Madison County Freedom Fair returns for 110th year
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REXBURG — Summertime means fair time in Madison County, a tradition that had lasted for over a century.
The Madison County Freedom Fair starts Monday and will go through Saturday, Aug. 21 at the fairgrounds at 460 W 2nd North in Rexburg. It will include all sorts of activities ranging from a rodeo, stage entertainment, 4-H presentations, and much more. The fairgrounds are open from 9 a.m to 9 p.m.
“The first fair was put in in 1911 and it has grown ever since,” Shannon Lewis, an administrative assistant with the county told EastIdahoNews.com.”
Many of the events will be free after the $1 entrance fee, including all stage shows, Tuesday’s East Idaho Working Ranch Rodeo, and the 4-H contests. On Thursday, the entrance fee is waived with a canned food item.
Some larger events require purchasing additional tickets and are listed in the official schedule. It includes Saturday’s Arenacross Nationals events with professional freestyle motocross rider Jeremy “Twitch” Stemberg.
While the events are fun, family-friendly activities for the community to enjoy, those running the fair also encourage the public to support those who produce exhibits or raise animals for the fair.
This includes the 4-H program, which allows grade school students to learn leadership skills as they spend months registering animals and having them go through weigh-ins as they prepare to present and auction the animals at the fair.
After 110 years, Lewis said it takes the help of many to make this event grow and be successful.
“(We want to) put (out) a thank you to our fair board who has worked tirelessly to make this event all that it is,” she added.
The members of the fair board are Dallan Jeppesen (chair), CodyAnn Jeppesen, Mike Mortensen, Chris Johnson, Natalie Munns, DeeDee Tucker, along with the fairgrounds manager Evan Wise.
A list of the full event can be found below. For updates or questions, refer to the Madison Fairground’s officialwebsite, or its Facebook page
- Monday, Aug. 16, 2021
- 9 AM – 11 AM: 4H/FFA Clothing Interviews (by schedule) in the Veteran’s Building
- 9 AM – 11 AM: 4H/FFA Misc Projects entered (non-animal) in the Veteran’s Building
- 9 AM – 11 AM: 4H/FFA Modeling Practice in the Veteran’s Building
- 11 AM: 4H/FFA Clothing Construction Judging in the Veteran’s Building
- 11 AM: 4H/FFA Misc Project Judging (non-animal projects) in the Veteran’s Building
- 4:30 PM: 4H/FFA Cake, Cookie, Pie Contest (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) in the Veteran’s Building
- 5 PM – 7 PM: Home Arts Entries- Non-Perishable entries accepted in the Home Arts Building
- 6 PM: 4H/FFA Style Review (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) in the Veteran’s Building
- 8 PM: Bares, Broncs & Bulls Rodeo in the Grandstands- Gates open at 5 PM (CASH ONLY- TICKETS $10 FOR AGES 7+)
- Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021
- 9 AM – 4 PM: Home Arts Entries- All entries accepted in the Home Arts Building
- 9 AM – 4 PM: 4H/FFA Livestock Area open for set-up in the Indoor Arena & Pig Barn
- 12 PM- 6:30 PM: Open class poultry and rabbit entries accepted in the Indoor Arena
- 2 PM – 7 PM: Celebrate You- Adventure Awaits Adventure Stop at the fairgrounds
- 2 PM – 3 PM: 4H/FFA Rabbit & Poultry final weigh-in at the Fairgrounds Poultry Area
- 4 PM: Home Arts Building closes for entries and Judging begins
- 4 PM – 6 PM: 4H/FFA Goat & Sheep final weigh-in at the Fairgrounds
