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SubscribeKentucky State Fair Premium Books are now available online. Competitors can choose from 31 departments — including antiques, field seed, livestock, photography and textiles — which are divided into 7,000 total classes of competition. All ages are welcome to compete for cash prizes and the more than 5,000 blue ribbons to be awarded.
The 2018 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 16-26 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Entry deadlines are:
- General July 2
- General (late fee) July 10
- Open and 4-H/FFA Youth Livestock July 10
- Pigeon and Poultry July 18
- Rabbit July 18
- Open Livestock (late fee) July 25
- Extra Late Open Livestock (late fee) August 3
The Premium Book and entry form are available online at www.kystatefair.org/premiumBook.html. A print version is also available; to request a copy, contact the entry department at Entry@kyvenues.com or call (502) 367-5190.
The 2018 USCCA Concealed Carry Expo opens today at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The Expo is open to the public and free for USCCA members and children under the age of 18 to attend (admission for non-members can be purchased at the door). Memberships can be purchased on-site. The event is scheduled for the entire weekend and will feature everything needed for one to safely and comfortably conceal carry a weapon in any situation.
Attendees will be able to walk the exhibit floor that will feature everything from ammunition to concealed carry shape wear for women, as well as the opportunity to test fire the latest handguns at the live-fire range. In addition to the exhibits, there will be a variety of demonstrations and seminars that will discuss everything from revolver techniques to tourniquet application and many legal aspects of concealed carry. New this year is a separate area that will focus on the products and seminar discussions that have been designed specifically for women shooters.
The show opened with seminars only this morning and the exhibit hall opens later this afternoon at 3:00 PM. The show continues all weekend with doors opening at 9:00 AM on Saturday and 10:00 AM on Sunday. Parking at the Expositions Center is $8 for cars and is not included in the price of admission. If you are currently licensed or looking for more information about concealed carry, this is the show to find everything that is needed.
The Louisville Tattoo Arts Convention draws world-class tattoo artists, enthusiasts and television personalities to the Kentucky Exposition Center for body art, seminars, contests and entertainment. More than 200 tattoo artists will attend the show to display their body art. Artists accept walk-up clients or schedule ahead by contacting the artists directly.
Show is located in the Kentucky Exposition Center’s East Hall. Show hours are:
- April 13 – 2:00 PM until 12:00 AM
- April 14 – 11:00 AM until 12:00 AM
- April 15 – 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM
Parking for the Exposition Center is $8 per vehicle or $20 for a bus. Show tickets can be purchased on site only:
- $20 for a single day pass
- $40 for all three days
- Children 12 and under are free
Visit villainarts.com/tattoo-conventions-villain-arts/louisville-tattoo-arts-convention for more information.
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association National Tournament returns to the Kentucky Exposition Center April 12-15, bringing 96 junior and adult division teams together to battle it out on the courts. The competition is estimated to generate $2.8 million in economic impact for the Louisville area.
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) athletes wheel into action on 12 courts located throughout South Wings B and C. Tournament hours are:
- Thursday, April 12 9:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
- Friday, April 13 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Saturday, April 14 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Sunday, April 15 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association was founded in 1948, with teams of veterans competing against one another. Today there are more than 200 NWBA teams and eight divisions of play exist: Junior Prep; Junior Varsity; Division I-III; Intercollegiate Men’s; Intercollegiate Women’s; and Women’s.
TICKETS Pre-sale through April 4/At the door:
- $26, adults all sessions/$32, adults all sessions
- $15, adults single session/$19, adults single session
- $10, children (age 11-18) all sessions/$12, children (age 11-18) all sessions
- $7, children single session/$10, children single session
Children 10 and under are free. To purchase tickets in advance, visit the website below. Parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is $8 per vehicle and $20 per bus.
For more information and a tournament schedule, visit www.nwba.org/2018nwbt.
The Kentucky State Fair Board has named the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation’s top executive as its new President and CEO. David S. Beck, 63, has served as CEO of Farm Bureau since 1995, and brings over 40 years of experience in agriculture and governmental affairs to Kentucky Venues. The State Fair Board is the governing body for Kentucky Venues which manages the Kentucky Exposition Center and Kentucky International Convention Center.
“I’m truly humbled and excited for the opportunity to lead Kentucky Venues,” said Beck. “Kentucky is thriving like never before, and I look forward to enhancing the properties and working with our partners to market and grow our business to attract even more national and international events.”
A native of Lyon County in western Kentucky, Beck is a graduate of Murray State University and began his career with Kentucky Farm Bureau in 1977 as an area field service director.
“David Beck successfully led a large organization, involved in major state and national legislative regulatory issues affecting agriculture and rural Kentucky,” said Don Parkinson, Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. “He brings a wealth of business expertise to lead the sixth largest convention operation in the nation.”
A five-member search committee was appointed by KSFB chairman Mark Lynn in January to review applications for the position which has been vacant since September, 2017. The Board will vote to officially approve Beck’s contract at its April 26th meeting with a start date of July 1.
The National Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament aims to bring 6,600 student archers grades four through twelve to the Kentucky Exposition Center March 30-31. The record breaking registration makes the Kentucky NASP tournament the largest state archery tournament in the country.
NASP promotes archery as part of in-school curriculums, with the goal of improving motivation, attention, behavior, attendance and focus. It originally began as the Kentucky Archery in the Schools Program in 2001, and has grown to include 14,000 schools in five countries. More than a million students will have learned archery by the end of this school year.
The NASP Kentucky State Tournament runs 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. A full schedule can be found online at www.nasptournaments.org.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 13-18). Children 12 and under, registered archers and coaches are free. Parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is $8 per vehicle and $20 per bus.
For more information about NASP and the tournament, visit www.nasptournaments.org.
More than 75,000 trucking professionals and representatives will park in Louisville March 22-24 for the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), the largest annual heavy-duty trucking industry event in the world.
The Kentucky Exposition Center has hosted MATS every year since 1972, and the show brings $26 million in economic impact to the Louisville region.
This industry-only event accommodates the entire trucking industry in one venue, so professionals can see new products and services; test drive new trucks and technology; connect with suppliers, distributors and customers; and stay up-to-date with changes in the industry.
More than 1,000 exhibitors will showcase everything from engines to electronics, tools to tires and sealants to sleeper cabs – plus a large number of recruiters will be in attendance. Numerous seminars offer educational opportunities for companies, fleets and trucking professionals.
For more information, visit www.truckingshow.com.
