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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.
Today marks the beginning of the end for the 2017 Kentucky State Fair as the last two days of the event kick off. With highs in the low 80s and clear skies all weekend, fair goers should be able to comfortably enjoy the multitude of events scheduled all weekend.
While many of the small livestock animals are gone, visitors will still be able to see beef cattle, sheep, and swine. Visitors today can take in the last day of the 2017 World Championship Horse Show in Freedom Hall (tickets required) and, on Sunday, spectators will be able to enjoy the horse and mule pull in Broadbent Arena. If exotic animals are more your thing, stop by the area near the 4-H exhibits to see Australian fauna up close.
Fans of live entertainment will be able to see a number of local dance teams, musical acts, and more performing on three stages throughout the exhibit hall area. Performances will feature everything from street dancing to clogging, jugglers, magicians, a capella, and a big friendly robot this weekend. Just outside the exhibit hall, fair goers will see that the midway – dubbed Thrillville – has been moved closer to the rest of the fair action. There are two main performance areas located in Thrill Ville that will feature the Marvelous Mutts (frisbee and water diving dogs) and the famous acrobatic family, Flying Wallendas. Near Thrillville, there are four live music tents that have a rotating schedule of performances as well as an all-day karaoke show. The full schedule of events can be found within the new Kentucky State Fair app.
Sunday night will feature a Main a Stage performance of the Southern Uprising Tour, that includes performances by Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker Band, and Lee Roy Parnell. Admission is separate from the cost to visit the fair, but tickets are still available. The Turf Concert Series will feature Theory of a Deadman tonight, and Matthew West, Colton Dixon, Hawk Nelson, and Sarah Reeves on Sunday. Admission to these two concerts is included in the general fair admission.
For the foodie, the Fair will not disappoint. Normal fair-food items can be found throughout the entire venue, such as gyros, philly cheese steak, brats, funnel cakes, etc. Inside the exhibit hall, you may be able to find a stand selling deep fried PB&J sandwiches. Outside near the live music tents, there is a mobile seafood grill that features fried oysters and conch, tuna burgers, ostrich burgers, alligator, and much more. In the Kentucky Cookout tent, fair goers will find everything from locally-sourced sweet corn, catfish, ice cream, to pork chop sandwiches.
Gates to the 2017 Kentucky State Fair open at 7 AM, but the exhibits do not open until 9 AM. Admission is $10 per person and parking is $10 per vehicle. If visitors ride TARC to the Exposition Center, admission is reduced to $7.
Visitors to the 2017 Kentucky State Fair can help children in foster care by donating a new duffle bag or backpack at the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) exhibit. CHFS is collecting the bags at its display in the Health Horizons area of South Wing B at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Children coming into foster care will receive the bags to carry their belongings.
“Often times, when children are removed from their home and placed into state care, all their belongings are literally stuffed into a black garbage bag,” Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson said. “Can you image how that makes them feel? No child deserves to be given a trash bag for their belongings. This effort changes that. Donating a duffle bag or backpack is a small but meaningful way to help foster children and give them the dignity of carrying their possessions in a new bag that is all their own.”
Glisson said she has invited her employees to bring along duffle bags to drop into the donation bin at the CHFS exhibit space. The Secretary has also asked other Executive Cabinet secretaries and leadership of CHFS community partners and their employees to contribute.
Department for Community Based Services Commissioner Adria Johnson said she was touched by the efforts to help children in foster care, a program administered by her staff across the state.
“This luggage collection is tremendous,” she said. “Our staff is so grateful that we can give children a dignified way to carry their belongings. We have been spreading the word to the public that even if you cannot become a foster parent, there is some smaller thing you can do for our children in out of home care. And if people visiting the fair make the time and effort to donate, what a wonderful gift to these youth.”
A number of organizations have sponsored duffle bag and backpack drives over the past few months. Specifically, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky launched a “Duffle Shuffle” campaign to ensure children entering out-of-home care would not have to use trash bags to carry their belongings. More information is available at http://www.duffleshuffle.org/ or by searching #DuffleShuffle on social media. Duffle Shuffle details will be available at our state fair exhibit area.
Others, including Girl Scout Troops and office groups, have sponsored duffle bag drives. Earlier this summer, the “Foster Care Pack Drive”, coordinated by employees at Disability Determination Services (DDS), which is part of CHFS, raised $4,200 to purchase new bags and collected nearly 900 donated bags. Donating duffle bags and backpacks is just one way to help children in foster care.
For more information about how you can become a foster or adoptive parent, or to get more general information, email: openhearts@ky.gov, go to the state adoption website adopt.ky.gov, which helps families more easily navigate the foster care and adoption process or call 1-800-232-KIDS (5437).
