Colfax Free Fair begins Thursday, June 15 ­‑ chicken dinner is on for Sunday, June 19

by LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX — Although there was some doubt initially whether there was going to be a chicken dinner on Sunday, June 18, at the Colfax Free Fair, the chicken dinner is on the schedule again.

The Colfax FFA Alumni will be sponsoring the chicken dinner on Sunday, said Steve Ackerlund, president of the Colfax Fair Board.

There are a couple of FFA Alumni members who will be grilling the chicken, he said.

For the past few years, Holden Lutheran Church had been sponsoring the chicken dinner, and before that, it was the Colfax Kiwanis Club.

“We wanted to keep the chicken dinner going at the fair, so we decided to take it on for this year,” Ackerlund said.

Chicken dinners on Sunday at the fair have been a tradition for decades, including the Harmon Chicken Dinners from about 50 years ago. 

“We are hoping to find someone to take over next year,” Ackerlund said.

Any organization in or around Colfax that would like to put on the chicken dinner for next year’s Colfax Free Fair can contact Ackerlund for more information.

“This way, we have a whole year for someone else to plan (the chicken dinner) and get on board with it,” Ackerlund said.

The schedule on Sunday, June 18, begins at 10:30 a.m. with the Bethany Worship Band, followed at 11 a.m. by the non-denominational church service.

The chicken dinner will follow the church service.

Cake Auction

The cake auction will be held at 6 p.m. on the opening day of the fair Thursday, June 15.

According to the cake auction bidding sheet, the cakes are made by 4-H or FFA members who are encouraged to tell about how many years they have been in 4-H or FFA and why they enjoyed baking the cake.

The money from the cake auction goes back to the person who baked the cake, most often a graduating senior who will use the money for college, Ackerlund said.

Proceeds from some of the cakes are donated to the FFA alumni, too, he noted.

Fireworks

Fireworks are scheduled for the Colfax Free Fair at 10 p.m. Friday, June 16.

Auction

The FFA Alumni Auction, featuring pigs and beef cattle, as well as a couple of sheep or goats in one year or the next, will be held on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. in the livestock barn.

The FFA Alumni Auction has traditionally been at 1 p.m. on Sunday after the chicken dinner.

Sunday, June 18, is Father’s Day, and some of the buyers would not be able to be there on Sunday, so the fair board decided to schedule the auction for Saturday evening, Ackerlund said.

There will be more animals at the fair this year, he noted.

In addition to 4-H and FFA meat animals, the auction also typically features a few rabbits and poultry (and sometimes baby goats!) as well as donated items such as flowering plants, garden plants, pizzas from A Little Slice of Italy and other assorted items.

Wristbands

Wristband times will be available all four days of the fair and will cost $20 for each day.

Thursday wristbands will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday wristbands will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday wristbands are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday wristbands are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Judging

Judging at the Colfax Free Fair starts at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in the livestock barn with small animal judging, which includes rabbits and poultry.

At 1 p.m. Thursday, arts and crafts judging will begin in the arts and crafts building.

If arts and crafts exhibitors submit 10 or more exhibits, for every 10 exhibits, his or her name will be included in a drawing for $100.

Friday, June 16, livestock judging begins at 9 a.m. with swine, immediately followed by goats.

Dairy judging will immediately follow the goats but will begin no sooner than 1 p.m.

Beef judging will follow the dairy judging, and sheep judging will follow the beef judging.

Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m. will be the Dunn County Dairy Open Show in the livestock barn.

The Dunn County Dairy Open Show has been held at the Colfax Free Fair for more than 35 years and provides an opportunity for dairy farmers around the region to show their “best of the best” from calves to mature milk cows.

Stage

From 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday on the stage at the Colfax Fairgrounds will be “Melody of the Local Bands.”

At 7 p.m. Friday, fair awards will be presented on the stage.

Sunday, the Bethany Worship Band and the non-denominational church service will originate from the stage.

Beer garden

At 8 p.m. on Thursday there will be Trivia in the Beer Tent.

From 8 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Ranger Rudy and the Swinging Wingtips will be performing in the beer garden at the fairgrounds.

John Lynch, an original member of “The Memories,” is a singer and songwriter who performs with Ranger Rudy and the Swinging Wingtips. 

From 8 p.m. until midnight on Saturday, Hillbilly Fever will be performing in the beer garden.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Pete and Craig will perform live music.

The Colfax Free Fair ends with wristbands from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.