- 5 PM: East Idaho Working Ranch Rodeo in the Grandstands (FREE ENTRY)
- 6 PM – 8:30 PM: 4H/FFA Swine final weigh in at the Fairgrounds
- Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021
- 9 AM: Fair officially opens to the public: $1 gate entry fee (CASH ONLY)
- 9 AM – 10:30 AM: 4-H/FFA Beef weigh-in at the Fairgrounds
- 10 AM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 11 AM – 9 PM: $5 unlimited Bounce Houses open
- 12 PM: Chris Mabrey Comedy Hypnosis on the Stage
- 2 PM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 3 PM – 4 PM: 4H/FFA Cat Show in the Veteran’s Building
- 4 PM – 5 PM: 4H/FFA Cloverbud Extravaganza (Enrolled Cloverbuds Only) in the Grass Area
- 4 PM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 6 PM: GVGRA Barrel Racing in the Grandstands (**FREE ENTRY)
- 6 PM: Chris Mabrey Comedy Hypnosis on the Stage
- 6:30 PM – 9 PM: 4-H/FFA Market Swine Showmanship Show in the Indoor Arena
- 8 PM – 10 PM: Rockin’ A Team on the Stage
- Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021
- 9 AM: Gates open to the public: $1 gate entry fee (CASH ONLY) or a donation of a canned food item
- 9 AM – 11 AM: 4-H/FFA Market Swine Show in the Indoor Arena
- 10 AM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 11 AM – 9 PM: $5 Unlimited Bounce Houses open
- 11 AM – 12 PM: People’s Choice Beautiful Baby Contest on the Stage (Pre-registration required)
- 11:30 AM – 3 PM: 4-H/FFA Market Sheep Show in the Indoor Arena
- 1 PM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 3 PM – 4 PM: 4-H/FFA Goat Show in the Indoor Arena
- 3 PM – 4 PM: 4-H/FFA Rabbit Show in the Veteran’s Building
- 3 PM: Chris Mabrey Comedy Hypnosis on the Stage
- 4 PM- 5:30 PM: 4-H/FFA Poultry Show in the Veteran’s Building
- 5 PM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 5:30 PM – 7 PM: 4-H/FFA Demonstration Contest in the Veteran’s Building
- 7 PM: Chris Mabrey Comedy Hypnosis on the Stage
- 7 PM: Utah Horse Pullers in the Grandstands (**FREE ENTRY)
- 8:30 PM – 10 PM: Rockin’ A Team on the Stage
- Friday, Aug. 20, 2021
- 9 AM – Gates open to the public: $1 gate entry fee (CASH ONLY)
- 9 AM – 1 PM: 4-H/FFA Beef Shows (including open class) in the Indoor Arena
- 10 AM – 9 PM: $5 Unlimited Bounce Houses Open
- 10 AM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 12 PM: 2 Bro’s Hypno Show on the Stage
- 1 PM – 3 PM: 4H/FFA Dairy Show in the Indoor Arena
- 2 PM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 4 PM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM: 4-H/FFA Round Robin Contest in the Indoor Arena
- 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: 4-H/FFA Livestock Awards Ceremony in the Indoor Arena\
- 6 PM: 2 Bro’s Hypno Show on the Stage
- 7 PM: Bull Wars in the Grandstands- Gates open at 5 PM:
- (Tickets: Adults 14+ $10, Kids 7-13 $6, Family Pass $40 2 Adults, 4 Kids
- Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021
- 9 AM – Gates open to the public: $1 gate entry fee (CASH ONLY)
- 8:30 AM – 1 PM: 4-H/FFA Jr Market Animal Preview Auction/Livestock Sale in the Indoor Arena
- 10 AM – 9 PM: $5 Unlimited Bounce Houses Open
- 10 AM – Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 12 PM: 2 Bro’s Hypno Show on the Stage
- 2 PM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 3 PM – 4:30 PM: 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging in the Indoor Arena
- 4 PM: Corbin Maxey Animal Expert on the Stage
- 6 PM: 2 Bro’s Hypno Show on the Stage
- 7 PM: Arenacross in the Grandstands- Gates open at 5 PM: (TICKETS $13 FOR AGES 4+)