Big Four Fair ready for another big year

By Bob Fenske, Nashua Reporter 

Build a time machine and travel back to 1980 and you’ll find Nancy Hillesheim working her first Big Four Fair as the fair board secretary.

“And if you would have told me I was still going to be here in 2018, I would have laughed in your face,” she said earlier this week. “Never in a million years — or in 38 years — would I have still thought I’d still be doing this job. But I love it, I love the people. They keep bringing me back.”

So as she has done for almost 40 years, Hillesheim is putting the finishing touches on the fair that always occurs over the Labor Day weekend and brings together folks from Floyd, Chickasaw, Bremer and Butler counties and beyond.

The 2018 installment of the fair kicks off today (Thursday) with Entry Day and continues Friday with the annual Big Four Fair Tractor Ride and up to 40 tractors on a route to be determined.

The fair shifts into high gear with a truck and tractor pull Friday night and runs through Labor Day afternoon.

Saturday’s events include Family Fun Day, the Best Dam BBQ sponsored by the Nashua Area Chamber of Commerce, the figure-eight races, the Cross Tie Walker Band and fireworks in the evening.

Sunday features the Iowa-Minnesota chuckwagon races, a karaoke contest, the “Tough Truck Races” and the band Bar Flyz.

Labor Day’s schedule includes another round of chuckwagon races.

There will also be a variety of open shows including plants and livestock all four days and a midway by Ozark Amusements.

2018 BIG FOUR FAIR SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 30
• Entry day (All Day)

Friday, Aug. 31
• TBD – Big 4 Fair Tractor Ride
• 6 p.m.-midnight – Uncle G’s Pavilion
• 6:30 p.m. – Truck & Tractor Pull, Lovik Sled Co.

Saturday, Sept. 1
• 8 a.m. – Halter Classes (saddle horses and ponies)
• 11 a.m. – Bean Bag Tournament
• 11 a.m.-midnight – Uncle G’s Pavilion: live music with Cross Tie Walker immediately after Figure Eights. No cover charge.
• 1 p.m. – Family Fun Day: Hypnotist Ray Thompson, grandstand, free
• 1:30 p.m. – Horse & Pony Show (horse arena)
• 3 p.m. – Best Dam BBQ Wing Eating Contest, Uncle G’s Pavilion
• 4 p.m. – Best Dam BBQ Challenge, Uncle G’s Pavilion
• 6:30 p.m. – Figure Eight Car Races, Gunderson Racing, grandstand
• After races – Flashing Thunder fireworks

Sunday, Sept. 2
• 8 a.m. – Beef cattle judging
• Noon-midnight – Uncle G’s Pavilion: Bar Flyz playing immediately following Tough Truck Races. No cover charge.
• 2 p.m. – Iowa-Minnesota Chuckwagon Races
• 5 p.m. – Karaoke Contest at Uncle G’s Pavilion.
• 7 p.m. – Tough Truck Races, Grandstand.

Monday, Sept. 3
• Noon – Labor Day Classic Prospect Cattle Show
• Noon-4 p.m. – Uncle G’s Pavilion
• 2 p.m. – Iowa-Minnesota Chuckwagon Races