YORKVILLE, Ill. — Kendall County 4-H members will exhibit their projects during the 2021 Kendall County Fair set for July 29 to Aug. 1. However, there won’t be an open show this year.
“In the past we’ve had two to three fundraisers to help cover the cost of the fair, but we haven’t had them because of the pandemic,” said Lea Ann Koch, president of the Kendall County Fair. “So, we’re having a soft fair this year.”
Although the fair board is still working on the details, the tentative schedule for the 4-H shows is: Thursday, July 29 — goats, poultry and swine; Friday, July 30 — swine, dairy and rabbits; and Saturday, July 31 — cattle and cats, with the auction in the evening.
A few of the typical fair events are also planned for this year.
“On Thursday, the Gaming Show will start at 9 a.m. and that’s a daylong event that includes all kinds of activities with horses like barrel racing,” Koch said.
On Friday, fairgoers can enjoy the Truck and Tractor Pull show starting at 6 p.m. featuring the Illini State Pullers.
“There will be a car show on both Saturday and Sunday with registration at 7 a.m. and the show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Koch said.
Food vendors will offer a variety of options for fairgoers.
“Several of the typical food vendors will be at the fair, including the beef producers, the pork producers, the corn growers and the Newark FFA,” Koch said.
Since there is a limited about of events for the 2021 fair, admission of $10 per person will only be charged on Friday for the Truck and Tractor Pull show.
“Come to the fair, enjoy yourself, have some food,” Koch said.
Although many events that are typically held at the fairgrounds near Yorkville were canceled over the past year due to the pandemic, fair board members have continued to work on various projects.
“We’ve been planting hostas around a lot of the trees and we received a donation of six concrete benches that we have placed around the fairgrounds for sitting areas,” Koch said.
“We are also collecting plastic bottle caps that will be made into benches and it takes 200 pounds of plastic and $250 to get each bench made,” she said. “We are going to put a sitting area on the east side of the building under the trees.”
A farm family donated a metal grain bin that has been relocated to the fairgrounds.
“The concrete for the floor was also donated, so now we have an outdoor bar,” Koch said. “One of our banner sponsors has an exterior company, so they came and put siding on the three ticket booths which looks awesome because they match the other buildings.”
The fair board is continuing to organize fundraisers to prepare for the 2022 fair.
“We are working to get organized so we can go full blast with the fair next year,” Koch said.
For more information about the Kendall County Fair, go to www.kendallcountyfairgrounds.org or call 630-553-2860.
Kendall County Fair
July 29-Aug. 1
10826 Illinois Route 71, Yorkville, Illinois