Cabinet for Health and Family Services 2017 State Fair Calendar
Featured Daily (Aug. 17-27)
- Free Children’s Dental Screenings (10 a.m. -2 p.m. for children enrolling in public school with signed adult consent) and Oral Health Education
- Kentucky HEALTH Update and Medicaid/Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) Information
- Substance Use Disorder Strategies and Services
- Zika Education and Mosquito Control
- Foster Care and Adoption – Duffel Bag/Backpack Drive
- Tobacco Cessation – The Lung Challenge: Test your lung strength
- Free Blood Pressure Screenings and Education
Thursday, Aug. 17
- Focus on Dental Health – Ask the Experts/Media Availability (10 a.m. to noon)
Monday, Aug. 21
- Healthy Babies, Healthy Children – Prenatal Care, Safe Sleep for Babies, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP)
Tuesday, Aug. 22
- Services for Seniors – Adult Protective Services, Aging and Independent Living/Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program
Wednesday, Aug. 23
- Focus on Foster Care and Adoption – Ask the Experts/Media Availability (10 a.m. to noon)
Thursday, Aug. 24
- Focus on Zika Education and Mosquito Control – Ask the Experts/Media Availability (10 a.m. to noon)
Friday, Aug. 25
- Focus on Substance Use Disorder Strategies and Services – Ask the Experts/Media Availability (10 a.m. to noon)
Fair Admission and Hours
Exhibit buildings at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center are open daily at 9 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Advance tickets are $7 for adults, seniors and children; free for children 5 years and under. Parking in advance is $5 per vehicle (car and bus). Advance discount prices are available through 10 p.m., Aug. 16, at Kroger and online at http://www.kystatefair.org/ and on the Kentucky State Fair app.
Admission at the gate is $10 for adults, seniors and children; free for children 5 years and under.
Parking after Aug. 16 and at the gate is $10 per car.
For more information about the fair, visit kystatefair.org.
The Kentucky State Fair runs Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center and is the largest summertime attraction in the Commonwealth.
The 11-day celebration stays true to its 113-year heritage, while each year offering fairgoers exciting new experiences, food, music, animals, exhibits, entertainment and more.
- New Kentucky State Fair App Fairgoers can make the most of their experience with the Fair’s new app, free on Google Play and the App Store:
- Tickets: save money by purchasing advance parking and admission
- Tastes of the Fair: find those once-a-year food favorites
- What’s Hot: see what’s “trending” at the Fair
- My Schedule: create daily schedules of “must-see” music and entertainment
- News: get weather, parking and news updates
- Now and Next: see what’s going on now, and later
- Main Stage: order tickets for I Love the 90s Tour, Alabama and Southern Uprising Tour
- Fun Photo Filters: use filters to create unique Fair photos
- Find Your Fun: check out which entertainers are on stage and what animals are in the stalls
- Thrill Ville New Name, Better Location The Midway has a new name – Thrill Ville – and a new location closer to the heart of the Fair.
- Easier access to rides, especially with free parking across from Gate 1 on weekends
- Closer to air-conditioned indoor space to cool off
- Quicker access to food and entertainment tents, and indoor exhibit areas
- New Food at the Fair All the old favorites will be at the Fair – corn dogs, ice cream, donut burgers, fudge, fried fish and more. But get ready to bite into some of the new arrivals this year:
- Alligator
- Fried mac ‘n cheese balls
- Farm-to-table burgers
- Frog legs
- Tator tots with toppings
- FAIRenheit 17 Mini Music Festival Feel the Louisville love and celebrate all things local at the first annual FAIRenheit festival Thursday, Aug. 24 from 6 to 11 p.m.
- Local food trucks: Fresh out of the Box, Smoking Cantina and Celtic Pig
- Local craft breweries, distilleries and wineries: Copper & Kings and more
- Local bands: Ben Sollee with special guests Tony and the Tan Lines and 64West
- Local aerialists and fire artists
- Local artisans
- New Acts, Animals and Awards From wallabies to Wallendas and mascots to the moon, check out new acts, events, competitions and more.
- Flying Wallendas perform the high-wire daredevil acts that’ve made them famous
- Aussie Kingdom introduces fairgoers to their native kangaroos, wallabies, reptiles and birds
- Total Eclipse Experience, Aug. 21, invites everyone to experience the biggest eclipse in American history
- Kentucky Remembers with a walk-through WWI barrack and educational displays
- Hip Hop Juggler from Harlem awes audiences with hip-hop music and juggling
- Cooks vs. Cons competition keeps audiences guessing – who’s the cook and who’s the con artist
- Blue Ribbon Stage features interactive, educational shows from the Louisville Zoo, Kentucky Science Center, Kentucky Derby Museum, League of Mascots and more
- Kentucky Living presents its Best in Kentucky awards Aug. 24 at 10 a.m.
- Owsley Brown II Portable Planetarium brings stars and the galaxy to life
The 2017 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or its blog.
The Kentucky State Fair runs Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. It’s the Commonwealth’s largest summertime attraction – and America’s largest indoor fair. The celebration’s popularity draws nearly 600,000 visitors for the once-a-year opportunity to experience fair food, music, animals, exhibits, entertainment and more.
