The 116th edition of the Russell County Jaycees Fair got underway this past weekend at Veterans Fairgrounds in Russell Springs, according to fair officials.

Saturday saw the baby show and pageants get underway with the nightcap being the big car demolition derby. Vince Hagedorn took the modified class while Patrick Emerson took the stock class.

Shelby Stringer took home Miss Teen honors while Whitney Rodgers of Adair County was crowned Miss Russell County Fair.

Chelsie Martin was crowned Miss Russell County at the pageant while Mrs. Russell County went to Genevieve Lee. Full baby show and pageant winners can be seen in this week's issue.

The fair's second mud bog, was also held on Saturday with Jeannine Jasper taking first in the 4 and 6 cylinder class, Skylar Silverman taking the ATV class, Chris Bell taking t the V8 class and Derek Weir taking  the Russell County class.

On Sunday, the best in cars and tractors made their way to the grounds to compete in the car and tractor show while Russell Springs First Baptist hosted a Christian rock concert that night.

The carnival began on Monday evening along with the Kentucky Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull Association's truck pull in which Josh Campbell of Jamestown won the local class. The event brought out a large crowd that packed the new grandstand as it coincided with the first night of the midway. Monday also saw the Coca-Cola Talent Show winners named as Daley Sapp won the 12 and under category, Fletcher Bell in the 22 and up category and Makenna Meeks in the 13-21 age group, who will be going to compete in the state talent competition.

Tuesday saw a full day of events that began with the dairy show and floral hall exhibits. The championship mule pull as well as the small car demolition derby and the lawnmower demo derby headlined the night.

On Wednesday, mixed martial arts cage fighting and lawn mower pulls headlined the schedule which again brought out a large crowd.

Thursday's day of events is scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. the carnival opens up with the entertainment for the night being Ohio Valley wrestling in the pavilion and ATV races, both scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

On Friday the State Hereford Show begins at 1 p.m. The open and 4-H beef show is set to begin at 6 p.m., as does the carnival. The KTPA truck pull will get underway at 7 p.m.

To cap off the fair's final day on Saturday a full day of activities will begin at 8 a.m. with the 4-H shoot. At 10 a.m., the always popular kids day events begin. At 10 a.m. the FFA Tractor Driving and Hay Toss and the Horseshoe tournament begin. At 1 p.m. the cornhole tournament begins with horse racing to begin at 2 p.m.

At 4:30 p.m., the Russell County Derby, one of the last county fair derbies in Kentucky, will be run followed by the horse and mule pull at 6 p.m.

At 7 p.m., the evening's feature, the championship rodeo will begin with closing ceremonies and giveaways closing out the fair at 10 p.m.

The carnival opens at 6 p.m. each night with an $8 gate, except for Friday's $10 gate, according to fair officials. On Saturday, the carnival will open at 1 p.m. and the gate fee for the final day of the fair will again be $10.

Fair Manager Robbie Morgan, Jaycees President Dwight Richards and the rest of the dedicated Jaycees have worked hard to prepare the fair all year long and we ask that everyone go out and support the Russell County Jaycees Fair.

Note: All fair results in the newspaper are courtesy of the Russell County Jaycees.