County fair entertainer announced for 2018

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Country music duo BlackHawk will headline the Seward County Fair at a Friday, Aug. 10, concert. The Seward County Ag Society announced the show last week.

Known for 90s hits like “Goodbye Says It All,” “Every Once in Awhile” and “There You Have It,” the band has sold more than 7 million albums with hits in top five radio play over its 25-year career in country music, according to the band’s website.

This is the second year the Ag Society has brought a big-name act to the fair, booking John Michael Montgomery in 2017.

“We had a lot of people ask for it,” Ag Society President Dr. Ron Wallman said. “The response was very positive (last year). We had a nice crowd. Financially, it didn’t bring in a ton of money, but it didn’t cost us anything, either.”

Wallman said the Ag Society isn’t interested in making a profit, but that some fair activities generate income that is then used to support other activities that fairgoers can experience for free.

Ag Society member Austin Schweitzer said BlackHawk didn’t cost as much to book, so ticket prices will be lower than last year’s.

The Ag Society took a poll on Facebook, giving users four options and asking them to comment with who they would prefer to see in concert: BlackHawk, Aaron Tippin, Joe Diffie or Neal McCoy.

“Within the parameters of who was gettable and affordable for us, BlackHawk was the top choice,” Wallman said.

Schweitzer said posting online and letting the people choose worked well. He said going forward, the Ag Society might explore genres other than country music, but that starting out, country music resonated with a lot of county residents.

“The Ag Society corresponds to country music. We did what we thought would draw a crowd,” he said.

The Ag Society is hoping to sell 1,500 to 2,000 tickets, Wallman said.

Last year’s concert drew close to 1,000 people.

Schweitzer said that while the concert will be open to all ages, the Ag Society is trying to engage people in the 30- to 45-year-old age range.

“That’s a group we’re not touching at all,” Schweitzer said. “When you have kids, you bring them to the fair. The tougher generation for the county fair is to have something entertaining for that 30- to 45-year-old.”

Wallman said many of those people may not otherwise come to the fair.

“Ultimately, our goal is to promote agriculture in Seward County and also to support the 4-H and FFA programs,” Wallman said. “You wonder sometimes what demolition derbies and concerts have to do with that, but it’s the entertainment you offer that brings people to see those things, and it showcases the rural lifestyle, too, the good things that happen here.”

The concert will be in the rodeo arena, with the stage set up on the north end to make it more accessible for the musicians.

Forgotten Highway will open the show at 7 p.m., with BlackHawk taking the stage around 8 p.m.

Tickets will be available closer to the fair. Schweitzer said the Ag Society has not yet decided if they will be available online prior to the concert or only at the gate.