It's Oconto County Fair Time

From the Shawano Leader.


Map link on directions to Gillett and the O C Fair

"Food, fun beckon as Oconto County Fair opens
By Cory Dellenbach, Leader reporter

GILLETT — The sweet smell of fair food was back in the air and screams were echoing throughout Zippel Park in Gillett as the Oconto County Fair opened Thursday.

“The food is the best, definitely the best,” said Amy Wachet of Oconto Falls. “You have to come to the fair for the food.”

While there were several people lined up at the various food stands and the fair food trailers, there is plenty of other stuff for folks to enjoy.

Grandstand entertainment kicked off on Thursday night with the first annual donkey race. On schedule for Friday at the grandstand is a 4x4 truck pull at 7 p.m.

A draft horse pull is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, while the farm tractor pull will be at 6 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a Catch A Pig Contest at 7:30 p.m.

“There is so much to do at the fair,” said John Bartow of Suring. “I don’t know if I have a favorite. I like the truck pulls and the horse pulls too, I guess.”

Non-animal youth exhibits were judged Thursday.

Dairy and beef cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and rabbit exhibits will be judged on Friday. Animal judging events on Saturday include the conclusion of the dairy cattle show and the poultry show. Saturday also features the 4-H Horse Project mounted drill team performance and parade of breeds at 2 p.m.

Friends Bethany Meyer and Samantha Pashouwer-Schwabu, both of Lena, were enjoying Thursday afternoon sitting in their goats’ pen, holding their animals and giggling.

“We come here for the animals,” Pashouwer-Schwabu said. “We love looking at them and showing them.”

Meyer agreed, adding that its the cheap part of the fair.

“The rides are too expensive,” Meyer said. “Looking at the animals is awesome and it’s free.”

While the rides may be a little steep for some, they weren’t for others like Grant Sexton of Gillett, who was riding the Spin Out ride for the third time.

“It’s awesome, very cool,” Sexton said. “You go upside down and you turn in different directions. It’s fun. There’s a lot of rides out here.”

Cousins Abby Keller and Ally Crandall came down from Coleman to enjoy the fair and were riding Catch-N-Air for a second time.

New this year is a Junior Fairest of the Fair contest, set for 4 p.m. Saturday in the Family Tent. The contest is open to girls 11 to 13 who are former or current exhibitors at the fair and residents of Oconto County. Each contestant will be asked to introduce herself and answer one question on stage.

Fairgoers can try their luck with the mechanical bull ride, 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday.

Ride specials will be offered by Mr. Ed’s Magical Midway, including $1 rides from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday and $15 wristbands from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday.

Live music will be featured on the Budweiser Stage each day. Brahma performs Friday night and Jess-Hav’n-Phun on Saturday night. Sunday afternoon and evening’s performances feature the Alvin Styczynski Polka Band and the Music Connection from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Family tent stage shows and strolling magic will be performed by Jim Lenz on Friday and Saturday, with music provided by children’s entertainer Randy Peterson on Sunday in the Family Tent. Also offering free entertainment in the Family Tent are the Gillett-Suring Clergy Association and area libraries.

A dairy dessert contest, offering free samples of the entries, is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.

The fair continues until Sunday with exhibits, entertainment, contests and food."