By Sara Wiercinski

The Johnson County Fair, featuring its annual mid-summer fun, begins July 28 and ends Aug. 3 at the county fairgrounds in downtown Gardner.

Admission is free to the fairgrounds, 136 E. Washington St., with free nightly entertainment at the Midway stage. Admission fees to the Main Event Arena, including amateur flat track races, rodeo and demolition derby, vary. Tickets may be purchased at the Main Event Arena box office.

This year’s theme, “Show It, Sew It, Grow It,” highlights the fair’s role as the final showcase for 4-H youth who have worked all year on livestock, food and cooking, and static projects like sewing, art, woodworking, and so much more.

Throughout the week, 4-H youth will display their showmanship skills in the livestock barn as they exhibit their cows, sheep, goats, pigs and more. Adults and youth who are not in the 4-H program can demonstrate their artistic or culinary skills by participating in the fair ’s open class competitions.

4-H’ers and their families from all 16 clubs staff the Food Stand, which is reputed to have tasty burgers. The parade at 10 a.m. Saturday marks the final fair day.

Aging adults are welcome to attend “Silver Clovers at the Fair,” a special event from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, when all fair buildings will be open exclusively to them. They can enjoy a free light breakfast at the 4-H building, tour the fairgrounds with the Johnson County 4-H Ambassadors, and meet 4-H youth and learn about their projects.

This event is sponsored by Silver Clovers, a project of Johnson County K-State Research and Extension to enrich the lives of adults ages 50 and older.

Accessible parking is available next to the 4-H Building.

The Johnson County Fair, as we know it, has been around since 1939, when the Spring Hill 4-H and Gardner Community fairs were combined into one event. Now in its 85th year, the county fair will continue to bring together the community and provide memories for generations to come.

Learn more about the Johnson County Fair at jocokansasfair.com.

For more information about “Silver Clovers at the Fair,” visit tinyurl.com/SilverClovers.

Sara Wiercinski is communications manager at the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office.