WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community Fair knows a good thing when they see it and this year they’re doubling down on the success in recent years with Monster Trucks shows.

[caption id="attachment_114213" align="alignright" width="380"] A view of the 2023 Monster Truck show at the Kosciuko County Fairgrounds. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Tonight is the first of two consecutive monster truck shows in the grandstand. The next one is Wednesday night.

Darrell Hicks, a longtime employee of Montieth Tire, organized the first monster truck show nine years ago to celebrate Monthieth’s 50th year in business and the monster truck tradition caught on quickly.

This year, he's lined up 20 sponsors to support the Extreme Monster Truck Madness.

"It's grown each year. We're up to eight trucks this year, and we don't just get weekend warrior trucks. We get a lot of nationally known trucks, a lot of high end trucks that run in the big circuit," Hicks said.

The annual show has become the biggest draw every year for the fair and has seen an overflow crowd in the grandstand in reent years.

Hicks was asked what drives the popularity of the show.

"I think it's a local community coming together, just like all this equipment sitting out here right now — that's all sponsorships," he said.

Each year, as always, they've changed things up and participants bring a high level of competition, he said.

The talent and price of admission, he said, make the event a superior option compared to anything you'll find at other county fairs.

"This cost is only $8 to get in the gate, and the grandstand is free," Hicks said. "You're not going to see a show like that anywhere," he said.

Hicks said he'll begin working on next year's program next week.

"I just enjoy it. It's something for me to give back to the community, help the fair out. Here again, we couldn't do it without our sponsors," he said.

The pit party, a popular chance for fans to see the trucks and drivers up close on the track, starts at 6 p.m.

Both shows this week begin at 7 p.m.

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WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community Fair parade is Sunday, July 6.

Here are a few details ahead of the event.

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WARSAW — Plans for two pageants that have traditionally been part of the Kosciusko County Community Fair have been cancelled for lack of participation.

The decision impacts the Fair Queen and teen pageants.

Jeanette Wood, the fairgrounds' general manager, provided an update after a message was posted on the Community Fair's Facebook page.

Wood said Wednesday that they have seen a decrease in recent years in participation, but realized the problem was bigger this year.

Officials realized there was a problem a week ago at the scheduled call-out meeting for potential contestants.

"We had one girl come out to the call-out meeting," Wood said. "The pageant was scheduled for June 14 ... there just wasn't a whole lot of time to get everything done that needed to be done."

"We just decided to rebuild, come back next year, stronger, fresher and hopefully have more participation," Wood said.

She said financial support for scholarships awarded to the winners was not an issue.

The decision was initially announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that blamed it on unforeseen circumstances.

On Wednesday afternoon, a new post clarified the issue. It reads:

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WARSAW --  It was a dream come true for Kosciusko County Surveyor Mike Kissinger on Tuesday at the Kosciusko County Community Fair. 

Kissinger has always had a fascination with carnivals and vendors which are always a big part of county fairs. 

And with the help of County Recorder Deb Wright, his dream of working as a carnival worker came true. 

Wright arranged to have Kissinger fulfill a lifelong bucket list dream of working at the fair.  

For a short time on Tuesday night, Kissinger found himself in one of the booths where spectators have a chance to win prizes by shooting hoops.

Friends said he was thrilled at the notion and enjoyed the opportunity.

The post Dream job? County surveyor steps into one briefly at community fair appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW --  The 106th Annual Kosciusko County Community Fair will be “out of this world” during the multi-day event.

The fair is July 10-15 at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. Parking is free and admission is from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Adults, 10 to 64 years old, are $8. Seniors 65 and older are $3, and children 9 and younger are free. Weekly admission for adults is $40.

The fair kicks off on Sunday, July 9 with the annual parade.

Fair lunch passes (yellow ticket only) are sold at the main gate C and are available weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Park at the main gate C. Pick up the pass at the main gate ticket booth with a $5 deposit. Enter at the main gate. Return to the main gate by 2 p.m. for a full refund with a yellow ticket only.

Here are the list of events for the fair, as listed in the information provided by the fair. All events are subject to change and more information can be found online at kcfair.com.

Fair Shows/Events

Sunday, July 9

• 8:30 a.m. Harrison Center Church service, event center

• 3 p.m. Parade line up, Warsaw Police Department parking lot

• 3:30 p.m. 21st annual parade starts at Center Street to the main entrance to the fairgrounds

• 6 p.m. Opening ceremonies for the 106th Kosciusko County Community Fair, horse arena

• 6:30 p.m. gospel sing/evening services, event center

Monday, July 10

• Opening day of the 106th Annual Kosciusko County Fair

• 1 p.m. Admission gates open

• 1 p.m. Commercial tent opens

• 3 and 7 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• 5:30 p.m. children’s pageants (Miss & Mister Toddler), event center

• 6 p.m. children’s pageant (Miss & Mister Preschool), event center

• 6 p.m. midway opens

• 6:45 p.m. children’s pageants (Little Miss & Mister), event center

• 7:30 p.m. Broken Horn IPRA World Champion Rodeo, grandstands

• 7:45 p.m. children’s pageants (Jr. Miss & Mister), event center

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Tuesday, July 11

• Kiddies Day/4-H Leader Appreciation Day

• 9-10 a.m. kids free breakfast, event center

• 9 a.m. commercial tent opens

• 10 a.m. Lake City Bank Coin Hunt, event center

• 10:30 a.m. Baby Dinos Meet and Greet, event center

• 11 a.m. Fun with the Queen and Court, event center

• 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• Noon Deb Collier’s School of Dance, event center

