The 2016 version of the Clinton County Fair is already here again. The start of seven days and nights will kick off June 11 with both Saturday morning and Saturday evening events. After a break on Sunday, the fair will continue in full force next Monday, June 13 through Saturday, June 18.

The fair will include not only something for everyone throughout the week, but there will also be some changes from year’s past…some subtle and at least one very noticeable to local fairgoers, that being the rearrangement of gate/carnival pricing.

The fair board make-up, especially in its officers, has also changed somewhat, with Mike Matthews now at the helm in his first year after taking over from long-time Fair Board President Jackie Flowers, who decided to leave the position after last year’s fair. Flowers does, however, continue on as a member of the board.

There will also be some other officer changes this year. Phyllis Flowers will remain as board secretary, but new officers will fill the slots of vice-president (Shelby Guffey); fair manager (Morgan Pence); and Kelly Guffey is now the board treasurer.

The most noticeable change will be the gate admission prices. Over the years, there was a gate admission price and once inside, for those taking part in carnival rides, a separate “arm band” price to be paid to ride rides.

This year, prices will increase at the gate. However, the one set price will cover not only admission but the cost of all carnival rides all night long without a separate carnival fee.

Matthews, during an interview last week, said the change in prices at the gate would take some getting used to and may not be very popular to some. However, the changes are basically due to the carnival’s insistence that its share of nightly proceeds come from the gate admission price, rather than going through the process of selling arm bands to those who ride rides.

“Most carnivals now require the change,” Matthews said, noting there are only about 10 to 12 carnivals on the circuit in Kentucky and they have been pushing for the change for several years, but Clinton County is one of the last county fairs to go with the one price for all gate admission.

He also reiterated that the one gate admission not only gave fair patrons total all-night access to the carnival, but for every event that takes place at the fairgrounds each night. In all cases, there are multiple programs that will be taking place, including main events.

Matthews, who has been a fair board member for four years prior to taking over the president’s position, said the fair board was fortunate a couple of years ago to obtain “Forever Young” amusements for its carnival. “They run a tight ship,” said Matthews, adding it was a clean carnival and guaranteed up to 16 rides, unlike some carnivals in the past that had only a handful of rides to choose from.

“We are going to try and keep them, it’s important to have a dependable carnival with unlimited rides.”

There will also be some new events to this year’s fair program, including some events that Matthews said are ‘coming back,’ such as the Pleasure Horse Show, which will be put on by people who are aligned with the 4-H program. “We hope to bring that back and hope it stays with us.”

He also reiterated getting back to more educational programs for 4-H and FFA type programs for students to participate in this year and in years to come.

Two new events will take place on Wednesday night, one being the ATV Flat Track Racing, which Matthews said was part of a point series race. He said they expect about 130 regular circuit riders to take part, not counting local residents who will display their riding abilities.

The other new event the same evening in the main building, will be southern comedian Tom Mabe putting on a show that will be sure to tickle the funny bone for anyone who likes stand-up comics. Matthews noted Mabe was very well known and had appeared on such shows as Comedy Central and others. He further said his act was a “good clean, family oriented” show.

There will also be a petting zoo for the children to enjoy this year.

Matthews noted that the now updated Clinton County Fair website has complete information about most shows and events that will be taking place during the upcoming fair.

Gates will open each evening at 4 p.m. for patrons and earlier for people who will be putting on the main shows.

Matthews also noted that last year, the Demolition Derby was moved from its normal Wednesday night slot to Friday night and that will be the case again this year. “Last year we had the biggest crowd ever for a Demolition Derby at the fair,” Matthews noted, saying the change in dates was the primary reason, thus they are continuing with it.

Matthews, who served as fair manager last year, said the manager makes sure day-to-day duties such as the track being ready, etc. but that being president involved having to oversee the scheme of all aspects of the fair, from sponsors, show events and the financial side.

He said the fair board works year-round to make sure the event is carried out and also noted that with the tractor give-away, they had to have a charitable gaming license. He further noted the fair just about breaks even overall gate-wise, with about the only annual profit coming from the sale of tractor give-away tickets.

“I feel like with the new events and new attractions, it is going to be a successful fair,” Matthews continued.

He said that proceeds from last year’s tractor sales allowed the board to add 850 new aluminum seats at the truck track that will be up and ready for use at the 2016 event.

He also noted that the Clinton County Fair Board was “one of only about three or four” left in Kentucky that owned its own property in which to host a fair, meaning the event is not going to slowly go away and not be held. He noted that in many cases, including surrounding counties, some property used to put on fairs were owned by other entities or governments, and if those entities decided to do something else with the property, it was putting county fairs in a bind.

“We have our own property, so things will continue,” he said, adding the fair board received no kind of supplemental funds, government or otherwise, but only from the proceeds taken during fair week itself.

Matthews did say on Saturday, the cost of admission to the morning Baby Show at 10 a.m. would be $4 and the price of the evening events would be $4 as well, with gates opening at 4 p.m. The carnival will be on the midway beginning Monday night, June 13.

For event rules, pageant applications, and other information visit the web page at www.clintoncofair.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ClintonCoFairKY.

Matthews invites all Clinton Countians and surrounding area residents to come out and enjoy the main events on tap at this year’s fair.

A pocket-sized listing of events can be found in a brochure included in this week’s Clinton County News, as well as several pages devoted to events, the carnival, admission prices, and the Clinton County Extension Office programs.