The 2026 Nemaha County Fair is almost here and runs Aug. 1-13 with the parade scheduled for Monday, August 10.
Saturday, Aug. 1
9 a.m. — Horse Show, 4-H then Open Class.
Wednesday, Aug. 5
6 p.m. — Fairgrounds cleanup/setup.
Friday, Aug. 7 (4-H/FFA/Clover Kid entry only)
3-8 p.m. — Pre-fair judging and entry, FFA/4-H Home Economics, General Areas and Horticulture.
3-7 p.m. — Clover Kid projects entered and interviewed, 4-H building.
Saturday, Aug. 8
8-11 a.m. — Open Class entries, 4-H building (Home Economics, General Areas, Horticulture). Judging follows; building closed to public.
9 a.m. — Archery contest, west of ballfield. Compound bows first; traditional bows, second flight, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 9
4-H food stand and Thrivent-sponsored American Heritage Girls/Trail Life USA Troop 305 stand open.
Noon — BB gun contest, fairgrounds lake area (second flight 1:30 p.m.).
2-8 p.m. — 4-H building open to public.
4 p.m. — Superintendent-only livestock entry.
5-9 p.m. — Fairgrounds open for all livestock; market goats, sheep, swine, beef, poultry and rabbits weighed in as unloaded.
9 p.m. — All 4-H, FFA and Open Class livestock must be in place.
Monday-Tuesday: Timber Studio chainsaw carvers Nate and Maggie Hall, four shows daily.
Auction follows premium sale Wednesday, about 7:15 p.m.
Monday-Wednesday: Bingo and Sam’s Amusements, midway, 6 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 10
8 a.m. — Unified Sheep Show, Livestock Arena, followed by goat shows (dairy, meat, pygmy) then sheep show.
9 a.m.-10 p.m. — 4-H building open to public (all three days).
10:30 a.m. — Rabbit Show, Livestock Arena.
10 a.m.-10 p.m. — Commercial building open to public.
1:30 p.m. — Horse, dairy and livestock judging contests, Livestock Arena (registration 1-1:30 p.m.).
6 p.m. — Parade, “Stars, Stripes, and County Fair Nights” (rain date Tuesday).
6 p.m. — Bingo by Giving Hope, Cancer Fund.
8 p.m. — Pioneer and Heritage Farm Awards; stage show, Greg’s Goodtime Polka Band.
Tuesday, Aug. 11
8:30 a.m. — Bucket Calf Show/Beef Show, Livestock Arena.
9 a.m.-10 p.m. — 4-H building open to public.
10 a.m.-10 p.m. — Commercial building open to public.
1 p.m. — Poultry Show (waterfowl, pigeons), Livestock Arena.
6 p.m. — FFA ag activity; Bingo by Giving Hope, Cancer Fund.
6 p.m. — Little Tuggers Tractor Pull registration; pull at 6:30 p.m.
8 p.m. — Mark Staggs comedy/impersonation show (Festus Haggen from “Gunsmoke”), following the tractor pull.
Wednesday, Aug. 12
8 a.m. — Swine Show, Livestock Arena.
9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. — 4-H building open to public.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. — Commercial building open to public.
3 p.m. — Awards: Shooting Sports, judging contests, McIninch Judging Trophy, Herdsmanship. Top static and horticulture photos taken.
4 p.m. — Clover Kid Pet Show, Livestock Arena.
5 p.m. — Livestock buyers meal.
6 p.m. — Bingo by Giving Hope, Cancer Fund.
6 p.m. — 4-H/FFA Livestock Premium Sale, Livestock Arena.
About 7:15 p.m. — Chainsaw carving auction, OA Building.
7:30 p.m. — 4-H static exhibits released; building open one more hour.
9 p.m. — All livestock released.
Thursday, Aug. 13
6 p.m. — Fairgrounds cleanup.
Open Class entry cards can be picked up at Needles I Quilt Shop, the UNL Extension office in the Nemaha County Courthouse, or online. Open Class premium money will be distributed Wednesday at 7 p.m.; unclaimed money will be forfeited after one week. Full schedule is available online at
http://www.nemahacountyfair.com | The 147th annual Johnson County Fair runs Aug. 14-16 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Tecumseh, with the parade scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16. This year's theme is "America 250 Years Strong, Celebrate Family & Freedom." Admission is free.
Saturday, Aug. 8
9 a.m. - Open Class Horse Show.
Sunday, Aug. 9
1 p.m. - Livestock superintendent meeting, 4-H building.
