JOPLIN, Mo. — The first of several local county fairs this summer is set to kick off next week.

The Jasper County Youth Fair will be staged July 9-14 at Carthage Municipal Park. Area youths from 4-H and FFA groups will show a variety of livestock, including cattle, goats, horses, sheep, poultry, rabbits and swine.

“This is what it’s all about, is the kids,” fair president Jamie Crow said. “It’s a busy week, but they enjoy it.”

Several special attractions also are scheduled throughout the week.

The queen, princess and Little Miss and Mister pageants are set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 10. A beautiful baby contest will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 12, followed by the peewee shows and a watermelon feed at 7 p.m.

A barbecue will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 13. The lineup for Saturday, July 14, includes a car, truck, motorcycle and tractor show from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and a youth tractor pull for children ages 2 to 10 at noon.

Activities will be open daily from about 8 a.m. until after dark. Admission is free.

Newton County

The Newton County Fair will be staged July 11-14 at the fairgrounds south of Neosho.

The queen and princess pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, July 9, at the Elsie Plaster Center at Crowder College.

Opening ceremonies are slated for 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 11. A variety of animal exhibits, including swine, rabbits, poultry, cattle and goats, will be held Thursday and Friday, July 12 and 13.

The fair also will include a goat costume contest and a show-de-o, both at 7 p.m. Friday, July 13. Live entertainment is scheduled for 8 p.m. July 12-14.

The final day will include livestock judging at 9 a.m., awards at 2 p.m. and an auction of livestock at 7 p.m.

McDonald County

The 38th annual McDonald County Fair will be held July 19-21 at the junction of highways 71 and 76, behind McDonald County High School in Anderson.

The schedule for Thursday, July 19, includes a play by the McDonald County Summer Theatre at 6:30 p.m., and the coronation of the fair queen and princess at 8 p.m.

The swine, sheep, goat and cattle shows will take place on Friday, July 20. The day also includes a second play performance at 6:30 p.m., a youth tractor pull from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and a show-de-o at 7 p.m.

The final day of the fair will feature the youth horse show and the premium sale during the evening. Also scheduled are the Tiny Tot contest at 10 a.m., a tractor driving contest at 2 p.m., turtle races at 3 p.m. and a dog show at 3:30 p.m.

Cherokee County

The 84th annual Cherokee County (Kan.) American Legion Fair will be held July 17-21 at the American Legion Memorial Park in Columbus, four blocks south of the square.

The poultry, rabbit and dog shows are set for Tuesday, July 17. The hog, sheep and goat shows will be held Wednesday, July 18. There also will be a 4-H dessert auction at 6:30 p.m. July 18, followed by an ice cream social.

The beef show will be Thursday, July 19; the dairy show is set for Friday, July 20. The final day of the fair will feature livestock judging and the premium sale.

Entertainment, beginning at 8:30 p.m. each day, includes the Bill Duling Band, Singing Cowboy Country Gospel, Area 51, Tragic Prelude and Honky Tonk Renovations.

Crawford County

The Crawford County (Kan.) Fair is set for Aug. 1-4 at the fairgrounds on Highway 47, just east of Girard.

The fair will feature 4-H and open-class showings of livestock, arts and crafts, textiles, agriculture, and foods. Activities will include an inflatable bounce house for children, live music and a children’s tractor pull. There will be no carnival this year, according to the Crawford County Fair Association.

Special events include a rodeo on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 1 and 2; a concert featuring Bart Crow and No Justice on Friday, Aug. 3; and a demolition derby on Saturday, Aug. 4. Ticket prices for the events range from $5 to $20.

Ottawa County

The Ottawa County (Okla.) Fair will be staged Aug. 18-25 at the fairgrounds in Miami.

Livestock shows will be open to the public Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 21-23, and a carnival will be set up Aug. 21-25.

Also planned are several events that will cost $5 per night: a ranch rodeo on Saturday, Aug. 18; an all-terrain vehicle rodeo on Monday, Aug. 20; a horse pull on Thursday, Aug. 23; and a demolition derby on Saturday, Aug. 25.