Dixon County Fair organizers have big plans

CONCORD — Dixon County Fair organizers have a 108 year tradition going.

Dixon County has hosted its annual summer celebration — the Dixon County Fair— since 1913,

They even held a Fair last year, while most fairs were canceling due to the pandemic.

This year’s four-day event begins Thursday, July 29, with a free barbecue provided by the Ag Society on opening night from 5 to 7 p.m. along with team penning at the fairgrounds.

Team sorting is a timed event, and separating 600 to 700 pounds of cattle at high speed is an art form.

Dixon County 4-Hers are also very active.

Beef, swine, sheep, goats, ducks, geese, chickens and rabbits will all be represented at various livestock and small animal shows at this year’s Fair.

The open-class beef show is usually a big attraction, as well. It wil take place Thursday at 5 p.m.

The demolition derby will start its engines at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

This is yet another mainstay at the fair, as the smoke, dust and debris will be scattered across four classes of competition. One of the more unusual aspects of Dixon County’s derby is its youngest division, which welcomes competitors ranging from ages 16 to 19.

Because of a reduced number of carnival operators, Dixon County will not be able to host a midway in 2021.

For the first time, fairgoers will enjoy a “virtual reality game truck.” This Norfolk area vendor offers a wide range of immersive video games. Once rigged into a standing station, players might feel as though they are driving a race car or enjoy the experience of flying a fighter jet.

Pony rides and a petting zoo will also be available throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, the tractor pull will get started early.

Farm and antique pullers roll out before lunch at 11 a.m. During the day, cow/calf pairs will compete for top honors. This event ranks annually as one of the larger showings around Nebraska with better than 60 pairs. In the evening, the tractors get bigger as the stakes go up. The highly anticipated “Outlaw” truck and tractor pull will rumble through the fairgrounds on Saturday night.

The AkSarBen Farm Family awards will also be handed out at the Fair.

The Heritage Award will go to Thomas Edward and Nancy Walsh, of Scollard Family Farm, which was established in 1860.

Since the 1950s, the Aksarben Foundation has been celebrating Nebraskan farm families with its tradition of awarding Pioneer and Heritage Farm Family Awards.

To date, nearly 10,000 families have been recognized at their county fair with this distinction. Aksarben partners with Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers on these awards each year, honoring families for 100 or 150 years of consecutive family farm ownership in Nebraska.

“These families exemplify the dedication and strong Nebraska values that set our state apart. Aksarben has celebrated agriculture for over 100 years, and these families are what the Spirit of Aksarben is all about,” said Sandra Reding, Aksarben Foundation president.

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