2 p.m. - Fairgrounds cleanup.
Tuesday, Aug. 11
5:30-7:30 p.m. - Static exhibit entry and food exhibit entry, 4-H building.
Time TBD - Food exhibit judging, static judging (horticulture and general areas), Favorite Food Revue.
Wednesday, Aug. 12
9 a.m. - Static exhibit judging and display, 4-H building.
Thursday, Aug. 13
8 a.m. - Swine check-in.
10 a.m.-noon - Sheep and goat check-in.
3-5 p.m. - Poultry and rabbit check-in.
6-8 p.m. - Beef check-in.
6-9 p.m. - All open class entries except flowers. Open livestock entries are made at the same time as 4-H livestock.
6:30-9 p.m. - Home economics, foods, hobbies and crafts entries.
6:30-9 p.m. - Lego contest entry, crafts building. Three divisions: junior 2-7, intermediate 8-11, senior 12-15.
Friday, Aug. 14
8-11 a.m. - Open class flowers entered.
8 a.m. - Swine Show, Small Arena.
1 p.m. - Sheep Show, Small Arena.
1 p.m. - 3 Timber Studio wood carving.
3 p.m. - Goat Show, Small Arena.
6 p.m. - Elk Creek Men's Club beer garden, West End Event Center.
6 p.m. - Clover Kid Pet and Fashion Show, Small Arena.
6-10 p.m. - $30 armband night, Sam's Amusements midway.
6-9 p.m. - Colors Da Clown free face painting.
7:30 p.m. - Extreme bull riding, free to the public, Horse Arena. Sponsored by AKRS Implement, Renk Seeds and the Johnson County Ag & Mechanical Society. Added money sponsored by American National Bank.
7:30 p.m. - VFW bingo.
9 p.m. - Midnight dance to the No-Motive Band.
Saturday, Aug. 15
8 a.m. - Bucket-Calf Show, Livestock Arena.
9 a.m. - Beef Show, Livestock Arena.
11 a.m. - 3 Timber Studio.
2 p.m. - Poultry Show, Small Arena.
4 p.m. - Rabbit Show, Small Arena.
4 p.m. - Elk Creek Men's Club beer garden, West End Event Center.
5 p.m. - Round Robin Showmanship, Small Arena.
5-7 p.m. - Free watermelon feed east of the grandstand, sponsored by Farm Bureau.
6 p.m. - Ag Society games.
6-10 p.m. - $30 armband night, midway.
6-9 p.m. - Free face painting.
7 p.m. - Elk Creek Men's Club cornhole tournament, West End Event Center.
7:30 p.m. - VFW bingo.
8 p.m. - Team roping.
Sunday, Aug. 16
9 a.m. - Church service, grandstand.
9 a.m. - Horse check-in, Horse Arena.
10 a.m. - Horse Show.
11 a.m. - 3 Timber Studio.
11 a.m. - Southeast Nebraska Garden Tractor Pullers weigh-in; pull at noon. Entry is $10 per class with trophies for first, second and third. Helmets required for kids classes 12 and under. Information: Tyler Wehrbein or Patrick Sisco, 402-239-4365.
1-4 p.m. - Free face painting.
2 p.m. - Horse Show speed events.
3 p.m. - Elk Creek Men's Club beer garden, West End Event Center.
3-9 p.m. - $30 armband day, midway.
5 p.m. - Parade lineup, north side of the courthouse.
5:30 p.m. - Parade leaves the square. Entries pass the grandstand between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. The veterans parade is under the direction of VFW Post 8221 and Johnson County American Legion posts. Parade is held rain or shine, and no candy or trinket throwing is allowed.
5:45 p.m. - Nebraska Pioneer Farm Awards.
6-7:30 p.m. - 4-H static exhibits released.
7 p.m. - 4-H Livestock Premium Sale, Livestock Arena.
7 p.m. - Chainsaw wood carving auction, Livestock Arena, following the parade.
7:30 p.m. - VFW bingo.
7:30 p.m. - Open class exhibits released.
Monday, Aug. 17
8 a.m. - Fairgrounds cleanup.
Sam's Amusements armbands are $30 and good for all rides. The Agriculture Building is open 1-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sunday. The Commercial Building is open noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-8:30 p.m. Sunday. Flowers, foods, hobbies and crafts are open 1-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sunday. The School Building is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.
Parade entry blanks are printed in the fair book and can be brought to the courthouse square on the Sunday of the parade. Fair Book for Johnson County Fair |
Rebecca Johnson
