Once again, pie-makers, peach preservers, poultry lovers, tractor pullers, trap shooters and kids hauling in their show animals will converge on the county fairgrounds to show their stuff.

The 52nd Annual Canadian County Free Fair is set for Aug. 21-26. The fair will feature live music, carnival rides, food vendors and loads of exhibits for spectators to ogle, said Ted Mittelstaedt, fair board secretary.

The difference this year will be in the exhibition area.

“All the exhibits are going to be inside the educational building,” Mittelstaedt said. Historically, exhibits have been spread out in both the educational building and the coliseum, but the non-air-conditioned coliseum has been shunned for more comfortable quarters.

For the first time, 4-H exhibits will be entered on Monday evening for judging and display and the next evening they will be on view to the public. Only the blue ribbon winners will be on exhibit for the remainder of the fair.

The midway opens at 6 p.m. Wednesday as most of the open entries are accepted. Judging begins for most exhibits and show animals on Thursday afternoon.

Mittelstaedt said he anticipates between 5,000 and 6,000 people in attendance at the fair and several thousand entries.

Some of the most popular events, he said, are the Pet Parade, the Kids Tractor Pull, the Money Scramble and an appearance by a team of Clydesdales from the Express Ranch.

Entertainment on the main stage includes Rick Marcotte on Thursday evening, Devin Derrick Country and Western Band on Friday evening and Gene Stroman and Guests on Saturday evening after the family night awards.

“Devin Derrick is an up-and-coming entertainer. He was here last year and I guess you could say he’s back by popular demand,” Mittelstaedt said.

Farmhand Olympics is always a crowd-pleaser that kicks the evening off on Thursday in the show barn, with youngsters competing for money prizes as well as trophies. Teams will compete in the egg walk, sack race, wheel barrow race, calf roping and water hauling.

“When you walk through the barn it’s always busy, and the bleachers are full for the livestock shows. The Farm-hand Olympics are always a big draw,” he said.

Also on Thursday at 7 p.m., the amateur talent show features five different classes — 3- to 8-year-olds, 9- to 13-year-olds, 14- to 19-year-olds, 20 to adult and family acts.

“The talent show is a big draw for a lot of parents, grandparents and friends,” he said.

Pie-bakers will begin entering their best in 13 different categories from apple to pumpkin with the judging scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Friday. The top blue ribbon pie can earn its maker $75 and a trophy. The Busy Baker Award comes with $50.

On Saturday at 11 a.m., Central Oklahoma Antique Tractor Club will demonstrate the garden tractor pull and at 1 p.m., Newcastle Tractor Pullers will hold the antique tractor pull.

Oklahoma Trap Association will oversee trap shooting competitions for adults, junior and senior classes at the shooting range southeast of El Reno at 2 p.m. Saturday. Spectators can be back at the fairgrounds show barn in time for the pet show at 5 p.m. followed by the money scramble for children ages 3 through 8. Chaos is the word when children search for coins buried in sawdust and keep what they find within a three-minute period.

For the fourth straight year, the barbecue cook-off will fire up on Saturday for a chance at $200 for the winning entry. Amateur chefs will attempt to cook the best brisket, pork ribs, chicken, beans or cook’s choice.

The Kiddie Tractor Pull will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday with five different classes weighing in.

Any 4-H member can complete exhibits and enter them in the 4-H section of the fair. Open class divisions are open to any resident of Canadian County of any age.

The fair catalogue is available online and at the Extension Office in El Reno. Fair entries can be entered online at www.canadiancountyfair.com.

For the second straight year, the fair will host a market goat show as part of the livestock entries.

Students in the 4-H program will be awarded points based on where they place in individual events and the competitor with the most points will be named Outstanding 4-H Exhibitor.

All exhibits are released at 8 p.m. Saturday evening.