The Lawrence County Fair kicked off with new events

The 2026 Lawrence County Fair is officially underway, with the first pre-fair activities proving to be an incredible success! New events, outstanding participation, and enthusiastic community support made Saturday, July18, a memorable kickoff to fair week.

The day began bright and early at 8 a.m., with the inaugural Lawrence County Fair Disc Golf Tournament held on the Lawrence County High School Disc Golf Course. Twenty-two teams competed in the event, drawing participants from Winchester, Paintsville, and throughout Lawrence County, all hoping to claim the championship in their respective divisions.

Disc Golf results in the beginner division was a tie between Jon O’Bryan and Scott McCloud and Ryland and Ryan Brady, finishing 9 under par

3rd place was a tie also with Owen Pack and Will Farley and Mike and Channon Thomas, finishing 5 under par.

Winners of the mixed division was Natalie and Jonathan Hill, finishing 12 under par; second place was Lizzie and Aiden Mynhier; with third place, Ryland and Aubrey Brady.

The advanced division winners were Owen Pack and Johnathon Hill, finishing 15 under par; second place,  

Hunter and Garet McCloud and Zach Trimble and Patrick Rice, both teams finished 14 under par.

The Lawrence County Fair Board extends a sincere thank you to Johnathon Hill for his dedication in organizing the tournament. His countless hours of planning, along with the assistance of Natalie Hill, helped make the event an overwhelming success. The Fair Board looks forward to making the Disc Golf Tournament an annual Lawrence County Fair tradition.

The excitement continued Saturday afternoon at Tractor Supply, where pet lovers gathered for the annual Pet Show. Isaiah Shannon captured “Best in Show” honors with his rabbit, Sally Sue, impressing the judges with outstanding presentation and personality. The pet show featured a variety of dogs, cats, rabbits, and other beloved pets, making it a favorite event for families.

As the sun set, attention turned to the Lawrence County Community Center on Bulldog Lane, where a packed house gathered for the “Red Carpet Rodeo” Pageant and Talent Show. Contestants from across the county took the stage showcasing confidence, personality, and talent while family and friends cheered them on.

Red Carpet Rodeo Pageant results are Prettiest Baby Girl Aubrey Osborne, daughter of Erin O’Bryan and Joe Osborne of Louisa. Runner-up was MyKa McCoy, daughter of Allen and Michaelea McCoy of Louisa.

Prettiest Baby Boy is Greyson Martin, son of Tyler and Hayli Martin.

Cutest Toddler Girl is McKayla Fitchpatrick, daughter of Josh and Savannah Fitchpatrick of Louisa.

Cutest Toddler is Boy Kameron Martin, son of Tyler and Hayli Martin.

Little Miss is Everleigh Mills, daughter of Andrew Mills and Hannah Martin.

Junior Miss Lawrence County is Emma Fitchpatrick, daughter of Josh and Savannah Fitchpatrick of Louisa. She attends Lawrence County High School.

Miss Lawrence County Reagan Stepp, daughter of Jason and Brittany Stepp of Catlettsburg. She attends Lawrence County High School.

First Runner up was Miss Molly Compton, daughter of Mikel and Heather Compton of Louisa. She is a graduate of Lawrence County High School and attends Northern KY University. Molly’s service project “Denim Drive”, includes donating clothes for underprivilege and helping people have clothes for interviews.  

Second Runner up was Emily Scott, daughter of Jesse and Tammy Scott of Louisa. She attends Lawrence County High School. Emily’s community service project includes helping others through service projects for the Homeless, and under privileged. She also works as the Easter Bunny for various events throughout the county.

During the excitement of the Red Carpet Rodeo Beauty Pageant, the audience was entertained with an exceptional Lawrence County Fair Talent Contest, featuring eight talented contestants from across the region. The audience was treated to an evening of incredible entertainment, making it one of the highlights of the pre-fair festivities.

The competition was so close that judges selected a Top 3 Sing-Off, featuring Andrew Hiner, Molly Compton, and the duo of Madison Ash with guitarist Danny Ash. Each performer took the stage one final time, making the judges’ decision even more difficult.

Taking home the 2026 Lawrence County Fair Talent Champion title was Andrew Hiner of Salyersville. Andrew earned the opportunity to perform immediately following the rodeo, so fairgoers are encouraged to stick around after the rodeo for a free concert featuring this outstanding vocalist.

Runner-Up honors went to Molly Compton of Louisa. Molly will perform before the rodeo, giving visitors the perfect opportunity to arrive early, grab a great seat, and enjoy her amazing performance before the evening’s rodeo action begins.

Second Runner-Up was Madison Ash of Louisa, accompanied by Danny Ash on guitar. Their performance captivated both the judges and audience alike. Be sure to catch their performance as you stroll the midway and get settled in before the rodeo—you won’t want to miss this talented local duo.

The Lawrence County Fair Board extends its congratulations to all eight contestants for sharing their talents and making the evening unforgettable. If you weren’t able to attend the talent show, you truly missed an incredible night filled with exceptional music, outstanding performances, and hometown entertainment. Fortunately, you’ll have another opportunity to hear this year’s top performers throughout rodeo weekend at the Lawrence County Fair.

The Lawrence County Fair Board would like to thank every volunteer, sponsor, judge, participant, and family member who helped make the first day of fair festivities such a tremendous success. The outstanding attendance at these new events demonstrates the community’s continued support for the Lawrence County Fair and its mission of providing quality family entertainment while celebrating our agricultural heritage.

The excitement is just getting started! Fair week continues with livestock shows, entertainment, exhibits, competitions, and activities for all ages on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 23-24-25. The Lawrence County Fair Board invites everyone to come out and enjoy the remainder of the 2026 Lawrence County Fair as we celebrate our community, our youth, and our agricultural traditions.