Les Kimes, of Cousin Grumpy's Pork Chop Revue, guides one of his goats, Ethel, across an obstacle as part of opening day festivities at the 2019 Butler Farm Show. The 2020 show had to be canceled, but plans are underway for this year's show.

The Butler Farm Show is returning in August for its 73rd year after being canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scheduled for Aug. 9 to 14 at the show grounds on Evans City Road in Connoquenessing Township, the show will include the return of popular entertainment such as truck and tractor pulls and the demolition derby, and 4-H animal and crop shows, said Ken Laughlin, farm show board president.

Planning for the show had to begin, even though the board doesn't know what outdoor gathering restrictions will have to be imposed, he said.

“We have to see what the guidelines will be, but we have to start planning to make it work,” Laughlin said. “The show is based on restrictions. We don't know exactly what that means yet.”

Last week, the state eased limits on the number of people allowed at indoor and outdoor gatherings. Outdoor venues are allowed to have up to 20% of their capacities and indoor venues can host up to 15%.“All the contracts and entertainment are ready to go,” Laughlin said. “If we're allowed to do it, we're ready to go.”The tentative schedule for entertainment in the Randy L. Kummer Arena includes mini-modified tractor pulls on Aug. 9, truck and tractor pulls on Aug. 10, a four-wheel drive pulling contest on Aug. 11, figure-eight races on Aug. 12, the demolition derby on Aug. 13 and semitruck pulls on Aug. 14.Butler County 4-H, which is run by the Penn State Extension office, will have animal and crop shows and agricultural demonstrations if it is permitted.“If guidelines and mandates allow, we will be there doing everything the best we can,” said Amy Metrick, Butler County 4-H educator.In a statement, 4-H and Penn State said, “When permitted, our 4-H program will once again be partnering with local fair boards, FFA chapters, volunteers and others to conduct animal shows and market livestock sales.“We look forward to the community connections as folks gather to celebrate and support our 4-H members, not just at animal shows and sales, but in the many ways the achievements of these youth are recognized in local communities.”

Evans City Elementary School second-grader Adelyn Clukey, 7, jumps as far as she can during the sack race in the Barnyard Olympics at the 2019 Butler Farm Show.Photo by Gabriella Canales