Ripley County Fair - Day One

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Ron Smith

Pageants and coon dogs were on center stage Wednesday during the opening night of the 44th Annual Ripley County Fair. The fairgrounds will open at 3 p.m. today (Thursday) with plenty of action in the Crawford Price Arena with the judging of sheep, goats, swine and cattle. At 6 p.m., Pickin' On The Square comes to the fair with live gospel and bluegrass music. At 7, will be judging for rabbits in the Rabbit And Poultry Barn. The main event at 7:30 p.m. in the Carl Brooks Arena will feature the Loggers Relay.

Tiny Fair King Bentley Walker seems to be tipping his crown to the audience at the Wyman Whitwell Building. (Ron Smith)
The 2019 Ripley County Fair Queen is 18-year-old Gracie Cunningham, a senior at Naylor High School. (Ron Smith)
A young spectator entertains between pageants. (Ron Smith)
(From left) Top finishers in the coon dog treeing contest held Wednesday were Kristofer Black, third place with Stormy, and Warren Bland, who took both first and second place in the hound division with Dana and Taz (who is being held by Warren's son, James.) First place in the cur division went to Josey Kennon with Jazzy. (Ron Smith)
One of the stars of the show during the Ripley County Fair coon dog treeing contest. (Ron Smith)
Logan Robertson helps Buster get ready to enter the ring. (Ron Smith)
Josey Kennon encourages Jazzy to do well. (Ron Smith)
And Jazzy responds to take first place in the cur division. (Ron Smith)
Luke Martin watches Kaiser in the ring. (Ron Smith)
Amy and Aubrey Braschler have some advice for Kimber before taking her turn. (Ron Smith)
Young spectators get caught up in the action at Crawford Price Arena. (Ron Smith)
Aubrey Sheppard give it her all while trying to convince Dolly that she's a treeing dog. (Ron Smith)
Macoy Hampton and Cinch enter the ring in the hound division. (Ron Smith)
Remington Plumb and Dixie are ready to go. (Ron Smith)
Coon dog treeing queen Dana, owned by Warren Bland, impresses all with 83 barks in 60 seconds. (Ron Smith)
Josey Kennon and Jazzy took home a nice trophy and 250 pounds of dog food for winning first place in the cur division. (Ron Smith)
Local businesses and organizations providing prizes for the coon dog treeing contest included Hoefer Feed And Pet Food, Campbell Feed, Inman Feed, Ripley County Toys 4 Tots, Show Time Feed and Super Town & Country. (Ron Smith)
Kris Black brings Stormy into the ring. (Ron Smith)
Zeplynn Elaine Blankenship (center) of Doniphan was selected Baby Fair Queen on Wednesday evening. First alternate (left) is Gracelynn Joy Hopper while (right) is second alternate Rosealynn Romanowski. (Ron Smith)
Kaylee Dragon of Naylor (center) was selected Tiny Miss Fair Queen. At left is first alternate Curtesy Sorrell and (right) second alternate Aaliyah Martin.
Contestants show their best smiles during the Little Fair queen contest. (Ron Smith)
(Ron Smith)
(Ron Smith)
Aspen Wheeler of Doniphan (center) was selected Little Miss Fair Queen. First alternate Presley Wilson (left) and second alternate Addyson Czerwonka (right). (Ron Smith)
Madilyn Large of Doniphan (center) was selected Junior Fair Queen. First alternate (left) is Madelen Nash with second alternate (right) Baylee Sorrell. (Ron Smith)
Alison Cooper, 15, is the Ripley County Young Miss Fair Queen for 2019. (Ron Smith)
Ripley County Fair Queen Gracie Cunningham (right) with first alternate Jillian Scranton. (Ron Smith)
A little contestant turns on the charm on the pageant stage. (Ron Smith)