Families and youth gathered in Marshall for the kickoff events of this year’s Saline County Fair, beginning with a weekend of presentations, shooting sports and a rodeo fundraiser at the fairgrounds in Marshall.

Both Saturday and Sunday, 4-H Shooting Sports held rounds of archery, rifle, pistol and Western Heritage. Shotgun was held on July 6. All Shooting Sports results will be announced Tuesday evening.

On Sunday, activities continued at the Saline County Fairgrounds with Fashion Revue, Public Speaking and Demonstrations. Fashion Revue results also will be released Tuesday evening.

Results from Public Speaking and Demonstrations: Prepared Speaking – Junior Grand Champion Kaidyn Foster, Reserve Grand Kerrigan Page; Extemporaneous Speaking – Grand Champion Brodey Barlett; Business Pitch – Grand Champion Bailee Vogel; Egg Demonstration – Grand Champion Brodey Bartlett, Reserve Grand Bailee Vogel; Honey Demonstration – Grand Champion Audrey Tinoco, Reserve Grand Addison Livengood; General Demonstration – Junior Grand Champion Ty Mullins; Intermediate Grand Champion Audrey Tinoco, Reserve Grand Ty Murphy; Working Demonstration – Junior Grand Champion Janessa VanHook, Reserve Grand Natali VanHook; Intermediate Grand Champion Brodey Bartlett, Reserve Grand Bailey Riley; Senior Grand Champion Blake Livengood.

On June 19, 4-H Youth competed in the Saline Sportsfishing Derby. After learning how to identify fish, working with Chase Wright of the Missouri Department of Conservation about how to be good stewards of the environment, and problem solving the types of lures, bai, and knots that might be most successful, the anglers began their competition. The Sportsfishing Project will reconvene in the fall once temperatures decrease.

Results from Sportsfishing: Junior First Place – Kaden Sims; Intermediate First Place – Whit Thomas; Second Place – Ty Murphy; Third Place – Chase Johnston; Most Species – Thomas; Smallest Fish – Johnston; Biggest Fish – Murphy; Sportsmanship – Tanner Sailor.

The Saline County Fair continues throughout the week through Sunday, July 18. To see the full schedule of events, including the auction on Friday, July 16, and the Saline County Showdown on Saturday, July 17, visit the Saline County Fairgrounds Webpage at <https://www.salinecountymofairgrounds.org/>.

Photo and information provided by Chelsea Corkins.