• 2 and 3:30 p.m. Silly Safari’s, event center

• 2 p.m. carnival rides open Kiddies Day Special 1 ticket ride day, Midway

• 4 p.m. pie judging, event center

• 5 p.m. Kiddies Pedal Pull Registration ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, top three in each age group will receive a prize, main drive by the fair office

• 5 to 7:30 p.m. tag art, event center

• 6 to 7 p.m. monster mash pit party, track area

• 7:30 pp.m. Monster Truck Mash, grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Wednesday, July 12

• Senior Day, Seniors 65 and Better, $1 admission

• Community Day

• 8 a.m. Miller’s Senior Living welcomes seniors, event center

• 8 a.m. free senior breakfast, event center

• 9 a.m. gates open

• 9 a.m. singing performance, event center

• 9 a.m. senior programs and entertainment, event center

• 9 a.m. senior programs and entertainment, event center

• 9 a.m. free blood pressure checks, event center

• 9 a.m. commercial tent opens

• 10 a.m. senior bingo and euchre, event center

• Noon performance, event center

• 1 p.m. free senior ice cream social, event center

• 2 and 7 p.m. senior lion splash, commercial tent area

• 3 p.m. carnival rides open, midway

• 4 p.m. pie baking judging, fair office

• 7 to 7:30 p.m. jazz ensemble, event center

• 7:30 p.m. KOI Drags, grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Thursday, July 13

• Farmer’s Day/Trucker’s Day

• United States Military Day

• 9 a.m. gates open

• 10:30 a.m. Baby Dino Meet and Greet, event center

• 1 p.m. commercial tent opens

• 1, 4 and 6:30 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• 3 p.m. carnival rides open, midway

• 5 to 7 p.m. tag art, event center

• 6 p.m. Kosciusko’s Got Talent (all ages), event center

• 7:30 p.m. Bogg’s Boyz Mud Bogs, Grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Friday, July 14

• Sponsorship and Media Day

• 9 a.m. gates open

• 1 p.m. commercial tent opens

• Noon to 1 p.m. Lions Karate of North Webster, event center

• 1 to 4 p.m. hot dog eating contest registration, event center

• 3 p.m. carnival rides open, midway

• 3:30 and 7 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• 5 p.m. hot dog eating contest, event center

• 5 to 7 p.m. Paw Patrol Marshall, Chase and Sky Meet and Greet, event center

• 7 to 10 p.m. Karaoke with Chris Cage

• 7:30 p.m. Demolition Derby, Grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes

Saturday, July 15

• 8 a.m. Show and Shine registration, point area

• 1 p.m. gates open

• 1 p.m. carnival rides open

• 1 p.m. commercial tent opens

• 1 p.m. sea lion splash, commercial tent are

• 2 p.m. Show and Shine judging starts, channel area

• 3 to 5 p.m. spiderman and elsa meet and greet, event center

• 5 to 7 p.m., sea lion splash, commercial tent area

• 7:30 p.m. truck and tractor pulls, grandstand

• 8 p.m. commercial tent closes, commercial tent area

Extension Homemakers Shows/Events

Sunday, July 9

• 1 to 9 p.m., Home and Family Arts building

Monday, July 10

• Noon to 9 p.m., Home and Family Arts Building, open

Tuesday, July 11

• 11:30 a.m. Department Best of Show and Champion Pictures for Media, open

• Noon to 9 p.m. Home and Family Building, open

Wednesday, July 12

• 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Home and Family Arts Building, open

Thursday, July 13

• Noon to 9 p.m. Home and Family Arts building, open

Friday, July 14

• Noon to 9 p.m. Home and Family Arts Building, open

• 5 p.m. winners announced for silent basket auction, HFA building

• 5 p.m, drawing for quilt and other items, HFA building

Saturday, July 15

• 10 a.m. to noon, release of exhibits

Antique Tractor/Village Shows/Events

Sunday, July 9

• After parade homemade icecream, antique area

• After parade kettle corn, antique area

Monday, July 10

• 4 to 8 p.m. tractor driving experience, antique area

• 7 p.m. Demonstration: Old Time Sawmill, antique area

Tuesday, July 11

• 5 p.m. kettle corn, antique area

• 5:30 p.m. sweet corn, antique area

• 5:30 p.m. homemade ice cream, antique area

• Noon to 8 p.m. tractor driving experience, antique area

Wednesday, July 12

• 5:30 p.m. Cast Iron Chill, antique area

• 4 to 8 p.m. tractor driving experience, antique area

• 7 p.m. Demonstration: Old Time Sawmill, antique area

Thursday, July 13

• 5:30 p.m. kettle corn, antique area

• 5:30 p.m. over the fire ham and beans, antique area

• 5:30 p.m. homemade ice cream, antique area

• 4 to 8 p.m., tractor driving experience, antique area

Friday, July 14

• 4 to 8 p.m. tractor driving experience, antique area.

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