Published: August 23, 2009 08:16 am      

You can find all sorts of things at the county fair

Imagine wrestling a pig in the mud.

That’s only one of the events that will be featured at the Major County Free Fair at 6 p.m. Aug. 28.

Also set to start at that time at the fair are barnyard olympics, an ice cream social and the opening of commercial booths.

“We don’t have a carnival,” said Dana Baldwin OSU Extension director for Major County. “Of course, there will be a livestock show.”

Major County isn’t the only one to hold a free fair this time of year.

Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Beaver, Woods and, of course, Woodward County, are all scheduled for fairs late this month and early September.

But unlike Major County, none of the others will have a pig wrestling contest.

However, the Woodward County Free Fair will offer a free hotdog feed sponsored by Northwestern Electric at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 2.

Dewey County will feature a free hotdog feed Sept. 11 at its free fair.

“We have different activities for games and that type of thing in general, said OSU Extension Office secretary Mary Nowlin. “We’ll also have a 4-H jamboree and food auction and a fairest of the fair contest.”

Ellis County also will have free hotdogs served by Northwestern Electric at noon Sept. 12.

Harper County this year will offer inflatable rides for children and youth from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 12, according to a schedule provided by the extension office there.

And Woods County will have “many different events,” said Karen Armbruster, director of the extension office.

A new feature being offered by Beaver County’s Free Fair is the Oklahoma High School Rodeo, set for 2 p.m. Sept. 12 and 10 a.m. Sept. 13.

“The rodeo has not been done every year,” said Sandy Cooper, secretary for the extension office. “Normally we do the Ranch Rodeo where local ranchers compete.”

In addition to the rodeo, a cowboy church service will be held at 8 a.m. Sept. 13, Cooper said.

Other activities, she said, include stock car races set for 7 p.m. Sept. 5, and a horse show which will be held at 8 a.m. Sept. 26.

Of course, the fairs will all feature livestock shows and food entries from 4-H and open class, along with photography, flowers and other categories.

Dates of the fairs in Woodward County and the area follow:

•Woodward County Free Fair -- Aug. 30 through Sept. 3.

•Major County Free Fair -- Aug. 27 through Aug. 29.

•Beaver County Free Fair -- Sept. 5 through Sept 12.

•Harper County Free Fair -- Sept. 9 through Sept. 12.

•Dewey County Free Fair -- Sept. 10 through Sept. 12.

•Ellis County Free Fair -- Sept. 10 through Sept. 12.

•Woods County Free Fair -- Sept. 10 through Sept. 12.

For a list of scheduled events for most of these county fairs see page 3.