MANHATTAN, Kan. - After COVID-19 ruined one of the highlights of the summer months in 2020, the Riley County Fair will make its highly-anticipated return next week.
Gary Fike, Riley County Research and Extension Director, provided an update on the upcoming fair, and what all has gone into returning one of the staples of summer to Manhattan.
"We're having a full fair, a full carnival, everything." said Fike. "So there's going to be a full carnival, everybody will be able to go in and out of Pottorf Hall to see the 4H exhibits, watch the livestock shows, there's going to be a rodeo every night, so everything is normal."
Fike added that coming of off last year, it was a challenge to arrange everything, but credited his colleagues from the K-State Research and Extension offices, as well as City of Manhattan Parks and Recreation department, among others, for working together to make sure the 2021 Riley County Fair went on.
"Basically, planning for the fair is year-round," Fike added. "There's a thousand details, and last year was like any other year obviously because we didn't have a carnival, which reduced the crowd size, we did a lot of our judging of projects one-on-one between the judge and the 4H-er and nobody else was allowed in the building, and then people weren't allowed to go in Pottorf and see all the finished 4H projects,"
Fike went on to credit 4H parents and volunteers for helping set up pin and tents and a variety of pieces that help the fair take place, but also expressed his gratitude to even be able to hold a full fair this year.
The 2021 Riley County Fair will officially kick off on Thursday, July 22nd with all 4H livestock arriving, as well as the Kaw Valley Rodeo beginning at 8p.m.. The fair will continue over the next five days, wrapping up with the sale of 4H livestock on Monday night.
For a full schedule of events at the Riley County Fair, visit RileyCountyFair.com.