Sequatchie County Fair begins - Aug. 13-17

Activities include 'Duck Dynasty' look-alike contest

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

photo Do you resemble any of the Robertsons of "Duck Dynasty" fame? A look-alike contest is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. CDT Thursday, Aug. 15, as part of the Sequatchie County Fair in Dunlap, Tenn. From left are series regulars Jase, Si, Willie and Phil Robertson.

A “Duck Dynasty” look-alike contest, a tough-man tractor pull and a contender for world’s smallest horse are among the marquee events as the 86th annual Sequatchie County Fair gets underway next week in Dunlap, Tenn.

The fair officially opens Wednesday, Aug. 14, but a couple of events get things rolling early.

The Fairest of the Fair pageant is Saturday, Aug. 10, and the Pet Show will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13. Tuesday is also the first day of the carnival, which opens at 5 p.m. (all times are Central).

The theme is “86 Years of Recycled Fun,” and organizers have worked to see how many recycled items they could use at the fair.

“This not only is recycling but showing our visitors what can be done with things they have around the house,” says fair president Tracy Marcott. “We have some very creative ideas and have saved a lot of money by recycling.”

Included are garbage cans made of tires and flower beds crafted from railroad ties, according to fair adviser Karen Marshall.

“We have saved literally thousands of dollars this year by recycling and reusing materials,” she says.

The fair will be open through Saturday, Aug. 17, at 103 Heard St. Live demonstrations on rain barrels, cooking, quilting, soap-making, recycling and other money-saving ideas will take place throughout the week.

Highlights include IWF Wrestling, the tough-man tractor pull, Bluegrass & BBQ, “Duck Dynasty” look-alike contest, 4-H events, 4-H Poultry Show and Sale and performances by Marion County singer/guitarist Jesse Black and Four on the Floor, a Fayetteville, Tenn.-based band that plays the hits of the 1950s through the ’80s. More than 100 quilts are expected to be entered for display in the exhibit halls.

New events this year include the Recycled Item contest, Pick Tennessee Cook-off and 4-H Shooting Sports contest.

Also featured this year is Cotton Eyed Joe, a world-record contender for the smallest living male horse. He will be part of the Party Animals Petting Zoo, where visitors can pet and feed a collection of exotic animals.

Recycle-thon contests include pickle-tasting, buttermilk-drinking, ugly feet, kissable lips, plunger races, Let’s Make a Deal and cookie stacking.

For more information, call 423-834-6181, 423-779-8119 or 423-667-2015.