By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor
One of Stoddard County’s brightest hometown musical stars will take center stage on the final evening of the 85th Annual Stoddard County Fair.
Maggie Thorn is the featured entertainment on the Midway Stage, beginning her show at 7 p.m.
Maggie is a senior at Bloomfield High School , and in 2009 won the prestigious Senior Youth Talent Contest at the annual Mid-South Fair in Memphis. She has opened for Dexter’s Candy Coburn, and America’s Got Talent winner Neal Boyd.
Establishing a name for yodeling as a young teen, Maggie continues to hone her music and her show while continuing the busy life of a high school senior.
Maggie Thorn’s performance at Saturday evening’s Stoddard County is just one of a great lineup of activities for the final night at the fair – an evening that will be capped off by a fireworks show at 9 p.m.
Saturday at the Fair
- 4-H/FFA Public Speaking Contest, Midway @ 3 p.m.
- Antique Tractor Pull, Arena A @ 4 p.m.
- Youth Games, Arena B @ 4 p.m.
- Maggie Thorn, Midway @ 7 p.m.
- Bill Hulvey & SideStreet, Arena B @ 7 p.m.
- Fireworks @ 9 p.m.
Showme Times Editor
The merry-go-round, the train, the slide and more! Kids of all ages enjoyed the rides, the exhibits, the comradery, exhibits and more at Friday evening’s edition of the 85th Annual Stoddard County Fair.
Tinsley Amusements had fun activities for all ages and all levels of adventure on Friday evening. From the traditional merry-go-round and more advanced levels of bravery and adventure, folks enjoyed their time on the Midway.
On the Midway Stage, Randy Harriton took the stage and entertained with foot-stomping rock ‘n roll. The Boy Scouts were still trying to get folks wet at the dunking booth, and exhibitors and visitors alike enjoyed conversation in the Exhibition Hall.
The Future Farmers of America students participated in a Tractor Rodeo in Arena A, and karaoke was the agenda for the evening in Arena B.
Photo Above: Young Laney Mills of Dexter enjoys her time on the Merry-Go-Round at the 85th Annual Stoddard County Fair. Adventure awaits on Saturday, the final day of this year's Fair. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
ShowMe Times Editor
Rain didn't dampened the spirits of brave young folks who wanted to take advantage of Bracelet Night at the 85th Annual Stoddard County Fair on Thursday. Those who braved the weather had a good time at the Fairgrounds.
Thursday evening was Bracelet Night at the fair – a night to buy a bracelet for $18 and ride the amusement rides to your heart’s content. But the rain kept some folks at home, and others sought cover in the exhibit halls and barns. But the rain didn’t deter everyone.
“I wish I had a towel,” said enthusiastic Reagan Miller at one point in the evening. She explained that the seats in the rides were wet. But a little rain didn’t stop her and her friends from riding the rides and having fun. “It’s getting a little damp out there!”
Over in the livestock barn, the young people in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4H were showing their hogs, cattle and equine. A larger than usual crowd was on hand for the show – since the barn was one of dry spots at the Fairgrounds.
But “dry” didn’t mean a thing to John Stephens. The T.S. Hill Middle School English teacher and Boy Scout leader was scheduled to tempt fate at the Boy Scouts dunking booth. And the rain meant nothing to the fearless Stephens.
“They announced at school that I was going to be in the dunking booth and I could hear the cheers throughout the building,” he said while he was still warm and dry. Stephens bravely climbed onto the stand in the booth, and proceeded to tempt fate and taunt the young people.
“Who’s that with throwing? Oh, it YOU! I’m safe!!” he would say to the youngsters. He got wet a few times during the evening, but had more fun taunting and having fun with the youngsters.
Inside the exhibition hall the Stoddard County Democrats were on the right and the County Republicans on the left – a unique county fair twist on politics. And Anna Ellinghouse was having fun encouraging friends to visit the Missouri Southern Healthcare booth and sign up for the drawing for an iPad.
Food booths down the Midway kept busy trying to stay dry and serving all that good “fair food” – including funnel cakes, fried Oreos and Twinkies, potato mounds and fried pickles.
Friday Night
Friday night at the fair has a full lineup of activities including:
- Randy Harrington & Southern Tradition Band from Hayti at 7 p.m. on the Midway stage
- FFA Tractor Rodeo at 7 p.m. in Arena A
- Karaoke at 7 p.m. in Arena B
Photo Above: Morgan Christian, 11, of Bloomfield, grooms his calf Tundra prior to judging at the 85th annual Stoddard County Fair on Thursday night. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)
Sense The Fall is a band with roots in Stoddard County. Drummer/singer Coty Walker and his twin brother Clinton is on guitar and sings, Kyle Whitacre plays bass for the group are three original members of the band and have been joined by Jake Bond of Advance who plays guitar and sings back-up vocals.
The group performed on the Midway stage Wednesday, followed by a strong group of fans and friends.
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photos by Andrew Cato
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Action at the Fair on Wednesday centered around the Exhibition Hall for the judging of the sheep and goats. On the Midway, the groups Since the Fall and Drive Tyme kept things lively for those at the fair.
Thursday's schedule includes:
- Judging for the cattle, hogs and equine, 6 p.m. in Arena A
- Karaoke at 7 p.m. in Arena B
- The musical group Ruff As A Cob will perform beginning at 7 p.m. on the Midway stage.
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- Puxico High School
- Advance High School
- Bernie High School
- Three Rivers College - Dexter
- Dexter Future Farmers of America
- Bloomfield Future Farmers of America
- Bloomfield First Baptist Church
- Duck Creek General Baptist Church
- Dexter Eagles
- Real Living Young Realty
- Locust STR Flowers
- Golden Living - Bloomfield
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2011 Fair Parade Winners
- Fair Queen Contest in Arena B, following the parade
- Chicken Catching & Youth Games, Arena A, following the parade
- Entertainment by Anna Catherine DeHart on the Midway beginning at 7:30 p.m.
- "Professor Farquar and Polecate Annie will be performing on the grounds
- 4-H, youth, homemaking and livestock on display in the exhibition barns
- Tinsley Amusements on the Midway
By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor
The bands don’t march and the floats won’t be ready until Tuesday evening, but there is still a lot of activity humming in connection with the annual Stoddard County Fair Monday.
There’s an entire world that most who attend the fair never see – the world of livestock exhibition. Slogging through mud and ditches still filled from water from Sunday’s rains, young women and men from throughout the county began arriving Monday morning to setup the pens, get the equipment and supplies in place, and finally lead their livestock into the exhibition barns on the Stoddard County Fairgrounds.
The carnival rides aren’t set up, the local groups aren’t serving up their specialties in the food booths, but there’s plenty of action at the Fairgrounds.
Livestock entries will be accepted throughout the day Monday.
Judging for the livestock includes:
- Sheep and Goats Judging – Wednesday at 6 p.m.
- Cattle, Hogs and Equine – Thursday at p.n. in Arena A
- Buyers Breakfast at 8 a.m. on Saturday
- 4H and FFA Livestock Auction – 9 a.m. in the livestock barns
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