CONTESTS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Dress Up. Team Up. Show Off!

Let your imagination run wild at the Animal Costume Contest! Kids are invited to dress up themselves and the animal they're exhibiting in fun, creative, and family-friendly costumes. Whether you're superheroes, storybook characters, farmers, pirates, princesses, or something completely original, this is your chance to shine together!

It's not about being the fanciest—it's about creativity, teamwork, and having fun with your four-legged (or feathered!) best friend. Judges will be looking for imaginative themes, coordinated costumes, and great showmanship.

Bring your creativity, your smiles, and your favorite fair partner for a parade of unforgettable costumes that will have the crowd cheering!

Create. Coordinate. Celebrate! 🎭🐾✨

Bring the whole family and join the fun at the Ag Olympics! Compete together in a variety of exciting, farm-themed challenges that test teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. Whether you're racing, guessing, or tackling hands-on activities, there's something for all ages to enjoy. Gather your team and make lasting memories while celebrating agriculture at the county fair!

The Special Star Showcase is a heartwarming event celebrating students with special needs in grades 6–12 from Marquette County. Each participant is paired with a friendly 4-H or FFA exhibitor to experience the excitement of showing a livestock animal in the show ring.

No experience is needed—all animals and guidance are provided! Participants can show a chicken, goat, sheep, rabbit, pig, or dairy calf while making new friends and creating lasting fair memories.

Join us on Saturday, July 18 at 9:00 a.m. in the Show Barn. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. Every participant will receive a gift bag, and we'll wrap up the event with a group photo celebrating our Special Stars!

Big smiles come in small boots! The Mighty Mites Showmanship event is a crowd favorite where our youngest cattle enthusiasts step into the show ring to proudly lead their calves with a little help from family or experienced exhibitors. This fun, non-competitive event celebrates confidence, sportsmanship, and a love of agriculture while giving children a chance to experience the excitement of showing cattle in a supportive, encouraging environment.

Whether it's their first time in the ring or the start of a lifelong passion, Mighty Mites is all about building confidence, having fun, and creating unforgettable fair memories. Come cheer on these future farmers as they take center stage!

Participant Information

• •Children must be 4–8 years old as of January 1 of the current exhibit year.
• •Calves must be born after April 1 of the exhibit year and may be either sex and any breed.
• •Calves may be brought to the fair on Saturday, the day of the show, and taken home afterward. If a stall is needed, please contact the Dairy Superintendent.
• •Exhibitors participate at their own risk. The Marquette County Youth Organization Association, Inc. is not responsible for injuries.

Every Child's a Winner!

Every Mighty Mites exhibitor will receive a commemorative T-shirt and a Participation Ribbon, generously sponsored by Sand Country Veterinary Service of Westfield.

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsor for helping make this special experience possible for our youngest exhibitors!

Do friends and family rave about your homemade pie? Now's your chance to prove it's blue-ribbon worthy!

Enter the Marquette County Fair Blue Ribbon Pie Contest and show off your baking talents in one of the fair's sweetest traditions. Watch as your pie is proudly displayed, carefully judged, and then enjoyed by fairgoers during the public pie tasting. (Tasting is available for a nominal fee, with proceeds benefiting a local charity.)

No pre-registration is required! Simply bring your pie to the Exhibit Building on Saturday, July 18. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., and judging starts promptly at 12:00 p.m.

Enter your pie in one of four delicious categories:

This year's contest features two exciting rounds of judging. In the first round, judges will sample every pie and select one finalist from each category to advance to the Grand Championship Round. A second panel of judges will then crown the Grand Champion Pie. Awards will be presented to each category winner, along with the coveted Grand Champion.

Whether you're a seasoned baker or simply love sharing your favorite family recipe, we'd love to see your best pie at the fair!

It's time for the youngest fairgoers to show their horsepower! Children will compete on pedal-powered tractors, pulling a weighted sled as far as they can. Whether they're racing for bragging rights or just having fun, this classic fair event is always a crowd favorite. Gather the family and cheer on these determined young drivers!

Pedal. Pull. Cheer. Repeat! 🚜💪🎉