Sunday, August 28
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. – 4-H display and entries due in basement of the Main Hall.

Monday, August 29
9:00 a.m. – Judging of 4-H displays and entries. Closed to public.

2:00 - 5:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. – Agriculture and Home Economics exhibits accepted for Departments 11, 13-19, and 23 in the Exhibition Hall, ramp entrance.

2:00 - 5:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. – Hay and grain exhibits for Department 12 accepted at the Livestock Barns for 4-H and Open Classes.

5:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Big Knob Livestock 4-H Club market and breeding animals accepted. Weigh in for all, and walk through for steers, heifers, and dairy beef.

7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Rabbit entries accepted at the Barns

Tuesday, August 30
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Livestock entries accepted at the Livestock Barns.

9:00 a.m. – Judging of Agriculture and Home Economic exhibits. Closed to the public.

10:00 – 11:30 a.m. – Hershey cakes (ONLY) accepted at the ramp entrance.

1:00 p.m. – Hershey exhibits judged. Closed to the public.

2:00 p.m. - Poultry Judging at the Barn

4:00 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings and Tents open to the public.

8:00 p.m. – Livestock judging (sheep, pigs, heifers, open steers, Farm Show steers, alpaca) at the Livestock Arena

Wednesday, August 31

4:00 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings and Tents open to the public.

4:00 p.m. – Livestock judging at the Livestock Arena

6:30 p.m. - Rabbit judging at the Livestock Barns.

7:00 p.m. – Department 24 Judging at the Antique Farm Equipment Area

Thursday, September 1
9:30 a.m. – Dairy Cattle Judging at the Livestock Arena. Open to the public.

4:00 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings and Tents open to the public.

6:30 p.m. -  Big Knob Livestock 4-H Club Awards at the Arena.

7:00 p.m. – Big Knob Livestock 4-H Market Animal Sale at the Livestock Arena.

Friday, September 2
4:00 p.m. - Exhibit Buildings and Tents open to the public.

Saturday, September 3
Noon — Exhibit Buildings and Tents open to the public.

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. - Demonstrations by 4-H Club members at the Livestock Arena.

6:30 p.m. – 4-H Alumni and 4-H Parent Showmanship Contest at the Livestock Arena.

9:30 - 11:00 p.m. — Exhibits released for all departments.

Sunday, September 4
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. — Exhibits in Agricultural and Home Economics Departments may be claimed.

Antique Tractor Club at Fair

The Big Knob Antique Tractor and Equipment Association will be making its sixteenth appearance this year at the Big Knob Grange Fair. Association members will be displaying restored antique tractors and equipment, plus model tractors, antique tools, literature and other items related to mechanized farming from years ago.  Look for us to the left of the stage on the upper Grange grounds.

The BKATEA will be doing a raffle again this year. Tickets can be purchased to win a Case-IH pedal tractor, an All Terrain tricycle, or one of three 1/16th model tractors at our display area. The winning tickets will be drawn for the raffle Saturday night at the conclusion of the Fair as usual.

The Big Knob Antique Tractor and Equipment Association was established in 1996 and has more than 250 members mostly from the Beaver County area. The purpose of the BKATEA is “to promote the interrelated hobbies of antique farm and industrial equipment collection, repair, restoration, presentation and demonstration.” Besides participating in the annual Big Knob Grange Fair, the Association does an annual antique tractor show each July and schedules up to 8 tractor pulls each year at the Grange track. BKATEA members will be running the tractor pulls on Tuesday evening and Saturday morning at the Fair. Admission to the bleachers will be free for these pulls.

If you want to become a member of the BKATEA, sign up at the display area. Dues are $10 per year. The Association currently meets at the Grange the third Monday evening of each month.

The members of BKATEA invite everyone to come to the free Big Knob Grange Fair this year and take in all of the sights, including our exhibit.

For further information, please call Wayne Harley, BKATEA Secretary, at 724-846-1808.

~TOP~

Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest

This contest is open to any individual who lives in Pennsylvania. One entry only per person is permitted. The whole pie must be submitted for judging in a disposable pie pan. Rules and judging criteria are found in Department 15, Section 1, Class 22. The pie must be at least 60% apples in the filling. Any pie that needs refrigeration after baking will not be accepted due to food safety reasons.

