蘑菇视频

Jun 19, 2025 By Garrett Neese 4 min read

Like a successful rodeo ride, putting together the perfect Fayette County Fair lineup requires balance.

“We want to bring so much new in each year, to keep it livened up for everybody that’s a fairgoer,” said fair board President Pierce Willson. “We don’t want the same-old, same-old. So we do try to reach out and find some things that’ll work for us.”

Willson discussed this year’s fair lineup of new and returning favorites at a press luncheon at the fairgrounds Wednesday afternoon.

This year’s fair, which bears the theme “Cultivating the Future Generations,” runs from July 24 to Aug. 2.

The Friday night rodeo will return this year with a new spin. Instead of just bull riding and barrel racing, it will be a full rodeo sanctioned by the American Professional Rodeo Association, including a rough stock competition.

“It was time to try something new,” Willson said. “Bigger target audience.”

He predicted it will be “one of the nicer events that we’re going to have here.”

After a couple of years of dirt drag racing, the fair board decided to switch it up this year with a new event.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, fairgoers can try out an ATV side-by-side obstacle course in the outdoor arena to compete for the fastest time.

“It’s something for parents and kids that could come and participate as a family, because it’s an open event,” Willson said.

After this year’s fair, work will start toward a new livestock barn for lamb, sheep and goats. Two barns in disrepair will be demolished to make room for the new modern facility, he said.

The fair is putting together fundraising activities for the new barn. Willson did not provide a target amount, but said they hope to raise “as much as possible.”

Plans are for the new barn to be finished by the spring of 2026, ahead of the next exhibition season.

Though not anticipated to be in place by the fair, the grounds will also fulfill a longstanding goal by adding a new digital sign, Willson said.

Willson reviewed the fair lineup, highlighting the newcomers and returning events.

The EQT arena will be filled with notable acts: RYSE Wrestling on July 25, rock band The Clarks on July 26, “God Bless the U.S.A.” singer Lee Greenwood on July 27, and Disney tribute band The Little Merman on July 31.

Powers & Thomas Midway continues to provide the carnival for the fair, offering “some of the nicest rides and nicest midway you could go anywhere to see,” Willson said.

Tractor pulls and demolition derbies will wow crowds on multiple nights, along with motocross racers on July 27, monster truck races July 30 and mud riding Aug. 1.

A longtime crowd favorite, The Joy Unspeakable living statue will also return for all but the first day of the fair, strolling through the grounds daily.

“I can tell you that no matter what we have, it’s always something new every time with the statue, and I think he’s become quite the staple at our fairgrounds,” Willson said.

The family area will include a petting zoo and the Pigs Gone Wild pigs racing, “which is always a big hit,” Willson said.

For a full schedule of events, go to fayettefair.com/daily-schedule.

Wednesday’s event also included speeches from the outgoing Fair Queen Haylee Bill and Fair Princess Olivia Love.

In addition to being a frequent presence at community events, Bill has traveled more than 2,000 miles around the state during her reign to promote the fair and Fayette County agriculture.

She’s also three-fifths of the way towards completing her project: placing five community blessing boxes around the county. The small boxes house non-perishable foods and other items for people in need.

They work on a “give what you can, take what you need” basis, Bill said.

“It’s kind of my way of giving back, because I feel like this opportunity has given me so many connections,” she said.