St. John hosts fair, stock show

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | Apr 19, 20180

Jogging hogs and stick horses are some of the sights to be seen this year at the St. John Community Fair and Stock Show April 26-29 at the St. John fairground.

This year the spotlight is on the Hog Jog which marks its 40th year. The event will honor those who have kept the five-mile fun run running each year in the community. Start time is at 8:30 a.m. April 28 with registration starting at 7 a.m. Cost is $20 with commemorative T-shirt. This year will include a kids’ one and two mile run for $10 with shirt. Members of the high school track and cross country teams will run along with the kids, dressed in pig costumes and snouts.

Entry for the open youth arts and crafts will be Tuesday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No late entries for those classes will be accepted. On Wednesday, those entries will be judged. After school, 3:30 p.m., at the community building there will be cupcake decorating, flower arranging and veggie critters.

Thursday will be the big entry day with food, sewing, adult arts and crafts, photography and flower entries accepted from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Livestock entries run from 12 to 5 p.m. The Home Ec building will be closed for judging from 1 to 5 p.m. with the building opening for viewing after.

Show classes are Friday with fitting and showing starting at 10 a.m. and conformation classes starting at 1 p.m. with round robin to follow. The library booth will be open with games from 12 to 6 p.m. The games will be back 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Cowboy breakfast wakes things up Saturday at 6:30 with the starting pistol for the Hog Jog to fire at 8:30 a.m. The horse show takes place at 9 a.m. with livestock judging at 9:30. Demonstrations will be at 10 a.m.

The big parade will roll down Front Street at 12 p.m.

A new event this year, stick horse rodeo will be at 1 p.m. at the livestock show arena. No pre-registration or training is required. Participants are welcome to just show up and navigate their trusty mount through the rodeo events. Before the rodeo will be the presentation of awards and raffle drawing for various prizes.

The horse show will pick back up at 1:30. At 5 p.m. animal entries may begin to exit.

Sunday sees the return of the Cowboy Church service at 9 a.m. Also starting at 9, registration will begin for the annual Pig Putt at the St. John Golf and Country Club put on by the St. John Ladies Golf League. The four-person scramble tees off at 10 a.m. Cost is $25 for club members, $30 for non-members. There will be hole prizes and tee prizes. A $5 lunch special of hot dog, chips and drink will be offered.

From 2 to 5 p.m., building exhibits can be removed.

The Cook Shack will be serving it up hot throughout the weekend starting at 11 a.m. Thursday. Food will be served during the fair events, starting with the fair’s opening each day, with the Community Club manning the grills Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the St. John Gun Club takes over operation of the Cook Shack.