Success StoryMercer County Fair



Mercer County Fair

Author: Linda McClanahan

Planning Unit: Mercer County CES

Major Program: Economic Development

Plan of Work: Agriculture and Horticulture

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

In light of COVID-19, Mercer County Cooperative Extension Agents and staff teamed up with Mercer County Fair & Horse Show Board and Mercer County FFA to develop a plan that would allow Mercer County to continue with its long standing, rich tradition of the county fair.  Mercer County 4-H and ANR agents worked diligently with Mercer County FFA advisors to develop a set of guidelines which would allow the livestock shows to happen safely for exhibitors and staff alike.  Then they worked with the Mercer County Health Department and Mercer County Judge Executive to get the plan approved.  One of the key pieces of this plan was requiring pre-registration of all entries (livestock and floral hall).  Pre-registration was handled through an online entry company which allowed shows to run more efficiently, keep staff/volunteers/exhibitors safe and increase transparency of recordkeeping.  In addition, this system allowed results to be published faster and allowed needed reports to be completed faster. The Mercer County Fair & Horse Show collaboration is a major part of economic development efforts completed by the Mercer County Extension Office and is an important economic driver for our community. This was one of the few county fairs conducted and even with necessary restrictions numbers of exhibitors and entries from most of the shows matched or exceeded previous years.






Stories by Linda McClanahan


Beef Month

Beef Month

about 3 years ago by Linda McClanahan

The Mercer County Cattlemens Association teamed up with the Mercer County Ag Agent and NEP assistant... Read More


Virtual National Agriculture Week

about 3 years ago by Linda McClanahan

The Mercer County Extension Office partnered with the Mercer County Farm Bureau Federation to celebr... Read More


Stories by Mercer County CES


Beef Month

Beef Month

about 3 years ago by Linda McClanahan

The Mercer County Cattlemens Association teamed up with the Mercer County Ag Agent and NEP assistant... Read More


Mercer County Youth Leadership Program

Mercer County Youth Leadership Program

about 3 years ago by Dana Anderson

In the 2016 4-H National Youth Survey on Leadership, two-thirds of respondents said they dont have t... Read More


Stories by Economic Development


Meat Processing Plant Enhances Economic Development and Food Security

about 3 years ago by Erika Wood

The Covid 19 pandemic brought to light the fragile nature of the United States food supply. The meat... Read More


The Appalachian Kentucky Local Business Flood Relief Fund

about 3 years ago by Jonathan Barton

The Appalachian Kentucky Local Business Flood Relief Fundwas in response to historic flooding in Mar... Read More