STURGIS, SD – The Meade County Fair & 4-H Achievement Days and the Northern Hills Ag Fest will offer something for everyone at free events throughout the weekend in Sturgis. Jenny Voight, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor says it’s volunteers who make it all happen.
“I want to start by extending a huge shout-out to the fair board,” said Voight. “They have worked tirelessly throughout the year. Big improvements made this year include the installation of wash racks and sun shades. They have worked so hard to put on the entire fair. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”
Board members include Payton Bahe: President, Tacy Snyder: Vice President, Courtney Bahe: Treasurer, Valerie Riter: Secretary, Shelley Sedivy, Matt Baird, Doug Hofer, Bridget Lundeen, Jennifer Matthews, Sherri Vig, Misty Reedy, Shelby Bestgen, Phara Flemming, and Breezy Miller.
While exhibitors have been busy setting up since Thursday, the two-day event opens to the public on Friday, July 25, 2025 through Saturday, July 26, 2025.
“It opens to the community to come out around 9a.m.,” says Voight. “That’s a good time for people to start showing up. We have breakfast going on. Mimi’s Food Truck is at the fair both days. We start with the Lego building competition, move into small animal shows, then the rocket launch with about 30 entered; we love to see the kids bring their turtles and frogs for contests and our watermelon eating contest which is so much fun for everybody to participate in.”
She adds, “We also have the NRCS that will set up a rainfall simulator, Elk Creek Conservation, and other agencies like the Game, Fish & Parks which are all part of the educational component at the fair.”
That all leads to the free community barbecue organized by the Northern Hills Ag Fest committee, where there is also mutton busting, calf scramble, and Ag Olympics.
The Meade County Fair is a family-friendly event, open to everyone and free to attend.
“We hope the community will come out to the fair. It’s a busy time of the year for the Sturgis community and Meade County,” Voight observes. “But it is exciting to host an event that pulls together our rural and town communities.
Saturday events include livestock shows, the premium livestock sale, a pie auction and ice cream social.
The number of open exhibits and livestock entries are bursting at the seams this year, says Voigt.
“There is a 90 percent increase in the 4-H kids that are participating and way over that with exhibits. We want to bring even more awareness to the 4-H program and the over 60 volunteers who help lead the 4-H clubs. Kids with a variety of interests will find a fit in today’s 4-H,” said Voight.
A fundraiser being held at this year’s fair will raise money for the installation of bathrooms in the fair building. Voight says kids and adults will be selling tickets with proceeds used to make yet another much needed improvement on the Meade County fairgrounds.
See more information and complete schedules on line at meadecountyfairsd.com and on Facebook.