Business as usual Van Buren fair proceeds as normal while most others curtailed events

KEOSAUQUA – Unlike most fairs in southeast Iowa that have closed their gates to the public, the Van Buren County Fair in Keosauqua will go on as normal this year.

The main difference between this year and prior years is that there is no carnival or bounce house.

However, everything else is the same. The fair is open to the public complete with 4-H shows and grandstand entertainment.

Cale Plowman, president of the Van Buren County Fair Board of Directors, said he's well aware that Van Buren is unusual in holding a normal fair given that so many neighboring fairs have not.

He said Oskaloosa is one of the only other locales holding a normal fair.

'Pretty much everybody else has canceled,” he said.

Plowman said the fair board decided months ago that it would do everything possible to hold a typical fair. The board members kept their fingers crossed that the number of COVID-19 cases would remain low enough that the virus wouldn't be a problem by the time the fair rolled around.

Van Buren County has one of the lowest COVID-19 totals in the state, with just 22 positive cases as of Monday.

'We in the fair board wanted to give these kids an opportunity to show their projects and enjoy themselves in as normal an atmosphere as possible,” Plowman said. 'We talked to county officials, and we determined we are a low COVID-19 county so we were able to go through with the fair as normal.”

Masks will not be required at the fair, although they are requested at certain exhibit halls.

'If people want to wear masks, they're welcome to,” Plowman said. 'We want everybody to do what's in their comfort zone and be respectful of everybody else's wishes.”

The Keosauqua Veterinary Clinic donated a large quantity of hand sanitizer to the board so that bottles of it could be placed throughout the fairgrounds. Apart from that, everything at the fair will look like past years.

The animals will arrive on Wednesday and stay through the weekend. The non-market animals will leave Sunday, and the market animals will be sold at the auction at 7 p.m. Monday, July 27, at the fairgrounds.

There is no gate fee to attend the fair. The only event that requires an admission fee is the Monster Truck rally on Saturday. The other grand stand acts are free will admission. Plowman said the Monster Truck folks are excited to perform because so many of their shows have been canceled in the pandemic. The Van Buren County Fair is one of only two gigs they're doing in Iowa.

Calendar of events

Wednesday, July 22

' Paint the Fair: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Artists compete for cash prizes with original paintings that are created outdoors during the Van Buren County Fair. Paintings will be judged, awarded and for sale at the 5 p.m. reception on Friday, July 24, under the grandstands.

Those interested can visit https://villagesfolkschool.com/calendar.html for details and to register for Spencer Meagher's workshop on Wednesday or Paint the Fair on Thursday and Friday.

Social distancing will be practiced during this event. Masks are requested when in the exhibit hall. Those who are feeling sick or running a fever are asked not to attend.

Friday, July 24

' Paint the Fair – Art Exhibit Reception: 5-7 p.m.

Come view the original paintings of plein air painters at the Van Buren County Fair.

Social distancing will be practiced at the reception. Please bring a mask to wear while in the gallery hall. Hand sanitizer will be available.

' Goehring Ranch Rodeo: 7-9 p.m. (followed by D.J. Karaoche)

Plowman referred to this as a 'true working rodeo” complete with calf roping, trailer loading and cattle sorting.

Saturday, July 25

' Monster Truck Freestyle Mania: 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 26

' Battle on the Border Open Beef Show: 1 p.m.

This is a brand new event that will feature two beef shows simultaneously. In the same arena but in different rings will be a beef show organized by Van Buren County, and in the other ring will be a beef show led by the Jefferson County Cattlemen. Plowman said it will be a great opportunity for kids to show their animals twice in front of two separate panels of judges.

'Draft Horse and Mule Farm Team Challenge: 2 p.m.

Horses and mules have to pull different sleds through an obstacle course.

' Rondini Magic Show: 2 p.m.

' Weird Science Show: 4 p.m.

' Hypnosis Show: 6 p.m.

These three acts are performed by the same man as three different characters. Plowman said he's a huge hit with children, who he said are often fooled into thinking that three different persons are playing the three characters.