Little Texas, Tracy Byrd headline MHC Fair

HOWARD COUNTY - The area hasn’t even sprung ahead yet, and folks are looking toward warm weather and late spring/summer happenings.

Every day puts us closer to one of the biggest events in the area . . . the Mighty Howard County Fair. This year it is taking place June 22-26.

Just saying the words “Mighty Howard County Fair” brings a vision of bright lights, twirling rides and smiling faces; the sounds of laughing and screaming children and the squealing of animals in the 4-H building; and the smells of cotton candy, pie, smoked turkey legs and fried foods on the Midway.

In 2020, the fair was cancelled due to COVID. In 2021, it was downsized for the same reason. This year, Fair Secretary Tom Barnes said to look for a back-to-normal fair with all the bells, whistles and entertainment fair-goers are accustomed to.

But there are also some major techie updates!

The fair board purchased several very large big screen TVs. Members are hoping to display the livestock shows, sponsor highlights and daily schedules. 

A new texting list will be made to give fair-goers up-to-the-minute changes to the schedule or weather concerns.

 

Bring it on!

One of the best deals at the fair, other than the free grounds shows, are the buttons to get into the Grandstand Shows Wednesday through Sunday. They are $35 prior to fair week and $45 during the week.

That’s a whopping $7 per event! Those events include  demolition derby (Wednesday); stock car race with sprint cars (Thursday); country stars Little Texas and local favorite Madd Hoss Jackson; country star Tracy Byrd and Steven Bankey & the Flatlanders; and Rogue Rodeo — all for $35. 

The musical entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights is a highlight of the week. 

Barnes said, “We are happy to have two great acts — Little Texas and Tracy Byrd. We are lucky to have them.”

Little Texas will perform on Friday night. The band was part of the Young Country movement of the early 1990s and was responsible for shaking up the country music world with a new, energetic sound that fused the look and attitude of modern rock music with traditional country themes and styles, bringing a much-appreciated bolt of life into the genre.

For their efforts, country fans the world over richly rewarded the band, buying up over seven million of their albums, while critics showered them with three Grammy nominations plus honors from both the Academy of Country Music (Vocal Group Of The Year) and the Country Music Association (Album Of The Year).

Some of their most popular songs include:

~ God Blessed Texas

~ Some Guys Have All the Love

~ First Time for Everything

~ Peaceful Easy Feeling

~ You and Forever and Me

~ What Were You Thinkin

Saturday, multi-platinum recording artist Tracy Byrd will take the stage.

Few people sing so honestly from their heart and soul. Tracy Byrd does so in just the right way, combining art, story and song in perfect unison. 

 

 

Some of his chart-topping hits include:

~ Watermelon Crawl

~Ten Rounds with Jose Quervo

~Don’t Take Her She’s All I Got

~Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous

 

Grandstand Shows

Don’t forget to get buttons at area businesses starting the week before Memorial Day. They can also be purchased singly if a person only wants to attend one event.

• Wednesday, June 22: “People have been asking for a demo derby for several years. We found a company that comes from Minnesota and runs a sort of circuit in Iowa and Minnesota,” said Barnes.

The Masters of Disaster will give attendees lots of entertainment with crashes revving of engines and crumpled doors.

• Thursday, June 23: “We’re having the stock car races on Thursday again, that will also have a sprint car class. It’s been a long time since we’ve had sprint cars. The track will be ready for it! During COVID, we tore up the track and put 100-plus loads of race track clay on the circle.”

• Friday, June 24: Madd Hoss Jackson, a Fair favorite will open for Little Texas. The band is dedicated to blending of the sounds of Texas, outlaw, Bakersfield and red dirt country music and mixing it with an upbeat, high-energy show. The Party in the Pit starts at 8 p.m.

• Saturday, June 25: Steven Bankey & the Flatlanders will open for Byrd. They are a red dirt country band out of Kansas City, Mo., heavily influenced by the grassroots country music movement originating in southern parts of Texas and Oklahoma. The Party in the Pit starts at 8 p.m.

• Sunday, June 26:  The Iowa-based Rogue Rodeo will entertain the crowds, starting at 6 p.m. The company hails from Monroe County and puts on a fast-paced, exciting, family-friendly rodeo in a professional manner.

 

More Fun

The grandstand shows are great, but the Mighty Howard County Fair has so many other offerings. Each year, the Fair Board tries to get new and different acts and bring back a few favorites.

“We’ve had dog shows before,” said Barnes, “but Ready Go! Dog Show is a little different. Nick’s Barnyard Adventure Show will return after not being here for a few years. He has games and ag-related things for kids in his show.” Nick will also do his Kids Show as in the past.

All the contests will continue as they have in the past . . . including the baking contests. There will likely be lots of goodies to taste-test after the food categories were cancelled last year.

Look for more information as the Mighty Howard County Fair gets closer. It’ll be here before you know it!