Julie Davis
jdavis@cherryroad.com
“Fair Game” is the theme of the 2025 Otoe County Fair, which kicks off its weekend run on Friday, Aug. 1, at the Otoe County Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
This year’s fair will see the return of six carnival rides and some midway games, according to Otoe County Ag Society President Mike Rudolph.
Rudolph said he and his fellow Ag Society members have been working hard to bring the carnival back to the fair. The last Otoe County Fair with a carnival was in 2014.
Carnival hours will be 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and carnival operators will take cash or debit/credit cards for payment.
Livestock shows on Friday, Aug. 1, will be the Swine Show and the Horse Show, both of which start at 8 a.m. The Swine Show will be in the Kimmel Arena, and the Horse Show will be in the Outdoor Arena.
The Rabbit and Beef shows will start the Saturday, Aug. 2, show schedule at 8 a.m., and the Companion Animal Show will follow on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Rabbit Show will take place in the Royal Arena, while the Beef Show will be held in the Kimmel Arena.
Sheep, goats, and poultry enter the show ring on Sunday, Aug. 3, with the Unified Sheep Show at 8 a.m. and the goat show following immediately afterward in the Kimmel Arena. The Sheep Show will follow the goat show. The Poultry Show will begin at 8 a.m. in the Royal Arena.
The final livestock show event will be the 4-H Round Robin Showmanship Contest at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4.
Special fair events will include the Specialty Food Auction at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, in the Outdoor Arena, the Pony Cycle Races at the Fair Center parking lot on Friday, Aug. 1, with registration beginning at 6 p.m.
The Farmer Olympics will take place north of the Open Arena at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 (registration begins at 6 p.m.)
Saturday special events include the 100 Year AKSARBEN Awards in the Kimmel Event Center at 5 p.m., the Little Tuggers Tractor Pull at 6 p.m. in the Fair Center Parking Lot (registration begins at 5:30 p.m.), the Fashion Show at 6 p.m. in the Kimmel Event Center, and the Rodeo at 7 p.m. in the Outdoor Arena with special music by Mason Michaels will follow the rodeo at 9 p.m.
Special Sunday events will include the Otoe County Fair Parade at 5 p.m. in downtown Syracuse (lineup begins at 3 p.m.), a Quilts of Valor presentation by the Blue Star Mothers of Nebraska Chapter 1 Nebraska City in the Kimmel Events Center immediately after the parade, and Pony Cycle Races at the Fair Center Parking Lot at 5 p.m. (registration starts immediately after the parade).
Monday special events include the Wood Carving Auction at 10:30 a.m. and the Livestock Sale at 11 in the Kimmel Event Center Hall.
Special open class contests this year include Janky to Swanky, Rural Nebraska Through the Lens, Unfinished Quilt Block, Wood Pallet Challenge, Artisan Sourdough Showdown, Fruit Pie, and Salsa.
Entries for all special open class contests except the Fruit Pie Contest will be accepted at the Exhibition Hall from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 31. Fruit Pie contest entries will be accepted from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Syracuse Fair Center. No late entries will be accepted.
Special open class contest sponsors are Antes Family Hardware, BluePrint Financial Planning, El Portal Mexican Restaurant, Grandma’s Cookie Jar, Lorton Lounge, LS Damme Farms, Mike and LaShelle Zimmer, and Western National Bank.
