Bring your family to the “Best Small Town Celebration in Iowa,” the 94th Annual Farmers Day Celebration, July 9-11.

“Get the Part Started” is the theme for this year’s celebration in Jesup, as the community looks forward to the Sesquicentennial celebration next year!

This year, there will be over 100 hours of free entertainment on the stage, plus more entertainment taking place in the Gazebo in Land O’ Corn Park. From classic favorites to country music, from local talent to the Midwest’s finest, from rock bands to tractor pulls — there is something for everyone at this celebration.

Entertainment & fun

Events include a carnival midway that compares to many county fair midways, with special Wrist Band rates of just $12 to ride all night on Thursday, and $12 to ride all afternoon on Friday. Delicious foods are everywhere, and there are dances, music, artists, vendors, parades, competitions and so much more!

New to Farmers Day this year is Eric Extraordinaire’s magic show, a great time for the whole family.

Local band Fearless Overstreet will perform live on the Park Pavilion stage on Thursday, July 9, at 9 PM; this will be only the second time that the Teen Dance will be held in the Park Pavilion. The event always draws a large crowd. Also live music from Nashville, which includes Farmers Day favorite Donna Chapel, will be on the Pavilion Stage Friday, July 10, at 9:30 PM.

Returning for Farmers Day 2009 will be a band with Cedar Valley roots, Milk & Honey. They will take the stage Saturday, July 11, at 9 PM, for their third Farmers Day appearance.

Billy Heller will perform in the Gazebo on Saturday, July 11, alternating with Kathy Lee Ogden, another Farmers Day favorite; their shows begin at 12:30 PM on Saturday.

Returning attractions to Farmers Day include the Teen Dance, a Square Dance, talented Dance Bands, the 5K Run/Walk, the Domestic Arts Show, Donna Chapel, the Doo Wops, and Chainsaw Artist Larry Wolf.
Contests for kids this Farmers Day are the Prince & Princess Contest on Thursday night and the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest on Friday afternoon.

Of course, the old standy-bys will be back to provide even more entertainment. There will be a tractor pull and children’s pedal tractor pull, beer garden, melodrama, Celebration Iowa Singers & Jazz Band — featuring local Jazz Band musician Ben Harting from Jesup High School — children’s games, dance bands, domestic arts show, children’s parade, Iowa State Fair Talent Show and more.

An excellent carnival midway will provide rides for all ages and games of chance. Community organizations will man food booths that serve up a delicacy to everyone’s taste such as brats, funnel cakes, donuts, ice cream, lemonade, pie, maidrites, fries, barbecued pork sandwiches, tacos and more.

The 60th Annual Great Farmers Day Parade kicks off at 10 AM on Saturday, July 11, and has so many entries, it takes at least an hour to see it all!

“Get the Party Started”

Farmers Day, Inc. president Alan Wright invites everyone to this year’s Farmers Day celebration in Jesup, to “Get the Party Started!” for 2010, when Jesup will celebrate its 150th Anniversary!

For a complete listing and schedule of activities for Farmers Day, watch your mail, go to http://jesupfarmersday.org/Events/all, or call 319-827-1128.

There are a few changes in the rules for this year’s Iowa Sate Fair Talent Show, which will be held during Farmers Day, on Saturday, July 11, from 2-4:30 PM.

This year, performers will be needed in three age categories, instead of two. Age categories will be Sprouts (2-5); Juniors (6-14); and Seniors (15-21).

The first-place winners in only the Junior and Senior categories will advance to the State Fair. The older categories will continue to receive a cash prize as in years past.
Another big change is having a recorded accompaniment for vocalists.

Realizing that live accompanists are expensive and difficult to obtain, a pre-recorded accompaniment of a single instrument is allowed. Any prerecorded tape with backing vocals, multiple instrumentation or orchestration is NOT allowed.

To register for the Talent Show, call organizer Dawn Quackenbush at 319-827-1777 or e-mail her at .

Farmers Day T-Shirts are now available for sale at BankIowa and the Citizen Herald newspaper office in Jesup.

The white T-Shirts have the colorful logo pictured above on the front and are available in a variety of sizes.

“Get the Party Started” by buying a T-Shirt for everyone in your family. All sizes are just $10 each.

Farmers Day 2010 -

Sunday, July 4 events
* Community Church Service at Jesup School Football Field
* Community Breakfast
* All School Reunion sponsored by Jesup Lions Club
* First night of a Pageant Celebrating the History of Jesup from 1858-2010
* Fireworks

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, July 5-7 events
* Pageant Celebrating the History of Jesup from 1858-2010
* Additional Events to be Announced

Thursday, July 8 events
*Farmers Day Celebration Begins
*Carnival, Entertainment & More

Friday, July 9 events
*Farmers Day Celebration Continues
*Carnival, Entertainment & More

Saturday, July 10
*Great Farmers Day Parade
*Farmers Day Celebration Continues
*Carnival, Entertainment & More