The 73rd annual Southwest Arkansas District Fair and Bull Riding is set for September 26th through 30th in Hope’s Fair Park.  Events get underway with the judging of arts and crafts, food preservation, educational exhibits, and horticulture judging at 10am Tuesday September 26th.  The potted plant show will be judged 11am on Tuesday.  The first exhibits open for viewing at 5pm that day and the midway opens at 5pm tuesday.  The fair parade is set for 6pm Tuesday.  For info on the fair parade or to register an entry phone Eddie Brazzel at 870-777-6772.  The Fair Queens Pageant is set for 7:30pm Tuesday.

   The midway will feature a variety of carnival rides including State Fair Spectacular Rides.  Arm Band Days are set for Tuesday,  Thursday, and Saturday.  Wednesday night all rides will be $1.  Advance arm bands are $18 at Farmers Bank & Trust and Super 1 Foods in Hope.  Armbands at the fairgrounds will be $20.  You will receive free gate admission for each advance armband you purchase in town.

     Exhibits open Wednesday at 9am and animals must bee in place by 7pm Wednesday.  Weight cards are also due for market hogs on Wednesday.  At 7pm a Ranch Rodeo will be held in the rodeo arena.  Admission is $5 and all proceeds benefit the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Department “Operation Christmas”.  For info on the ranch rodeo call 870-703-3419 between 6pm and 10pm.  Also on Wednesday, the Rafter J Cowboy Church will have a gospel program outside on the Tyson stage.

   Thursday the exhibits open at 9am.  Commercial heifers will be weighed at 6pm, steers at 6:30pm, goats at 6pm, and sheep at 6pm.   The “Spare Time Band” will perform country and old rock and roll music on the Tyson Stage at 6pm.

    Friday at the fair the exhibits open at 9am.  Sheep and goat judging and showmanship begins at 4pm as do junior activities.  The “Night Hawk” Band will perform at 6pm on the Tyson stage.  The L.J. Jenkins Bull Riding will be presented in the Rodeo Arena at 7:30pm.  Advance Bull Riding tickets are on sale at Farmers Bank & Trust and Super 1 Foods in Hope.  Persons with advance bull-riding tickets will get in the gate free.

   Saturday at the fair will being with open cattle, steer, breeding beef, and comercial heifer judging and showmanship at 9am.  This will be followed by dairy cattle judging.  The rabbit show is at 9am in the swine barn.  Exhibits open for viewing at 11am.  An Hispanic Band will perform at 6pm on the Tyson stage and the L.J. Jenkins Bull Riding is set for 7:30pm.

   The Southwest Arkansas District Fair thanks their many sponsors including Farmers Bank & Trust, Super 1 Foods, Bank of Delight, First National Bank of Tom Bean, Tyson, Brazzel-Oakcrest Funeral Home, Hope Auto, Amigo Juan’s, BancorpSouth, and MAC Construction.

   For more information visit southwestarkansasdistrictlivestockshow.com