By the time this week’s edition of the Gasconade County Republican hits area newsstands, it will be time for the 77th Gasconade County Fair to begin on the upper and lower fields of Memorial Park.

Opening night tonight (Wednesday) will be highlighted on the upper field by the crowning of the 2024 Little Mr. and Miss Gasconade County in addition to retiring 2023 Gasconade County Fair Queen Ahna Rasmussen crowning her successor during the 2024 Gasconade County Fair Queen Contest.

Down on the lower field at 7 p.m., will be the annual Caden Moss Memorial Bull Riding and Barrel Racing event put on by Rafter 7P Rodeo Productions.

Moss tragically lost his life due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident in the state of Kansas back in April of 2020.

Prior to the Little Mr. and Miss and Queen contests, an opening ceremony including presentations of the Gasconade County Fair Board Scholarship winners and Community Service awards will be held at 6 p.m., on the main stage.

After pageantry and a rodeo to open the 77th Gasconade County Fair, day two of the fair on Thursday, July 25 will kick off bright and early at 9 a.m., with Market Barrow, Gilt and Swine Shows.

An hour later at 10 a.m., a 4-H Bucket Calf Show and Pee Wee Bucket Calf Show will be held at 10 a.m., inside the sale arena.

Starting the afternoon of day two will be the Dairy Cattle Show at 1 p.m., followed later in the afternoon by the annual Gasconade County Fair Parade.

It will begin along first street in downtown Owensville before ending at the fairgrounds.

Carnival rides will operate from 6-11 p.m., on the upper portion of the fairgrounds while the lower field will be full of carnage and destruction.

Beginning shortly after the start of the parade at 6 p.m., will be a lawnmower derby on the lower field.

Back towards the upper part of the fairgrounds at 7 p.m., will be the annual Steer Show in addition to the Market Lamb and Goat Show.

While the annual Demolition Derby is taking place at 7 p.m., in the lower field, Sofie and the New Relics will open on the main stage at 7:30 p.m., prior to Zac Brown taking the stage at 8:30 a.m.

Friday fair activities will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the Beef Cattle Breeds Show followed shortly thereafter at 9 a.m., by the Sheep and Goat Breeding Show.

Agri-Tot Land for young fair fans will open from 10 a.m., until 9 p.m., on Friday while carnival rides will operate from 1-5 p.m., and again from 6-11 p.m.

In addition to the carnival rides Friday night, a sanctioned pedal tractor pull for children ages 3-10 will be held underneath the pavilion between the horseshoe pits and the grandstand at 6 p.m., with sign-ups beginning at 5:30 p.m.

While youngsters are looking to pedal their way to a full pull, adults will be looking to use diesel and gasoline to help them achieve a full pull on the lower field.

Organizations holding truck and tractor pulls on the lower field beginning at 6 p.m., will include the Ozark Highlanders Association, the Eastern Missouri Truck Pullers and the Garden Tractor Pullers of Mid-Missouri Association.

These pulls could easily go into the early morning hours of the final day of the 77th Gasconade County Fair.

Local band Barely Covered will provide entertainment in the lower field beer garden from 8 p.m., until closing time while country music headliner Sawyer Brown will provide musical entertainment for fair goers on the main stage at 8:30 p.m., on the upper field.

Activity during the final day of the fair on Saturday will start at 8 a.m., with the annual car show put on by the Gasconade Timing Association (GTA).

Events kicking off the afternoon portion of the last day at high noon will include a Sheep and Goat Costume exhibition, the 29th Annual Kingsford Barbecue Cook off and the annual cornhole tournament in the lower field beer garden.

Like they were Friday, carnival rides will be operational from 1-5 p.m., and again from 6-11 p.m.

Area businesses and individuals will be bidding on cattle, sheep, goats and swine amongst other fair animals during the annual youth livestock sale at 3 p.m., inside the sale arena.

Kids ages 4-8 can also hunt for silver during the annual nickel scramble at 6 p.m., put on by the Gasconade County Fair Board and the Owensville High School (OHS) chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA).

After all of the nickels have been found, More truck and tractor pull action will take place beginning at 7 p.m., down on the lower field with the Missouri Farm Pullers Association and the XCalibur Pulling Association each competing.

A local farm pull will also be held after the two aforementioned associations have completed their pulls.

Local band Centerstage will provide musical entertainment from 8 p.m., until the close of the 77th Gasconade County Fair in the lower field beer garden while Sara Evans will grace the main stage at 8:30 p.m., to close out the festivities.

Nightly horseshoe tournaments will also be held in the pits located behind the grandstand.

Luster-Owens Owensville Horseshoe Pitching Club members will be competing throughout the fair and will be available to provide information about joining their club.