Manatee County fair opens 99th season

BRADEN RIVER — Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Stanton may have grown up in suburbia, but she couldn’t be more comfortable in blue jeans and rubber mud boots, leading a cow with a rope.

A junior at Braden River High School, Stanton will show her dairy heifer, Karim, in this year’s Manatee County Fair, which opens Jan. 15, at the Manatee County Fairgrounds, in Palmetto.

“When people see cows in fields, they think of dinner,” Jasmine said. “But they don’t think, ‘I can walk that cow in a circle and win prize money,’ or about time management or building a human-animal bond like I do.”

Jasmine will join hundreds of other Manatee County youth as they show swine, heifers, chickens, rabbits and other livestock, as well as plants, in this year’s fair, which runs through Jan. 25.

The 99th Manatee County Fair is themed “Put some AG in your culture.”

Entry costs $8 for adults; $7 for senior citizens (55 and up); $6 for children ages 6 to 12; and free for children 6 and younger.

Special pricing days are available, including Jan. 20, which features free entry and $15 midway armbands, among other days.

Costs for midway rides are separate.

Festivities include performances by bands such as Maddie and Tae, City Harbor, John King and Jason Gray and acts such as Show Me Safari Petting Zoo and John Mallory Live with Giant Pig and Holy Cow.

New acts include Wolves of America, an educational show about different types of wolves that live in the United States, and the Fast Action Motorsports Micro Reality Racing (remote control car racing) and Racing Simulator — a must for racing enthusiasts.

“We continually strive to make this a wonderful family-friendly event,” Fair Manager Dan West said. “We want people to come out with their children and have a good time.”

Fair festivities also include the Manatee County Fair Queens Pageant (typically held before the fair), a whip-popping contest and other special events.

Visitors also can view hay bales decorated by 4-H students in the fair’s theme outside the entertainment tent, and walk over to peruse exhibition halls showcasing submissions for arts and crafts, including photography, display art, quilts, jams and jellies and more.

“We had more than 2,000 entries last year,” West said. “That’s really a huge part of our fair.”

IF YOU GO
Manatee County Fair
*For a full schedule of events, pricing and hours, visit manateecountyfair.com.
When: Jan. 15 to Jan. 25

Where: Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1402 14th Ave. W., Palmetto

Hours: Vary by day

Cost: $8 for adults; $7 for senior citizens (55 and up); $6 for children ages 6 to 12; and free for children under 6. Special pricing days are available. Midway rides cost separately.

Entertainment: Daily festivities include musical and other performances, a petting zoo, midway rides, food, RC racing tournaments, The Tricky Dogs Show, kids pedal tractor pull, pig races, arts and crafts exhibits and more.

Highlights:
• Thursday, Jan. 15: Swine show (6 p.m.)
• Friday, Jan. 16: Dairy show (6 p.m.); Maddie and Tae (7:30 p.m.)
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Swine and heifer sales (2 p.m.); Fair Queen Pageant (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, Jan. 18: City Harbor (6 p.m.); Jason Gray (7 p.m.)
• Monday, Jan. 19: Dog show (noon); Cheerleading competition (6 p.m.)
• Tuesday, Jan. 20: Goat show (6 p.m.)
• Wednesday, Jan. 21: Steer showmanship (6 p.m.); Yesterdayze (6:30 p.m.)
• Thursday, Jan. 22: Steer show ( 6 p.m.); John King (7 p.m.)
• Friday, Jan. 23: Beef breeding and showmanship show (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, Jan. 24: Baby contest (1 p.m.); Steer sale (6 p.m.); Judging for barbecue contest (4 p.m.); 4-H Awards Ceremony (7 p.m.)
• Sunday, Jan. 25: Horse show (noon)
Info: Manateecountyfair.com

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].