Pryor, OK — Mayes County Fair Board member Dale Chupp spoke to Pryor Creek Sertoma Club on opening day for the 2012 fair.

“This may be the largest free fair in Oklahoma,” said Chupp. “We are neck-and-neck with Payne County most years.”

Chupp outlined the schedule for the fair, which opens with broiler, dairy and horse shows on Thursday and concludes on Sunday with the pet show. The premium show is Monday.

“The hog show on Saturday morning is the biggest hog show in Oklahoma, on a county level,” said Chupp. “The best thing about the Mayes County Fair is our supporters,”he added. “We have a strong group of supporters; we raised over $200,000 last year for the premium sale.”

Goats have become the largest category of livestock in number since they were introduced to the fair  five or six years ago. “Many of our kids no longer live on farms,” Chupp said. “Goats take less space than some other animals and they are somewhat less expensive to feed.”

Chupp said animals are picked for the premium sale by the judges. “Just because you win your class does not mean you will automatically be in the premium sale,” he added. He said winners at the Mayes County Fair have done well showing in Tulsa or in national events around the country.

Chupp said the existing exhibit building at the fairgrounds was expanded two years ago, but with the increased number of entries, space is tight again. Chupp said his “wish list” for the fair would include the construction of a larger multi-purpose building with heat and air conditioning that might be rented for events throughout the year. “We could do so much more for Pryor and Mayes County if we had this type of building,” he added.

Chupp said students who are involved in raising and showing animals usually have fewer problems at home or in school. “Raising animals is a good thing to teach kids responsibility,” he said.

Chupp said many students use money from the premium auction to help pay for college. He said money raised by the Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce helps those in the premium sale get a good price. “Last year all the kids were guaranteed at least $650 through the efforts of the Chamber,” he said.

The 2012 Mayes County Fair started Thursday and runs through Sunday evening, with the premium sale Monday at 7 p.m.