Country Music stars to headline Berrien County Youth Fair performances

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Berrien County Youth Fair officials have announced the 2023 lineup of entertainment acts for the 77th Berrien County Youth Fair, which will run Aug 14-19 with the theme of “Summer Safari.”

Two of country music’s most loved performers highlight the announcement, with Craig Morgan and Lee Greenwood taking the stage mid-week at the Fair Grandstands.

The festivities begin Sunday, Aug. 13 with the return of the Street Legal Pickup Truck and Tractor Pull prior to the start of the fair. The tractor pull will also take place Monday, with a NTPA regional event featuring Super Farm, Mini Rod, Hot Farm
and Limited Light Superstock Tractors.

Tuesday at the grandstands is kids day, which will feature three free circus shows by Circus Continental which has been entertaining families at the fair since the 1960’s.

Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music icon, TV personality, author, celebrated outdoorsman and patriotic Army veteran. He has amassed over 2 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard. His hits include “Bonfire,” “Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “International Harvester,” “This Ole Boy,” “Soldier,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday” and his faith-filled tribute to his son Jerry, “The Father, My Son and The Holy Ghost.”

Craig received one of country music’s highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Prior to becoming a country music star and TV sensation, Morgan spent seventeen years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserves. Morgan remains an avid supporter of America’s military personnel. He is a member of the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame and recipient of the USO Merit Award. In 2018, he was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, one of the highest awards the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, in recognition of his significant dedication to our military men and women around the world.

In God, Family, Country, Craig’s memoir, released in partnership with Blackstone Publishing, he details all aspects from his inspiring life. In it he reveals never-before-heard stories including how he worked alongside the CIA as a soldier in Panama, fought sex traffickers as an undercover agent in Thailand, forged his own path to country music stardom, and lives his life by the deepest values: God, family, country.

Opening for Craig Morgan on Wednesday is an up and coming band from south Alabama called The Red Clay Strays.

On Thursday, Lee Greenwood will deliver hits such as the iconic “God Bless the U.S.A” With seven No. 1 songs and 25 charted singles, Greenwood brings an extensive catalog that spans seven decades. Other hits include “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Ring On Her Finger, Time on Her Hands,” “She’s Lying,” “I Don’t Mind the Thorns (If You’re the Rose),” “ Dixie Road,” “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” “ Going Going Gone,” “You Got a Good Love Comin,” “Fools Gold,” “Mornin Ride,” “IOU” and the duet with Barbara Mandrell, “To Me.”

“God Bless the U.S.A.” went far beyond what Greenwood expected when he wrote it in the back of his tour bus in 1983. The song has been in the top five on the country singles charts three times (1991, 2001 and 2003), giving it the distinction of being the only song in any genre of music to achieve that feat. It was also #1 on the pop charts after 9/11. “God Bless the U.S.A.” is performed at all military and patriotic events throughout the year all across America. “U.S.A.” has also been in several movies and is now part of the film shown by The Department of Homeland Security when new citizens are sworn in to the United States.

Greenwood has won numerous industry awards including Male Vocalist of the Year from the Academy of country Music in 1983, two Male Vocalist of the Year awards from the Country Music Association in 1983 and 1984 and a Grammy for Top Male Vocal Performance in 1985 for “IOU.” THE CMA also named “God Bless the U.S.A.” its Song of the Year in 1985.

Opening up for Greenwood is a regional group called The Riflemen. Having recently recorded an album in Nashville, fairgoers will get a first look at an up and coming group.

Returning on fair Friday is the TNT Demolition Derby.  Derby fans can expect to see Big Car Lite Modifieds, Small Trucks and SUVs, RS Bone stock Big Cars, Mini Van Bone stock FWD, Small Car Bone-stock FWD and Youth Small Car Bone stock FWD.

Closing out the grandstand events Saturday is the crowd favorite Bullmania.

Tickets for grandstand shows go on sale Wednesday, March 29 at 9:00 a.m. at the Fair office, online at www.bcyf.org or by phone at 269-473-1500 (ticket fees do not include gate admission).