Ky. State Fair Entries Expected to Show Signs of Drought

The summer drought is expected to have an impact on many of the Kentucky State Fair’s agricultural entries. Kentucky’s suffered a hot, dry summer, and farmers in the western half of the state are bearing the brunt of the disaster. The stress has already shown up on fair entries in other drought-stricken areas of the country, with smaller ears of corn and other vegetables and fewer head of livestock on display.

At the Kentucky State Fair, spokeswoman Amanda Storment says competitors have to submit their paperwork early in the summer, so the actual condition of the entries won’t be known until they arrive.

"Beginning next Monday, when we start receiving those entries, vegetables, plants, flowers, whatever, those crops, that is when we’re going to find out whether or not the drought has really and truly affected entries in the fair," said Storment. "And we believe that it will."

The fair begins its ten-day run next week. Meanwhile, organizers are accepting applications for about 800 temporary state fair jobs.