social Sponsored by FNBC

1:30 p.m.​​​ Bucket/Bottle Calf Check-in

1:45 p.m.​​​ Bucket/Bottle Calf Show (Barn)

2:00 p.m.​​​ Junior Cattle Show (Barn)

4:30 p.m.​​​ Gates Open

6:00 p.m.​​​ Carnival Open (first 250 armbands sponsored by FNBC)

6:00 p.m.​​​ Teeny Miss & Mister, and Tiny Miss & Mister Pageants

8:00 p.m.​​​ PRCA Rodeo (Arena)

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.​ ​The Duncan’s concert (Pavilion)

8:00 a.m.​​​ Open Swine Check-in

9:00 a.m.​​​ Open Swine Show, followed by Open Sheep and Open Goat Show

9:30 a.m.​​​ Open Sheep and Goat Check-in

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.​ ​Open Cattle Check-in​

4:00 p.m.​​ ​Open Cattle Show ​​

4:00 p.m.​​​ Gates Open

6:00 p.m.​​​ Carnival Open

6:00 p.m.​​​ Baby Miss & Mister, and Toddler Miss & Mister Pageants

8:00 p.m.​​​ PRCA Rodeo (Arena)

9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.​ ​Isabella Love and Band Concert (Pavilion)

8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Veteran’s Day Breakfast

10 a.m. – Veteran’s Day Program

1:00 p.m.​​ Sharp County’s “Best of the Best” Showmanship Orientation (Barn)

3:00 p.m.​​ Sharp County’s “Best of the Best” Showmanship Contest (Barn)

4:00 p.m.​​ Gates Open

5:00 p.m.​​ Carnival Open

5:00 p.m.​​ Best of Show pictures (Education building)

5:30 p.m. ​​Cookie Jar Scholarship Auction (Barn)

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.​Bingo Sponsored by First Community Bank (Pavilion)

7:00 p.m.​​ Truck and Tractor Pull Sponsored by the Partz Store (Arena)

9:00 p.m.​​ All Livestock released

9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.​ All Exhibits & Commercial Booths Released

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.​ Pick-up for exhibits in the Education building

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.​ Pick up for exhibits in the Education building

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.​ Pick up for Commercial booths