New ag-related attractions set for Four States Fair

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Sept. 16, 2004 - It's Four States Fair and Rodeo time in Texarkana and the 60th annual event is offering some new agricultural additions during the nine-day run which begins on Sept. 17.

One big attraction set for this year's event is the Sept. 17 performance by "Redneck Woman" Gretchen Wilson, who will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Although Wilson is new to the country music scene, she is nominated for five Country Music Association awards.

The ag-related scene at the fair will include a new attraction this year - Project AG, an agricultural learning center, designed for children of all ages. The project involves an ag corner, located on the north side of Finley's barnyard, the big red barn which has been a meeting place on the fairgrounds for decades.

The ag corner will include fun-filled activities such as the dairy game show, a hay bale maze, Hollie Holstein, tires filled with corn, and various agricultural displays. Assisting with the ag corner will be area FFA and 4-H members.

The dairy game show will allow children to reveal their knowledge of the dairy industry. The knowledge should be fresh if they have recently watched Southwest Dairy's mobile classroom, which will be set up at the fairgrounds again this year.

For those children who have never had a hands-on experience of milking a cow, Hollie Holstein should fit their hand. The mechanical fiberglass cow will stand still and not kick, as children are taught the technique of milking.

Playing in the corn tires, similar to playing in a sand box, should provide a fun time for small youngsters. Plus, children can seek a way through the hay maze.

Borden’s Elsie the cow and her calf Beauregard are making a repeat performance at the fair.

Another favorite at the fair is Finley’s barnyard. The barnyard, with the help of the Atlanta FFA, will feature typical barnyard animals such as ducks, horses, cows, pigs, goats, and chickens. Youngsters will get to cuddle with some of the animals in the petting zoo. New under the roof will be Bone Bash, a calcium display.

Changes have been made with the livestock exhibit show. This year, the Junior Beef Cattle Short-hair judging will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17 and the Long-hair judging will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18. In previous years, these shows were held the last Friday and Saturday of the fair, but due to conflicting schedules with the East Texas Fair in Tyler, the dates were changed.

Something new for this year’s livestock exhibit is the open dairy show, which will begin at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25.

Other livestock shows include open goat show, junior market lamb show, open beef cattle show, open llama show and open horse show.

The PRCA rodeo, produced by Neal Gay’s Rafter G Rodeo Company from Mesquite, will be held at 7:30 p.m. nightly beginning Sept. 22.

For a complete calendar of events listing, or for Gretchen Wilson concert information, call 870-773-2941 or www.fourstatesfair.com.