Fairgoers hoping to show off their stick horse-racing, beet-growing, beer-brewing or watermelon-eating skills will want to circle Wednesday on their Park County Fair calendar.

Wednesday, July 24, is Park County Day at the fair, featuring a series of contests and activities throughout the day before capping off with a dance. Ad-mission is free until 1 p.m., with seniors and
military members re-ceiving discounted $3 admission after that.

The day is sponsored by Pinnacle Bank.

The Park County Bred and Fed Contest kicks off the day’s events at 9 a.m. with a series of beef, lamb, goat and swine shows in the beef show ring.

Like the fair’s other livestock shows, the Bred and Fed contest features local youth showcasing the animals they’ve raised, but it differs in that it only includes livestock that were born and raised in Park County. Many steers come from Colorado, some goats hail from Indiana and pigs at the fair may have been born in Texas, South Dakota, Iowa or some other state, said Sara Skalsky, a member of the fair’s advisory board. “They come from all over.”

She called the locally focused Bred and Fed contest a “really good” thing.

“Some of those show animals are pretty pricey, so it just gives those kids that are staying local a chance to see where they stack up,” she said, adding that local youth put in a lot of work getting their project ready for the fair.

Continuing with the agricultural theme, local growers are invited to compete in a largest beet contest at 10 a.m. in the show ring. As for local brewers, they’re invited to submit their best ale or other brew for a home brew contest, judged at 5 p.m.

Squeezed in the middle of the day at high noon will be a duck race fundraiser for the Park County FairGROUNDS Foundation outside the poultry barn.

Park County Day also features a slew of activities for children.

At 11 a.m., Treasure Valley Seed Co. is sponsoring some kid-focused activities at Homesteader Hall. At 1 p.m., the Powell Elks will sponsor some races near the Park County 4-H garden, just a short distance from the carnival. Pedal tractor races are set to follow at 2:30 p.m. outside Heart Mountain Hall, with stick horse races beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the show ring.

Meanwhile, adults and kids alike can compete in a watermelon-eating contest at 4 p.m. As for folks looking to eat a treat at a more leisurely pace, they can grab some ice cream, as an ice cream social will be hosted alongside the watermelon event.

Finally, Park County Day will wind down with a dance outside Heart Mountain Hall, featuring music by The Rewinders. The dancing begins at 8:30 p.m.

While Park County Day is the only day of the fair to feature additional events, the other days of the fair will also feature unique themes.

Tuesday (which is highlighted by pig mud wrestling) is Go Hog Wild Day, sponsored by the Big Horn Radio Network, Thursday is Community Spirit Day, sponsored by Northwest College, Friday is Stay Cool With TCT while Saturday, the final day of the fair, is Country Pride-County Wide, sponsored by Everlast Metal.