Folks visiting the 2023 Jackson County Fair can enjoy a taste of the Wild West.

Mark Norman, grandstand chairman, said the South Plains Rodeo Company based in northern Indiana will be putting on a rodeo this year at 7 p.m. Monday.

“Dill Whittymore is in charge of the horses (at the fair) and worked with us to find the rodeo company because he’s involved in the rodeo all the time with his son,” Norman said.

There has always been music in front of the grandstand at the fair, but attendance has dwindled down to where the fair board can’t afford to go out and get a big name and take a chance on losing money, so the grandstand committee decided to try a couple of different things this year, he said.

Norman said there are so many other things to see at the fair, and there is music playing down by the Antique Building and other places, too.

“Many years ago, we had a rodeo, and with the racetrack situation and the way the track is designed, it just wasn’t conducive,” Norman said. “So we want to thank Jim Price with Brownstown Speedway for working with us and trying to make it work this year for the Monday night rodeo.”

The cost for the event, sponsored by 92.7 Nash Icon, is $20 for an adult grandstand ticket, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under.

The grandstand offers a variety of nightly events, kicking off with the fair queen pageant at 8 p.m. Sunday. The cost to attend this event is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under.

Norman said the demolition derby held at the grandstand is one of the fair’s better-attended events and will be taking place at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“The demo is something we’ve done for years, and I think the kids really enjoy the cars, and it’s a fan favorite,” he said. “It continues to be one of our larger events at the grandstand, and we have the Kids Power Wheel Demo we started a few years ago to get the kids involved.”

The cost is $10 for an adult grandstand ticket or $15 an adult pit pass, $2 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under.

Equipment is provided by King’s Trucking and Excavation Inc., and the event is sponsored by Klaes Chiropractic Clinic, Radio 96.3 WJAA and Burch Sewer and Drain.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Battle of Bluegrass Pulling Series League will promote the fifth annual Phil Teipen Memorial Truck and Tractor Pulls. The event will feature light limited super stock tractors, limited pro stock diesel trucks, 9,500-pound hot farm tractors and the Southern Indiana Tractor Pullers Association 12,000-pound 14 mph.

The cost is $20 for grandstand or pit passes for adults, $2 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under.

Equipment is provided by Wright Implement, Wischmeier Companies LLC and the Grassy Fork Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Thursday Night Thunder gets underway at 7 p.m. Thursday with the third annual Don Gardner Memorial featuring Indiana pro late models, modifieds, super stocks and hornets. The event is sponsored by Benton’s Garage in Norman.

The cost is $15 for adult grandstand seating, $30 for adult pit pass, $2 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under.

At 8 p.m. Friday, fairgoers can experience full-throttle family fun as the Monster Truck Racing League will present monster trucks.

The cost is $20 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under.

“A lot of fairs are having the monster truck shows, and we decided to do that this year, and they are out of Moneta, Virginia,” Norman said. “Along with the monster trucks, we’re also going to have a Quad Star ATV Challenge, where the four-wheelers do tricks and things.”

Norman said he expects the monster truck show to be huge and a very well-attended event.

“It’s going to be a lot of work because the track is going to get a lot of use with the rodeo on Monday, demolition on Tuesday, tractor pull on Wednesday, racing on Thursday and monster trucks on Friday,” he said. “We’re going to have to move a lot of dirt, and a lot of work is going to have to be done by a lot of people to make it happen.”

Closing out fair week on Saturday will be the 10th annual Jackson County Grand Champion Fair Paul Crockett Memorial, featuring super late models, super stocks, modifieds, pure stocks and hornets.

Sponsored by the Jackson County Fair, the event will start at 7 p.m. The cost is $20 for grandstand seating and $35 for adult pit pass. Ages 6 to 12 may attend for $2, and it’s free for kids 5 and under.

Brownstown Speedway/Jackson County Fair hosts a memorial race every year to honor the late Crockett, who is a member of the Brownstown Speedway Hall of Fame.

Tickets for all grandstand entertainment will be available to purchase at the ticket booth located inside the fairgrounds at the entrance to the grandstand.