(Harlan, Iowa) – The 2022 Shelby County Fair is underway, in Harlan. There are lots of activities and exhibitions to view, along with the livestock. Here is the schedule for today and tomorrow (July 14-15)…

THURSDAY, JULY 14
9:00 am……………..Judge 4-H/FFA Cats & Small Pets
9:00-9:30 am………Enter Bottle Animals – All livestock is to unload at dock and be inspected by a Veterinarian.
9:30 am……………..Judge 4-H/FFA Feeder Calves, Beef Cow/Calves, Breeding Beef, and Dairy Cattle
10:00 am-1:00 pm..Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
10:30 am……………Pie & Muffin Baking (Check Green Book for your scheduled time.)
12:30 pm……………Bottle/Bucket Calf and Bottle/Bucket Calf Plus One Exhibitor Meeting
1:00 pm……………..Judge 4-H/FFA/Clover Kids Bottle Bucket Calf Show
2:30 pm…………….Open Class Bottle Show
3:00-5:00 pm………Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
4:00 pm……………..Carnival
6:00 pm…………….Shelby County Fair PARADE – ‘New Beginnings, Lasting Memories’
7:00-7:30 pm………Strolling Act – Amazing Arthur
7:30-9:00 pm………Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
8:00-8:30 pm………Strolling Act – Amazing Arthur
8:00 pm……………..Show Ring: Crowning of 2022 Shelby County Fair Queen and Hall of Fame Recognition
9:00-9:30 pm………Strolling Act – Amazing Arthur
4-H & Open Class Buildings open following judging to 10:00p.m.
Nishna Valley Model Railroad Building open from 4:00p.m. – 9:00p.m

FRIDAY, JULY 15
7:00 am………………..Exhibitor Breakfast by Agriland FS for all exhibitors
7:45 am………………..Swine Exhibitors Meeting
8:00 am………………..Judge 4-H/FFA Swine
10:00 am-1:00 pm…..Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
12:30 pm………………Rabbit Agility Exhibitor’s Meeting
1:00 pm……………….4-H Rabbit Agility – Tent
2:45 pm……………….4-H Working Exhibitors’ Meeting
3:00 pm……………….4-H Working Exhibits – Tent
3:00-6:00 pm………..Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
4:00-4:30 pm.……….Strolling Act – Amazing Arthur
4:00 pm……..…..…..Carnival
5:00-5:30 pm………..Strolling Act –  Amazing Arthur
6:00 pm………………Double S Extreme Bull Riding
8:00-8:30 pm.……….Strolling Act – Amazing Arthur
8:30 pm………………Concert – ‘Finding Dixie’ (Grandstand)
Dark…………………….Fireworks Show – Shooting off North of Grandstands
4-H & Open Class Buildings open 10:00a.m.- 9:00pm
Nishna Valley Model Railroad 1:00-9:00 pm

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Fair is underway through Sunday. Here’s the schedule for today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday)…

THURSDAY, JULY 14
8:00- 9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Sheep & Goat check in
9:00-10:00 AM 4-H/FFA Beef check in
9:00 AM-6:00 PM Commercial Exhibit set-up
9:30AM-11:00 AM 4-H/FFA/Open Class Rabbit/Poultry check in
11:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horses must be stalled
11:30 AM Farm Bureau Meal – Hoop
Agriland Ice Cream
1:00 PM 4-H/FFA Exhibitor Meeting
6:00 PM Open Class static must be entered
6:30 PM 4-H Style Show followed by Queen Contest-Grandstand
8:00 PM Open Class exhibits must be in place
FRIDAY, JULY 15
7:30 AM Clover Kids Swine Show
4-H/FFA Swine Show
9:00 AM Judging Open Class Static & Antiques Entries
10:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show
2:30 PM Livestock Judging Contest Sign up
3:00 PM Livestock Judging Contest
4:00 PM-9:00 PM Inflatable Attractions
5:00 PM Clover Kids Rabbit Show
4-H/FFA & Open Rabbit Show
5:00 PM Pork Feed – Hoop
7:30 PM Figure Eight Races

(Radio Iowa) – The Nature Conservancy in Iowa is offering home and business owners in the state a crash course in solar power. Patrick Snell, the organization’s climate and external affairs associate, says the Grow Solar program is in its fourth year of helping Iowans navigate a course toward finding an affordable source of renewable energy. “It’s hard to know what to look for in solar, how to work with your utility, how to work with your municipality and figuring out all the right questions to ask,” Snell says. “What this program does is really put all that in front of them in a 30-minute educational series to get all those questions answered.”

Grow Solar is underway this summer in Polk County, after successful runs in Dallas, Warren, Linn, Jackson and Johnson counties. There’s also a longer program, the Solar Power Hour, where people can learn the basics of solar energy, along with some of the financial aspects. “The program is a limited group buy purchasing program, so anybody that wants to participate in the program, we basically do a bulk purchasing of individual solar systems,” Snell says. “We usually see about a 10% reduction in the price of solar for those individual homes or businesses.” The program aims to connect Iowa home and business owners with local, reputable installers, while warning them about the predatory tactics of some out-of-state solar companies.

“Good solar companies have a headquarters or an operation in the state, that’s a big one for us,” Snell says. “One other thing we look at is the number of installations they’ve done. There’s a lot of companies that will come in to just try it out, and you’ll end up paying for a lot of headaches both for that resident, as well as their local utilities.” Just because you see something on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true, and this applies to the solar industry as well. Snell says people may want to steer clear of some companies that advertise on social media about the benefits of solar power.

“It’s something that can be good for someone’s pocketbook and good for their heart, and unfortunately from that altruistic side, we do see a lot of actors have misleading ads,” Snell says. “I would say there’s a lot of good players, there’s a lot of not-so-good players in the industry, so yes, there’s some ads to be wary of.” The Solar Power Hours are being held virtually and in-person to help equip Iowans with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions. Learn more at: https://www.growsolar.org/polk-county/