Jasper County Fair • July 2017 – Page 5
Jasper County Fair carries on tradition By Kayla Langmaid Newton Daily News Locals prepare for sweet summertime in multiple ways. Jasper County Fair attendees and 4-H members look forward to the fair’s festivities yearly and its beloved traditions. The sound of a chainsaw, the smell of farm animals, the fried food and the fireworks are just a few general things that are expected at the fair. This year’s fair will stay true to tradition in many ways, according to Rhonda Guy, Jasper County Fair open-class coordinator. Guy said there are a few new events this year but people enjoy familiarity. This year’s theme is “Let the Good Times Grow.” “Families still doing what they used to do,” Guy said. “We use our wood carver for entertainment and to generate income when we sell the carvings.” Guy said the biggest traditions may be the fireworks, family day, the parade, the teen dance and the open-class that have been around for 31 years. The new events include the arm wrestling and the 5K. “The 5K is a big deal,”
File Photo The Monday night parade is one of the most popular traditions that people attend during the Jasper County Fair.
Guy said. “We think it will be a really big event, and a few different families and a lot of former 4-Hers are talking about coming back.” Guy said many former 4-H members have many fond memories of the fair, and they want to come back and have reached out about participating. Guy said that she and her husband Mike have served on the fair board for a combined 28 years. “We start planning for next year’s fair during this year’s fair,” Guy said. Guy said the board follows tradition when planning events and they also try to think of a few new things to bring to the table. “We sometimes agree
that certain events have served their purpose and so let’s add this event, like the BBQ contest,” Guy said. On the other hand, the fair board agreed to continue with the Family Fun Day, which has taken place for 40 years. “The day includes, church, family contests, pre-supper, barnyard contest and then we turn around and do the fireworks,” Guy said. “It’s a full family day.” Guy said there are attendees who travel from all parts of the county to camp at the fairgrounds but there are just as many campers who are from Colfax. “They treat it as a stay-cation,” Guy said. “It’s family time, and it
is really showing off the life skills you’re learning and that’s what the competitions are showing. Let the good times grow.” Guy said no matter what the weather brings, the attendees always make the best of it and still continue to have a good time. “Even during the wet
years,” Guy said “It’s always fun, and you look at it and shake your head and say we had a good time, and we want to share that with the entire county and area.” The real tradition, according to Guy, is how generation after generation takes part in the activities. “There are many
things about the fair that touch everybody, and it is different for everyone what those things are,” Guy said. “They are different but they still bring you home, and it’s all about coming home. It really is.” Contact Kayla Langmaid at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or klangmaid@newtondailynews.com