By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Fair is just a couple of weeks away. In January, the Barton County Fair Association announced this year's fair would be held June 26-30 to allow for the return of a carnival. Away for the midway, the lineup for the Celebrity Showmanship contest has been announced. Eagle Radio's Shannon Towns and Becca Tudor will be among the seven celebrities battling for bragging rights to who is the best handler of the bacon.
"I'm really looking forward to the competition this year, and it looks like it could be a tough one," Towns said. "We've got Kevin Burkey, Kelci Burkey, they're already talking some smack online. Wally Eldridge, how are we going to beat him? Angie Hicks, she's always ready for a good time. Micca Schneider at University of Kansas Health System, it could be a lot of fun this year. I definitely going to beat Becca."
Great Bend City Administrator Brandon Anderson was new to his role with the city last July. He was not new to pigs and it showed by winning last year's competition. Towns is already doing her research to follow in his footsteps.
"The most dabbling I've done in pig showing is on TikTok," she said. "I found some tips and tricks, and I think one of the tactics is eye contact: maybe with the pig, maybe with the judges. We'll find out."
This year's Celebrity Showmanship is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 30 at the Expo III Aaron's Repair Arena.