The Kentucky State Fair offers money-saving discounts, promotions and programs to ensure all residents are able to enjoy the festivities.
- EXPRESS LANES: AUG. 17-27 Fairgoers save time and money by pre-purchasing both parking and admission tickets – only they can use the express lanes at Gates 1, 3, 4 and 6.
- ADVANCE DISCOUNT ADMISSION: ENDS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 Fairgoers of all ages – adults, children and seniors – pay $7 for advance tickets and $10 at the gate. Children five and under are free. Advance discount tickets are available on Kentucky State Fair’s new app and website until midnight Aug. 16, plus participating Kroger locations until 10 p.m. Aug. 16.
- ADVANCE DISCOUNT PARKING: ENDS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 Fairgoers pay $5 for advance parking and $10 at the gate. Advance discount parking is available on Kentucky State Fair’s new app and website until midnight Aug. 16, plus participating Kroger locations until 10 p.m. Aug. 16.
- FREE WEEKEND PARKING: FRIDAY 5 P.M. – SUNDAY From Friday at 5 p.m. through Sunday, fairgoers can park for free in the lot on Phillips Lane across from Gate 1, the main entrance to the Kentucky Exposition Center. Free parking is first come, first served.
- TARC RIDER PROGRAM: AUG. 17-27 Riders can take TARC to a regular stop at the Kentucky Exposition Center, ask the driver for a State Fair card, redeem it at the gate and pay only $7 admission to the Fair.
- ADVANCE DISCOUNT THRILL VILLE WRISTBANDS, ENDS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 at 5 P.M. Fairgoers save with advance Thrill Ville wristbands: $20 for adults and $12 for children 46″ and under. Advance wristbands are available on the Kentucky State Fair website. Onsite prices are $25 for adults and $12 for children.
- MILITARY SUNDAY SALUTE: SUNDAY, AUG. 20 A special ceremony honoring the military will be held during the Oak Ridge Boys’ concert Aug. 20 at 8 p.m. in Cardinal Stadium, featuring the presentation of colors, national anthem and guest speakers. Active and retired military and their families receive free passes for Aug. 20. There is a limit of four passes and parking is not included. Passes are available on the Kentucky State Fair website. Thrill Ville wristbands will be available to military onsite for $10 with military ID.
- SENIOR DAY (55 AND OVER): TUESDAY, AUG. 22 Seniors are admitted free before 5 p.m. Parking is not included. Seniors are invited to Heritage Hall for a free cup of a coffee – and singing, games, dancing, bingo, music and more. DirecTV (Streamline Communications) sponsors the day and will offer a free lunch from the Pork Producers to the first 1,000 seniors in Heritage Hall.
- ALL IN: CARLOAD DAY: THURSDAY, AUG. 24 Admission and parking are just $20 per vehicle before 5 p.m. Vehicles with 12 or more passengers pay $100.
The 2017 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or its blog.
Advance tickets and parking for the 2017 Kentucky State Fair are now discounted and on sale at:
- Kentucky State Fair’s new app now through midnight Aug. 16, app is available on Google Play and the App Store.
- www.ticketforce.com now through midnight Aug. 16.
- Participating Kroger locations now through 10 p.m. Aug. 16.
Save with each advance ticket purchased.
Ticket Advance After Aug. 16
Adult $7 $10
Child (6-12)* $7 $10
Senior $7 $10
Parking $5 $10
*Children 5 and under are free.
The Kentucky State Fair announces the release of its new mobile app, now available free on both Google Play and the App Store.
The app is designed so that fairgoers can make the most of their experience. From saving money by purchasing advance tickets, to discovering “Tastes of the Fair” favorites, to reminiscing over Fair photos with fun filters, visitors appreciate the app’s benefits before, during and after the Kentucky State Fair.
Highlighted features include:
- Tastes of the Fair: find those once-a-year Fair food favorites
- What’s Hot: see what’s “trending” at the Fair
- My Schedule: create daily schedules of “must-see” music and entertainment
- News: get weather, parking and breaking news updates
- Now and Next: see what’s going on now, and later
- Main Stage: order tickets for I Love the 90s Tour, Alabama and Southern Uprising Tour
- Fun Photo Filters: use filters to create unique Fair photos
- Find Your Fun: check out which entertainers are on stage and what animals are in the stalls
A video introducing the app is available on the Kentucky State Fair’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook page.
Advance tickets and parking for the Kentucky State Fair go on sale July 9 and can be purchased online via the app through 10 p.m. Aug. 16, as well as at participating Kroger locations. During the Fair, full-price tickets and parking can be purchased via the app.
Prices: In Advance/ During the Fair
- Adult/Senior/ Child (6-12) $7/ $10
- Parking $5/ $10
- Children 5 and under are free
The 2017 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or its blog.