Entries will be accepted Monday, August 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the ramp entrance of the Exhibition Hall. The recipe must accompany the entry and must be typed or printed on one side of a card. Pies will be judged on overall appearance, color, flavor, texture, creativity, and doneness of the filling. The first place winner is eligible to enter the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show competition in this contest.

This contest is sponsored by: the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania Association of County Fairs.

HERSHEY COCOA CLASSIC CONTESTS

Chocolate Cake

The chocolate cake contest is open to any Pennsylvania resident, and only one entry per person is permitted. An entry must be a layered chocolate cake made from scratch (no mixes) and must contain at least ¼ cup of Hershey’s Cocoa.  Cakes must be frosted. If chocolate frosting is used, it must contain Hershey’s Cocoa or chocolate, and must be listed as such on the recipe card accompanying the entry. Cakes needing refrigeration will not be accepted. The recipe(s) must be typed or printed on one side of a card and must accompany the cake.

Prizes are: First, $25; Second, $20, Third, $15. Cakes will be accepted on Monday afternoon and evening, August 29 from 2:00 to 5:00, and from 7:00 to 9:00, and Tuesday morning, August 30, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

Entry forms and further information are found in Department 15 below, or by calling Jeanette McDonald at 724-709-0201. The first place winner is eligible to enter the Pennsylvania Farm Show competition in Harrisburg in January 2012.

Chocolate Cookies, Brownies or Bars

Any individual age 8 through 18 who is a Pennsylvania resident may enter this contest. Only one entry per person is permitted. An entry must include six (6) cookies, brownies or bars on a doily covered plate. Entries will be accepted only on Monday, August 29, from 2:00 to 5:00, and from 7:00 to 9:00. The recipe must be typed or printed on a card, and must include at least ¼ cup of Hershey’s Baking Chips (any variety), and must be listed as such in the recipe. If a chocolate frosting or chocolate drizzle is used, Hershey’s Cocoa must be used, and listed as such in the recipe.

Prizes are: First, $20; Second, $15, Third, $10. The first place winner is eligible to enter the Pennsylvania Farm Show competition in Harrisburg in January 2012. These contests are sponsored by the Hershey Company, PA Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs.

Cow Costume & Horse Costume Contest

First Place:$25, 2nd:$20, 3rd:$15
See Department 22 for complete rules.


Decorated Pumpkin Contest

Youngsters up to 18 years of age may enter the Decorated Pumpkin Contest. Pumpkins can be decorated using any medium, and may be entered in any of the three classes listed below.  Only one entry per person.  Regular field or pie pumpkins should be used. Only pumpkins will be accepted. Create your own masterpiece. No carved or cut-out pumpkins will be accepted. 
Entries will be accepted Monday, Aug. 29 from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. in the exhibition hall, ramp entrance.
Classes and premium awards are:
Department 11, Section 13, Youth Vegetables
CLASS
18 A – Animal,……………….. first, $5; second, $4; third, $3.
18 B – Person…………………first, $5; second, $4; third, $3
18 C – Other………..…………first, $5; second, $4; third, $3
A registration form can be found under Department 11, youth exhibits.

~TOP~

An Indoor Circus fair was held in December of 1937. In September of 1938, the first outdoor Fair was held and realized a profit of $252.20.  The Annual Fair was held each September.  On July 15, 1942, it was voted not to hold a Fair that year, due to the national Emergency (World War II).  The Fair was not held again until September of 1946.  It continued from this time, with the permanent date of the week-end before Labor Day, being established, January 18, 1950.

The Fair was discontinued again, for the years 1950 and 1951, due to the construction of the new hall.  It has continued, each year since 1952, until the present time.  After the war, a Fair Committee was appointed by the Master to serve for three years.  Two members were dropped, each year and two new members appointed.  For several years, a car was raffled as a fund raiser.  Many new buildings have been added to the Fairgrounds over the years, with the track area being re-constructed in the last couple of years and the new bleachers added.  A feature of the early Fairs was a horse-shoe pitching contest.  The Fair presently runs for five days, under the supervision of an Executive Board and has an estimated attendance of 40,000.

~TOP~

The Fair is conducted by Big Knob Grange on their property in New Sewickley Township.
336 Grange Road, Rochester PA 15074 (just off Big Knob Road, and State Route 68)
A member of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs

NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR OTHER DRUGS ARE PERMITTED ON THE FAIRGROUNDS OR IN BUILDINGS.
NO DOGS (except guide dogs) ALLOWED ON THE GROUNDS OR IN BUILDINGS!