Join us Saturday March 30th at 10am for our annual Easter Egg Hunt!  The hunt for eggs will be divided into three age groups.; 4 and under, 5-7 and 8-10 year old's. The hunt will be on the fairgrounds west of the community building. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside.  Thank you to the Harrison Hilltop Hustler 4-H club for helping stuff the eggs.  

Save the Date! The 2024 Boone County Fair Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday February 3rd! 

Proceeds generated from the event will help pay for judges, premiums and ribbons for 4-H and FFA events during the Fair as well as our 2024 special fund-a-need project; sealing the roof on the Erb Center. 

The Erb Center is used regularly by 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters.  It is used for club meetings, workshops, day camps, and much more throughout the year.  During the Boone County Fair, the Erb Center is solely used as the 4-H Foodstand.  Proceeds from the 4-H Foodstand go towards funding the 4-H program for the entire year including sending youth on trips, conferences, camps, workshops and much more.  The Erb Center was updated in 2016 from the existing foodstand. The entire building was remodeled but one project that there wasn't funds for was sealing the roof.  In 2023, the Erb Center roof leaked in the kitchen area.  We are currently raising funds to put a sealant on the metal roof.  The sealant will seal all fasteners as well as rust-proofing.  The sealant has a 30 year life expectancy, and an 18 year waterproof warranty.  This will ensure years of keeping the Erb Center in great condition for the use of the 4-H food stand and many other uses. The cost to seal the roof on the Erb Center is over $15,000.  It is our goal to fundraise as much money as possible towards this project and have it completed before the 2024 Fair. 

If you want to help make the 2024 Fair fundraiser a success, the fair board is currently seeking donations for the live and silent auction. Donation deadline is January 22nd.  Fair Fundraiser tickets can be purchased here: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/bcf24/register/

The annual meeting of the Boone County Agricultural Association was held on September 11th 2024.  Elections took place, and on October 1st the new officers and board took over.  Wayne Lynch served four consecutive terms as president, and per the association by-laws must vacate the presidential position for a minimum of one year.  The fair board has been greatly appreciative of the years of leadership, and look forward to him still offering guidance to the board in his new role, as Vice President. Elected President, was long time board member Patrick Erb.  Doyle Stern was re-elected to the treasurer position, and Tracy Herman was elected as secretary, this being her first time holding an officer position on the board. Retiring off the Fair Board was Bonnie Sorenson, we are grateful for her many years of service to the fair board.  Dan Graham was elected as the newest member on the board.  He joins returning Fair Board Members: Lindsey Stolte, Tim Anderson, Jeff Needham, Kevin Meier, Jonathan Bullock, Alan Schoff, Les Mills, Kim Rhodes, Blake Becket and Jentry Schoff.  In addition to voting members ten associate members were also elected to the board. They include: Kim Bullock, Kim Meier, Stephanie Dowdy, Erik McFarland, Holley Jacobsen, Montana Sour, Nichol Graham, Hailey Beckett, Brian Crook & Don Howard.  Caitlin Needham was also elected as a junior member of the fair board.  

As some of you may have noticed, there has been a lot of activity going on at the fairgrounds this past week.  For several years the Fair board has been saving funds and seeking donations to re-asphalt the parking lot.  Thanks to grants from the Leonard Good Trust, and the Boone Community Endowment Fund as well as funding from Boone County and strategic savings from the fair board over several years the project is about to become a reality.  The repaving of the parking lot is much needed for the safety of our guests, the integrity of the grounds and buildings as it will ensure water flows away from buildings.  In April of 2022 a contract was signed with a contractor to complete the project by June 1st 2023.  Of course, since this is an asphalt and concrete project, weather plays a very large role in when the project can be completed. Additionally, the Contractors work schedule (as of the April 2022 contract signing) and Fairgrounds event dates also play a role in the timing of the construction. Working with weather, Fairgrounds schedule and the Contractor’s schedule, the contractor chose the week(s) to work on the project. We are extremely excited to have this project completed by next week!  The Fair board has worked hard during this busy season to work with all those who utilize the fairgrounds and greatly appreciate everyone’s understanding. We have been told the asphalt will be laid the beginning of the week of May 1st and the lot will be drivable for regular vehicles starting towards the end of that week.  However, we ask that semis and other heavy equipment not park on the parking lot until June to allow the asphalt to cure as much as possible. Thank you again for your understanding, we look forward to this new parking lot that will benefit all that utilize our facilities. 

Fair Announces Centennial Celebration Entertainment
 
As the winter weather seems to hang on, we can all look forward to sunshine and summer fun. The Boone County Fair Board has been planning the centennial celebration Boone County Fair for months now, and is finally ready to announce the entertainment lineup.
Thursday night of fair will kickoff a new grandstand show, the Nitro Monster Truck Tour. Friday evening in the grandstand will also bring in a new show. “Free Friday in the Grandstand" hosted by the fair board will showcase the Prairie Tractor Pullers Event. Saturday will bring back the Western Iowa Pullers Association for the Tractor and Truck Pull, and to round out our grandstand events, the annual Mud Races on Sunday. 
If you are looking for musical entertainment, look no further than the Leonard Good stage! The fair board hosts free concerts every night. Grab your friends and head over to enjoy a beer and some great music.
Thursday night kicks off with local music from Jake Doty and the Swensongs. Friday highlights Burnin’ Sensations Band opening for Good to be King, the Tom Petty tribute band. This great tribute band has been playing all your Tom Petty favorites, “Free Falling” and “I Won’t Back Down”, all around the Midwest. They will also be performing at the Iowa State Fair in August, but you can see them right here in Boone for free! Saturday evening the fair board pulled out all the stops to bring you country music Nashville recording artist, Canaan Smith. His song “Love You Like That” from his debut album reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. His second album, High Country Sound, came out in 2021 and features songs “Beer Drinkin’ Weather” and “Heartbreak Heaven”. Opening for Canaan, the fair board is excited to bring back Casey Muessigmann. Casey was a member of Team Blake on The Voice, Season 3.  
If you are looking for more free entertainment, there is plenty happening at the Centennial Fair. New this year is the America’s Got Talent participant, Dan Kirk, "The Juggler with the Yellow Shoes", and Kevin Horner, the 6-year running top comedy ventriloquist. Also new this year is Barrel Train Rides and the Cancer Warrior Truck Car Show. Favorites that are coming back include the Pedal Tractor Pull, Mutton Busting, Face Painting and Iowa Cloggers performance. Locally owned and operated, Scotts Amusements will once again provide carnival rides and games.
The Centennial Celebration of the Boone County Fair is scheduled for July 20 - 23. For more information, to see a full schedule of events, or to keep up to date on all fair news follow the Boone County Fairgrounds on Facebook or visit their website www.boonecountyfairia.com.  Grandstand tickets will go on sale April 20.