Photos Provided KOI dirt drag racing is a new event this year at the Monroe County Fair in Woodsfield.

Diamond J Rodeo will provide entertainment on Monday at the Monroe County Fair in Woodsfield.

WOODSFIELD — The Monroe County Agricultural Society’s 166th annual fair is set to begin Monday, featuring its many traditions and some new events.

“County fairs are great traditions of different counties in the state. The fairs let agriculturalists display their animals and their crops and also let 4-H projects be displayed. The fair is a time to let families and friends observe the children show their projects. The fair is a time to see many events. … I invite you to the fair to be a part of the traditions, whatever it may be, such as livestock, truck pulls or musical acts,” said President of the Monroe County Agricultural Society Roger Cline.

This year’s fair will run Monday through Saturday at the Monroe County fairgrounds on Ohio 26 north, just outside of Woodsfield.

“There will be bull-riding and barrel-racing on Monday with the Diamond J Rodeo. On Tuesday and Wednesday there will be the new event of KOI dirt drag racing, which is trucks and four-wheelers. There will also be harness racing on Wednesday. Kart racing happens Thursday evening in the grandstand. Friday is the Truck and Tractor Pull, and Saturday is the Demolition Derby,” said Cline.

Pavilion entertainment includes the Price Sisters at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Wills Creek at 7 p.m. Tuesday, the Stockdale Band at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jim Loveday at 7 p.m. Thursday, COSI at noon and karaoke at 7 p.m. on Friday, and Voices of Ohio at 4 p.m. Saturday. Due to lack of funding, a Sunday concert that would have benefited the battle against breast cancer has been canceled, according to Cline.

“But we are still planning on having our church services in the Pavilion Sunday evening,” he said.

“This year we are dedicating a new building to Paul and Sara Rowley, naming it Rowley Hall. The building is named after the Rowleys, who passed away around six years ago, because of their 34 years of service to the fair. Each year they spent June through August on the fairgrounds, taking care of the campground, selling fair tickets, selling camping permits, mowing — just doing everything needed to take care of the fairgrounds,” Cline said.

Rowley Hall will house booths for arts and crafts displays, vendors and political candidates.

The 4-H Junior Fair Livestock Sale will be held Thursday at the fair. Small animals including turkeys, rabbits, lambs, fryers, goats and ducks will be sold starting at 11 a.m. Large animals will be sold beginning at 4 p.m.; these include feeder calf steers, dairy feeders, market steers, hogs, and feeder calf heifers.

“When you purchase an animal at the Junior Livestorck Sale, you are buying prize livestock raised by Monroe County 4-H club members. Each project is run like a business. Accurate records are kept listing production costs, labor input and management practices,” states the 2016 Monroe County Junior Fair Livestock Sale 4-H pamphlet. “Members attend 4-H Club meetings, quality assurance, project judging, Skillathons, and participate in showmanship with their animal.”

“I know for sure the 4-H kids are excited to exhibit their animals. We welcome everyone to this year’s fair,” said Cline.

For more information and a full schedule of events and times, visit monroecountyfair.org.