Fair's Citizen Showcase features Coke vs. Pepsi

FREMONT COUNTY – Residents of Fremont County are again encouraged to participate in the “Citizen Showcase” at the 2023 Fremont County Fair in Sidney.

The Citizen Showcase, first featured in 2017, is meant to encourage everyone to come and display something.

Displayed in the Open Class Building during fair, Citizen Showcase is a collection of items centered around a theme.

The 2023 theme of Coke vs. Pepsi promises to be a great display. Promoters hope a lot of memorabilia will be on display during the fair.

Open Class superintendents are adding ribbons for Citizen Showcase entries this year, as well as making the category eligible for a Sweepstakes award.

If someone has never been involved with 4-H or Open Class before, but still wants the chance to show off a hobby or collection, the Citizen Showcase is your opportunity!

Items on display can be antique, unique, super chic, new, used, handmade or purchased. It’s a show and tell of your collection.

Each year the theme changes.

Other themes have included In The Kitchen, John Deere or Case IH, Wild West and Cookie Jars.

Overall, the public response has been less than what the superintendents had expected. However, they are hoping that the showcase grows this year.

The superintendents did remind those bringing items to clearly mark them with the owner’s name and contact information.

All items in the display will be staged and roped off to prevent damage or theft.

There are no age restrictions on who can bring items, and no limit on the number of entries per exhibitor while still allowing items to be viewed by fairgoers.

Open Class entries are accepted from anyone living in Fremont County, or who live in an adjoining county but do most of their business/work/school in Fremont County.

The 2023 Fremont County Fair will be July 12-17 at the fairgrounds in Sidney.

Citizen Showcase superintendents are Michelle Beard, Becky Shull and Leslie Brooks.

Citizen Showcase entries will be accepted in the Open Class building during Open Class registration on Wednesday, July 12, from 5:30-6:30 pm. and Thursday, July 13, from 8-11 am.

For more information about the Open Class department of the 2023 Fremont County Fair, please contact the ISU Extension & Outreach office in Sidney at 712-374-2351.

If you would like a fair book with rules about Open Class, please stop in the Extension Office at 610 Clay Street from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Thursday.