Rides, fried foods and livestock; Here’s the fair season schedule for Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The smell of livestock, the thrill of a ride and the taste of anything fried have all arrived in Arkansas as fair season begins to ramp up.

During the first week of September, there are 12 county fairs open throughout Arkansas. By the end of the weekend, there will be another six, and they keep piling on until the Arkansas State Fair in October.

In Conway County, the fair favorites of farm, food and fun started Sept. 3. Third-generation livestock exhibitor Cylin Shurtleff said they are best enjoyed with family.

“My papa was in this barn forever, and he was on the fair board, and then my mom showed in here all throughout high school and now I am,” Shurtleff said.

Shurtfield said the fair allows her to show off all her hard work and enjoy time with friends.

Jennalyn Wilson learned from showing livestock at the fair at a young age and is passing the same lessons to her children now.

They are learning. They are learning responsibility, and they can connect with the animals in ways they can’t connect with us,” Wilson said.

Gloria Rankin said even at age 81, there’s always more to learn inside the educational exhibit building, but it is also a place to cherish history.

“Our mothers passed recipes down to us that go on for years and years and years. We bring the same bread, sugar cookies, chocolate chips…That’s something that needs to be passed on forever,” Rankin said.

Here’s an overview of current and upcoming fairs in Arkansas.

Week of Sept. 1-7

• Pike County (Glenwood) Sept. 1-7
• Greene County (Paragould) Sept. 2-7
• Howard County (Nashville) Sept. 2-7
• Yell County (Danville) Sept. 2-7
• Searcy County (Marshall) Sept. 2-7
• Cleburne County (Heber Springs) Sept. 3-7
• Conway County (Morrilton) Sept. 3-7
• South Logan County (Booneville) Sept. 3-7
• Van Buren County (Clinton) Sept. 3-7
• Bradley County (Warren) Sept. 4-7
• Poinsett County (Harrisburg) Sept. 4-7

Week of Sept. 8-14

• Garland County (Hot Springs) Sept. 6-15
• Nevada County (Prescott) Sept. 6-15
• White County (Searcy) Sept. 9-14
• Crawford County (Mulberry) Sept. 9-14
• Clark County (Arkadelphia) Sept. 9-14
• Stone County (Mountain View) Sept. 9-14
• Arkansas County (DeWitt) Sept. 10-14
• Pope County Fair (Russellville) Sept. 10-14
• Marion County (Summit) Sept. 10-14
• Cleveland County (Rison) Sept. 10-14
• Boone County (Harrison) Sept. 10-13
• Dallas County (Fordyce) Sept. 10-14
• Clay County (Piggott) Sept. 11-14

Week of Sept. 15-21

• Lonoke County (Lonoke) Sept. 14-21
• Hot Spring County (Malvern) Sept. 15-21
• Columbia County (Magnolia) Sept. 16-21
• Grant County (Sheridan) Sept. 16-21
• Union County (El Dorado) Sept. 16-21
• Faulkner County (Conway) Sept. 17-21
• Three County Fair (McCrory) Sept. 17-21
• Miller County (Fouke) Sept. 19-21

Week of Sept. 22-28

• NEA District Fair (Jonesboro) Sept. 19-28
• Benton County (Bentonville) Sept. 20-28
• Chicot County (Eudora) Sept. 23-27

October

• Drew County (Monticello) Oct. 1-5
• St. Francis County (Forrest City) Oct. 14-19

The Arkansas State Fair will be held from Oct. 11 to Oct. 20 in Little Rock. More information on the state fair can be found at ArkansasStateFair.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.