The Great Jones County Fair cannot guarantee the validity of tickets that are purchased through anyone other than the Great Jones County Fair box office or our ticketing partner eTix.
The Great Jones County Fair cannot guarantee the validity of tickets that are purchased through anyone other than the Great Jones County Fair box office or our ticketing partner eTix.
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July 22-26, 2026

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Contests and Open Shows

Great Jones County Fair Queen Contest Image Decorative

Visit Greatjonescountyfair.com or contact the fair office. 

Contest date is Sunday, July 12th at 6:00 pm – Door open at 5:30 pm 

Coronation will be Tuesday, July 21st at 6:00 pm 

Open Horse Show Event Header Image Decorative

Sunday, July 19, 2026 

9:00am 

Equestrian Center 

Entry Fee- $6.00 per class, $750 added to prize money 

Full day of pleasure and game classes. MWHA Accredited Show. 

Show Bill will be on the website by June 1st.  

Amateur Photography Contest Event Image Decorative

COMING SOON

Wine-Making & Charcuterie Board Content Image Decorative

COMING SOON

Cowgirl Queen Event Image Decorative

Equestrian Center 

3 Divisions  

Senior: 16-25 Junior: 10-16 Princess 10 and under as of 1/1/2024 

Interest in participating? Please visiting www.greatjonescountyfair.com for more detailed information  

Kiddie Dairy Show Event Image Decorative Only

Equestrian Center  

Regulations: 

Calf must have been born after January 1, 2026, and be a dairy animal. 

If you have a child who was enrolled in 3rd grade and under for the school year 2025-2026 who would like to participate in the Kiddie Show, please email fanfarefarms@hotmail.com 

Calves must be in place in barns by 9:00 am on July 22nd. They will be released after the show the same day. Stalls MUST BE CLEANED AT THIS TIME. 

Be ready to show at 10:30 a.m. 

The child must wear blue jeans and white shirt. 

The child will be required to lead the animal by themselves. Adults will be allowed in the show ring if assistance is needed. 

There will be no premium money and no entry fees. Jones County Dairy Producers will provide awards. 

Kiddie Goat Sheep Show Event Header Image Decorative

Stalling Barn 

Divisions: 

Kindergarten & Under 

1st Grade through 3rd Grade 

All sheep and goats will be provided 

Kiddie Pedal Pull Event Image Decorative

Front of Youth Development Center 

All are welcome! Join us. No pre-registration is required.  

Cookie Contest Event Image Decorative

Kid Zone – Berndes Center 

Three divisions for each age group – Adults (18 & over) • Youth (through 17 years) 

Chocolate Chip Only; Chocolate chip and One Other Ingredient; Open Ingredient 

Awards – Plaques in each division with $100 cash prize to be prorated to winners in each division. Cookies will be donated after the contest. Enter at table in the Youth Development Center on Friday between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. Four cookies per plate.  

Stacking Cookies Event Image Decorative

Kid Zone, Berdes Center 

Rules: 

  1. Contestants will have 30 seconds to create the highest possible singlestack of cookies.
  2. Cookies may not be organized prior to stacking.
  3. No adhesives,support, or pyramids may be used.
  4. Cookies may not be broken or twisted apart.
  5. At the end of 30 seconds, contestants must removetheirhands, and the stack must remain standing by itself for three seconds. 
  6. If a child’s stack is knocked down by another child’s stack during the30 second wait period, it will be counted. If it is knocked down duringcompetition, there will be a restart. 

Prizes will be awarded in each category. 

Stein Holding Contest Event Image Decorative

Craft Beer Tent 

Ladies and Men’s division 

How to Compete and Win – 

  • The competitor who can hold their stein with proper form (as described in the rules below) for the longest without being disqualified by the judge will be considered the winner. 
  • An infraction of any rule will result in a strike being issued by the competition judge. After two strikes, the third strike results in the immediate disqualification of the competitor. 
  • If any amount of beer spills or drips off of the stein, the competitor is disqualified, regardless of the number of strikes previously assigned. 
  • Once the match has started and the competitor has extended their arm, they may not set the stein back down, switch hands, or touch the stein with their off hand to make any adjustments to grip. 
Prime Steer Show Event Image Decorative

Show Ring 

Entry Fee – $25 per steer, payable upon arrival.  

1st Prize – $1,500, Belt Buckle, 2nd Prize – $600, Belt Buckle 

3rd Prize – $300, 4th Prize – $225, 5th Prize – $150, 6-10th Prizes – $100 each 

Sponsored by The Jones County Cattlemen and Cargill Animal Nutrition 

Kiddie Beef Show Event Header Image Decorative

Show Ring 

  • Children who are 3 to 10 years old are eligible to participate. (Children 10 years of age must have completed 3rd grade May of this year and are not eligible to participate in 4-H yet).  
  • The child must wear jeans, close toe shoes/boots, and a shirt.  
  • The child will be required to lead the animal by themselves. Ring help will be provided. No other persons are allowed in the ring.  
  • Calf must have been born after January 1, 2026, and must be a beef animal. 
  • Calves will be released after the show. Stalls/area must be cleaned at this time by the show person, parent or guardian.  
  • There will be no premium money and no entry fees. 
Kiddie Beef Show Registration
Bacon Buddies Event Image Decorative

Show Ring 

Bacon Buddies gives individuals who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (Buddies) the opportunity to take a pig into the show ring. Their mentors include 4-H and FFA youth who have volunteered to share that show ring experience right along with them. 

Interest in participating? Please visiting www.greatjonescountyfair.com for more detailed information Â