Big Four Fair kicks off three-day run Friday

Published by admin on Fri, 06/16/2023 - 3:08pm

A giant American flag led last year’s Hometown Celebration Parade in downtown Postville that is held the Friday of the Big Four Fair. (Herald file photo)

By:

John Jensen

Mid-America Publishing

POSTVILLE — The 2023 Big Four Fair kicks off its three-day run Friday. The event, which includes the Hometown Celebration and Allamakee County Dairy Days Parade and the crowning of Postville’s Little Miss and Little Mister, features several 4-H and FFA livestock shows as well as contests for youth and adults and a pair of bands playing Friday and Saturday evening.

Events kick off Friday morning with judging in the junior division and the Dress Review and Clothing Selection categories. Open class judging begins at 1 p.m. with the dog show taking place at 3 p.m. Smoking Gun Showdown takes the Big Four Fair stage at 8:30 p.m. Friday.

The Hometown Celebration parade starts at 7 p.m. and runs a route through downtown. This year’s parade also serves as the Allamakee County Dairy Days Parade. Following the parade is the crowning of Postville’s Little Miss and Little Mister.

Saturday’s events open with a 5K run sponsored by the Northeast Iowa Wellness and Recreation Center at 7:30 p.m. The barbecue cookoff begins at 8 a.m. with the LEGO® creations judging beginning at 9. The popular kiddie tractor pull takes place at 10 a.m. with Woodshed Reboot taking the stage at 8 p.m.

Livestock shows set for Saturday include the dairy show at 9 a.m., rabbit show at 3:30 p.m., meat goat show at 5 p.m. and the hog show at 6 p.m.

Sunday events include the sheep show at 9 a.m. and the beef show at 11 a.m.

Livestock shows serve as a precursor to the larger fairs to come for many of the livestock exhibitors. Last year Zoe Walz and Peyton Gaul were the top exhibitors in the beef show while Dillon Sparrgrove and Taylor Sparrgrove took top honors in the dairy show. Top dog show winners included Anna Horthaus and Tenley Deering while Amelya Weigand and Breanna Moudry were the top goat show winners and Bella Battin showed the Best of Show rabbit. Taylor Luzum and Brenna Berns were the top exhibitors in the sheep show while Thea Bockenstedt showed the grand champion in the swine show.

For more details on this year’s festivities, including information on the Little Miss and Little Mister candidates, see the special section inside today’s Herald.