By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Get ready for eight days of carnival fun with Moo'in & Groovin' at the Ellis County Fair in Hays.
From today through July 20, visit the Ellis County Fairgrounds, 1344 Fairground Road, to enjoy car races, rodeos, barrel races, monster trucks, and exhibits and livestock shows from 4-Hers and open-class entries.
"This year, we're building on family fun activities," Ellis County Fair Association President Jill Pfannenstiel said. "We do have a petting zoo, and it's going to be bigger than last year with camel and horse rides."
Moo'in & Groovin' kicks off with RPM Speedway Car Races at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and the carnival and food vendors set up on Tuesday.
The KPRA Rodeo will feature cowboys and cowgirls riding, roping, wrestling and racing for 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night' on Tuesday and 'Patriotic Night' on Wednesday. Both events start at 6:30 p.m.
After the rodeo, the competition continues with cowgirls in barrel racing at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18, which is free to the public.
Wrapping up with a bang, the monster truck thrill show will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20, with a free pit party at 6 p.m.
"RPM Speedway is a great partner. We pay them to put the races on, and they let us host the monster truck show at the grandstands," Pfannenstiel said.
Thorni Ridge Exotics petting zoo will return with a variety of animals, including zebras, kangaroos, ostriches and lemurs, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday through July 20.
The Ellis County Fair offers a range of ticket options, including week passes, single-night tickets, family packs and carnival armbands priced from $12 to $140. Admission is free for children 5 years and younger.
You can find more information on tickets and ticket outlets in Hays here.
The fair is made possible by volunteers. Pfannenstiel said the fair board met throughout the year to discuss improvements for this year's fair.
"We are putting buildings up, fixing water leaks and maintaining the fairgrounds," she said. "A lot of us are parents. We're spouses. We have full-time jobs already, and we are running this event on our own time."
The Ellis County Fair is supported by 4-H members, the Ellis County Commission, sponsors and superintendents but continues to face challenges this year.
Although the fair offers free entertainment like barrel races and petting zoos, these services still need to be paid for. Sponsorship money is essential for this but has become increasingly difficult to secure.
"We're out there pounding the pavement asking for sponsorships. Some years we gain a couple more, but then we lose some," Pfannenstiel said.
Assistance is still needed for parking cars and directing traffic during the busy hours of each night's main event. Shifts vary from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and offer pay.
Anyone interested in volunteering or sponsorship information can contact the Ellis County Fair on Facebook or reach out to a board member through the Ellis County Fair website.
4-H Youth Development-Ellis County will also host events that teach youth to serve their communities, make decisions and prepare for careers.
"4-H teaches these kids life skills that they need for the rest of their lives," Pfannenstiel said.
The development club is exclusive to members ages 5 to 18, while the open classes are available to the public.
Entry categories include photography, food preservation, livestock, visual arts, and arts and crafts. A full list of events and rules for 4-H and open class can be found in their handbooks.
Anyone wishing to enter an open-class exhibit can do so on Monday before the week of competitions.
"We hope the public checks out the fair, support our local youth and consider entering projects next year if they are not able to this year," Pfannenstiel said.
Additional activities to look forward to include laser tag, bounce houses, face painting, obstacle courses, axe throwing and mutton busting.
Some of the food to go along with the fun includes burgers, funnel cakes, cheesecake and snow cones.
For more information, you can follow Ellis County Fair on Facebook and visit its website.