Improved Facilities Will Greet Altenburg Fairgoers

The schedule for the 2012 edition of East Perry Community Fair in Altenburg on Friday, September 21 and Saturday, September 22 is nearly identical to last year's, but there have been major improvements to some of the facilities for the event. The biggest change is the construction of a 40 foot by 100 foot show arena and three 28 foot by 120 foot barns for the beef cattle department to replace the tents that were rented in past years. Another change for the beef cattle show, which is annually one of the largest in the state, is that the cattle will be on display on Friday evening. The second big facility improvement is the expansion of the arena that hosts the antique tractor pull, the saddle horse shows, the draft horse and mule show, the mule jump competition, and the 4X4 truck pull. The arena has received additional lighting and it been lengthened by almost 100 feet and widened by 25 feet at the north end to provide additional space for the equine events and to provide for a safer and more efficient operation of the pulling events.

The fair begins with a parade at 1:30 pm on Friday followed by the opening ceremonies. Musical entertainment for this year's fair will be provided by the Pearl River Band on Friday evening at 6:30 pm, the Whitewater Bluegrass Band on Saturday afternoon, and the Jackson Municipal Band at 6:00 pm Saturday. Other entertainment includes a pedal tractor pull at 3:00 pm on Friday, an antique tractor pull at 5:00 pm on Friday, a saddle horse show at 11:00 am on Saturday, the "world famous" jumping mule competition at 5:30 pm on Saturday, and the 4X4 truck pull at 8:00 pm on Saturday. The fair will be using an X-Factor sled from Bungart Motorsports of Jefferson City for the truck pull like it did for its stand alone event in June of this year. The same rules will be used as the June truck pull, but the number of classes will be reduced from ten to seven due to time constraints at the fair. The last scheduled event of the fair program is the traditional awarding of attendance prizes at 8:30 pm on Saturday.

The fair offers something for everyone including rides and games for the kids, food and drink of all kinds, and commercial exhibits featuring many products and services for the farm and home. Since there are no parking or admission fees and the entertainment is free, the fair prohibits coolers and outside food and drinks from the fairgrounds and parking areas. The changes made in traffic flow and parking three years ago were very successful and will be used again this year with only minor changes. Fairgoers are asked to follow directions of the traffic officers and parking staff and abide by the one-way directional signs. All livestock trucks and trailers and pull tractors and trucks must enter the fairgrounds by way of Maple Street and Fair Road. All other fair traffic must enter by way of Poplar Street unless otherwise directed by the parking staff.

For questions regarding the fair visit the fair's Facebook page, call 573-824-5513, or email them to epfair@hughes.net.

EAST PERRY COMMUNITY FAIR

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 2012

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

4:00 PM 4H & FFA BARROW WEIGH-IN

5:00 PM 4H & FFA STEER WEIGH-IN

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

11:00 AM JUDGING OF 4-H & FFA BARROWS

12:00 PM MUSIC BY WHITEWATER BLUEGRASS BAND

4:30 PM 4-H & FFA SALE

8:00 PM 4X4 TRUCK PULL

"THE BEST LITTLE FAIR IN THE LAND"

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