El Capitan High School FFA member Reagan Morgan, 18, washes down and cools off a dairy replacement heifer at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
Andrew Kuhn
akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
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Future Farmers of America and 4H participants attempted to beat the heat and keep their animals cool as temperatures reached triple-digits at the Merced County Fair on Thursday.
Shaved ice was a popular treat among participants showing animals. Some participants took part in a friendly water gun fight while others resorted to a friendly duel spraying each other with water from hoses near a livestock barn.
Kim Sanders, 65, of Clovis, prepares a shave ice for a customer at the Hawaiian Shave Ice stand at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
The fair operates from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday, and from 3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Country music artist Tyler Farr will perform Friday, R&B artists The Whispers will take to the stage Saturday and La Original Banda El Limón will perform Sunday on the final day of the fair.
McSwain 4H member Faith, left, sprays El Nido 4H member Gianna, right, while engaging in a friendly water fight with others at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Concerts are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. and shows are free with paid fair admission.
Friday’s Grandstand event is the Valley Tractor Pullers’ Tractor Pull. A Destruction Derby is scheduled for Saturday while the Gran Cierre de Feria con Jaripeo Tremendo will perform the final day of the fair on Sunday, June 9. According to the fair, all grandstand shows are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with the exception of the Gran Cierre which begins at 6:30 p.m..
The fair also features various carnival rides and games as well as the popular fair foods including corn dogs, funnel cakes, burgers, fries, hot dogs, kettle corn, cotton candy, BBQ, cheese curds, cinnamon roles, burritos, tacos, quesadillas and more.
Merced College studentTaylor Nunes, 18, who is in her last year of showing animals with the Buhach Colony FFA, cools down pig Oakley at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. According to Nunes, she is studying plant and crop science at Merced College. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Goats hang out together in a pen at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Prizes hang from the roof of a carnival game at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Merced River 4H member Kason Pereira, 11, guides a pig to a pen at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
A thirsty pig drinks water inside a pen at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
St. Anthony 4H member Liam Matos, 12, plays a game of corn hole at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Matos said he is showing two milk cows, one replacement heifer, two summer yearlings and one winter yearling at this year’s fair. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
A Hampshire pig named Harry Potter who belongs to Merced River 4H member Callen Wagner, 11, rests inside a pen at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Customers order shave ice from the Hawaiian Shave Ice stand at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Anthony Rita, 40, of Madera, adds seasoning to ribs and tri-tip at the All American BBQ food stand at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
Los Banos FFA member Teagan Strohmenger spins a lasso at the Merced County Fair in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsun-star.com
