County fairs have all the fun of the state fair, just on a smaller scale -- rides, games, livestock shows, beauty queens, talent shows, rodeos and blue ribbons for all manner of handiwork, from perishable baked goods and preserved vegetables to perennial quilts and fine art.
Visitors to the Montgomery County Fair can be seen in these Aug. 15 photos participating in such activities at the fairgrounds in Mount Ida, the county seat. The big draw at this rural county's fair is the rodeo. On a rodeo night, says Montgomery County Fair secretary Jennifer Barrett, the fair will attract as many as 700 people.
Arkansas' county fairs started in July and will continue to take place around the state up until the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show, which begins Oct. 10. More information can be found at the Arkansas Fair Managers Association website, arkansasfairs.com.
Fairs taking place through this weekend and future fairs are listed below.
Arkansas County Fair, Dewitt, through Saturday
Baxter County Fair, Mountain Home, through Saturday
Clark County Fair, Arkadelphia, through Saturday
Crawford County Fair, Mulberry, through Saturday
Garland County Fair, Hot Springs, through Saturday
Lafayette County Fair, Lewisville, through Saturday
Lincoln County Fair, Star City, through Saturday
Nevada County Fair, Prescott, through Saturday
North Franklin County Fair, Ozark, through Saturday
Pope County Fair, Russellville, through Saturday
Union County Fair, El Dorado, through Saturday
Van Buren County Fair, Clinton, through Saturday
White County Fair, Searcy, through Saturday
Yell County Fair, Danville, through Saturday
Clay County Fair, Piggott, Wednesday-Saturday
Chicot County Fair, Eudora, Saturday-Sept. 19
Calhoun County Fair, Hampton, Monday-Sept. 20
Columbia County Fair, Magnolia, Monday-Sept. 20
Grant County Fair, Sheridan, Monday-Sept. 20
Pike County Fair, Glenwood, Monday-Sept. 20
Cleveland County Fair, Rison, Sept. 16-20
Faulkner County Fair, Conway, Sept. 16-20
Perry County Fair, Perryville, Sept. 16-20
Prairie County Fair, Hazen, Sept. 16-20
Lonoke County Fair, Lonoke, Sept. 17- 20
Bradley County Fair, Warren, Sept. 18-20
Drew County Fair, Monticello, Sept. 22-27
Arkansas State Fair, Little Rock, Oct. 10-19.
Style on 09/09/2014