The 44th Annual Rockdale Fair continues Thursday through Saturday and, at least at midweek, it appears the weather will cooperate this time around.
That wasn’t the case last year when a ma ority of October’s 12.25-inch rainfall fell during the eight-day Fair period, turning Fair Park into a giant mud pie.
Conditions forced cancellation of the rodeo and carnival, although other events continued and drew good crowds, considering the circumstances.
There’s been some preventative work at the park this year by the Rockdale Fair Association.
The carnival grounds have gotten a rock pad hard surface. Also added were new holding pens for the rodeo arena east side, plus more sand and improved drainage.
Weather forecasts, so far, don’t call for a repeat of last year’s fall monsoon.
EX TR A DAY—The familiar Fair events are back including the rodeo, carnival, barbecue cookoff, parade, home economics and much more.
This year, for the first time, Fair-goers get an extra half-day to purchase the weekend’s biggest bargain, season tickets.
Deadline to purchase has been extended to midnight Thursday (after the dance with Michael Salgado). In past fairs the deadline has been at 12-noon on Thursday.
Season tickets, admitting the holder to all Fair events, including the three dances are priced at $25 for those 13-59 and $15 for ages 5-12 and 60 and over.
Per-day prices at the gate all three days are $20 for ages 13-59 and $10 for 5-12 and 60-and-over.
LIVESTOCK—The heart of the Fair is, of course, Saturday’s youth livestock auction set for 6 p.m. Saturday in the auction barn.
Last year, despite the weather, that sale raised $333,991 for Milam County 4-H and FFA Youth. The 2018 Fair’s commercial heifer sale raised $275,725.
Since 1977 those two events, plus baked goods and ag mechanics sales, have raised $7,947,657 for the youngsters and should easily surpass the $8-million plateau this year.
ENTRIES—Two-hundred-and-five youngsters will exhibit 346 entries during the market show, leading to Saturday’s sale.
Monica Garrison, RFAvice-president of livestock, listed entries as follows:
Swine, 37 exhibitors with 71 entities; lambs, 35 exhibitors with 46 entries; goats, 33 exhibitors with 56 entries; steers, 18 exhibitors with 27 entries; rabbits, 40 exhibitors with 73 entries; broilers, 24 exhibitors with 42 entries; turkeys, 18 exhibitors with 32 entries.
MORE—Garrison said there are 46 commercial heifer entries in 2019.
She said there are 20 entries from 25 exhibitors in the ag mechanics show.
In the baked goods auction there are 79 exhibitors with 133 entries.
RANGERS—The Old West Rangers, the official 1880s reenactors group of the Texas Rangers will be at Fair Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
MUSIC—William Clark Green is the Saturday night headliner under the park pavilion, He will take the stage at 11 p.m., preceded by The Emotions at 8.
Johnny Lee takes center stage Friday at 10:30 p.m. His opening act is Glen Templeton at 8:30.
Thursday’s Tejano Night features Michael Salgado who will perform under the pavilion starting at 9:30 p.m. He will be preceded by Magali De La Rosa at 8.
PARADE—Charlie and Viva McGregor of KRXT-FM are grand marshals of Saturday’s parade which rolls down US 79 from downtown to the park at 10 a.m.
CARNIVAL—The carnival midway is up and rides, games and food booths will be open at 6 p.m. Wednesday (free park admittance on Wednesday), 6 p.m. Thursday, 12-noon on Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.
RODEOS—Cadillac Rodeo Company of Mexia, owned by Johnny Hoyle, is stock producer for the 2018 fair rodeo.
Rodeo action begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday with slack at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Events include bareback and saddle bronc riding, calf roping, bull riding, team roping, steer wrestling, calf scramble, women’s barrel racing and women’s breakaway roping.
There’s open 5D barrel racing at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Mutton busting for the youngsters (kids on lambs) will be incorporated with each rodeo performance.
The event is for kids 6 and under who weigh 55 pounds or less. Entry fee is $20 and there will be 40 competitors, 20 each evening.
BBQ—Barbecue judging begins at noon Saturday with trophies to be awarded at 4 p.m.
The classic and antique car show last year drew hundreds of browsers to the park’s northeast corner and it will be there again on Saturday.
Champions in washer competitions will be crowned Saturday. Juniors get under way at 11:30 a.m., followed by senior pitching at 1:30.
HEIFERS—The Fair’s commercial heifer show will be Thursday and Friday with judging Friday and the annual sale at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
ARTS AND CRAFTS—The Fair’s arts and crafts show will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday inside and outside the New Salem HD Clubhouse building.
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