Arkansas native Justin Moore will headline the 2012 Berrien County Youth Fair, according to a recent announcement by fair officials.

Moore performs at 7 p.m. Aug. His hits include “Small Town USA” and “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.”

Rock fans will also be entertained by Bret Michaels.  As front man of the band Poison, Michaels has been in the spotlight more recently as a reality TV star, winning “Celebrity Apprentice” and starring in his television series “Rock of Love” on VH1.  Michaels will be performing at 7 p.m. Aug. 16.

Also new to the lineup this year a supercross race. The “My Auto Michigan State Fair Supercross Series” points race will replace the demolition derby held on Saturday.

Justin Moore

Moore has been singing gospel and country music since the age of 2.  When he was 18, Moore moved to Nashville

with a manager already on board.  He eventually signed a writing deal with Big Picture Music and, after a few years, received a recording offer with The Valory Music Co.  In 2008, Moore toured with some of country music’s biggest stars (most of whom are BCYF alum), including Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn and Luke Bryan.  In 2009 and 2010,

Moore toured alongside Brad Paisley.

Moore was nominated for Music Row Magazine’s Breakthrough Artist of 2010.  His hometown anthem “Small Town USA” earned a #1 single status in 2009.  He followed this up by earning a top 5 hit “Backwoods.”  Moore’s live band show is high energy, non-stop, rockin’ country, where his songs tell the truth about a kid from a small town who’s doing all he ever wanted to do – play country music.

Bret Michaels

Michaels, a cultural icon, does more jobs in a single day than most people do in an entire lifetime, including rock star, reality star, spokesperson, businessman and philanthropist.  Michaels first rose to fame as the front man of Poison in the 1980s.  Since then, Poison has achieved massive success selling more than 25 million records worldwide.  Michaels’ solo career has been equally successful; his most recent solo album, “Custom Built,” topped the charts, reaching No. 1 on hard rock charts.

As a reality TV star, Michael’s “Rock of Love” series on VH1 is one of the most successful in VH1’s history.  He went head to head with some of the brightest minds in business on Donald Trump’s NBC hit “Celebrity Apprentice.”  He “Trumped” the competition with his Trop-A-Rocka Snapple, drink which proved to be so successful fans rallied to continue its distribution and it is now a permanent offering by Snapple.  As a philanthropist, Michaels continues to give.

In 2010, he partnered with an association close to his heart, the American Diabetes Association.  As a lifelong diabetic, Michaels acts as a spokesperson and sponsor for the disease and raises money for diabetes research.  He recently partnered with legendary guitar company, Dean Guitars, to design his first signature Bret Michaels series.
Michaels is also involved in extreme sports.  He recently created the first annual Bret Michaels Rock Hard, Ride Hard Award for supercross – a cash prize for the toughest and most tenacious supercross rider of the season.

New event

The supercross race will be a points race in the “My Auto Michigan State Fair Supercross Series.”  Fans are likely to see a mix of local riders in the amateur series.  This event will be general admission and gates will open for warm-up at 5 p.m.

The rest of the BCYF Grandstand lineup includes the traditional Truck and Tractor Pull to open the fair on Aug. 13 and three free Circus Continental shows on kids’ day, which is Aug. 14. “Bullmania” returns on Aug. 17.

Tickets for grandstand shows will go on sale after the first of the year, exact date to be announced at a later time.

Tickets will be on sale at the Fair office, online at www.bcyf.org  or by phone at (877) 772-5425 (applicable convenience fees may apply).

The fair is once again offering a special deal on one-day gate admission tickets through Aug. 1.  The gate admission is $5 each with the purchase of a grandstand ticket, which is $1 off the regular price.
The 67th Berrien County Youth Fair is August 13-18, 2012 with this year’s theme “Where Magic Happens”

2012 BCYF Grandstand Entertainment line-up:

Monday, Aug. 13:    Super Farm Tractor, 2 W/D Truck, 4 W/D Truck, and Modified Tractor Pull
Show time: 7:00 pm

Ticket Price:  $10

reserved seating

Tuesday, Aug. 14:    Circus Continental
Show time: 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00
Ticket Price:  FREE

ALSO ON TUESDAY:  High School children and younger are admitted for FREE to the Fair for Kids’ Day.

Wednesday, Aug. 15:    Justin Moore
Sponsored by: Honor Credit Union
Show Times:  7:00 pm
Ticket Price:  $35 for Gold seating, $25.00 for Silver seating, $15 for Bronze seating and $10 for Economy seating

Thursday, Aug. 16:        Bret Michaels
Show Time:  7:00 pm
Ticket Prices:  $40 for Gold seating, $30 for Silver seating, $20 for Bronze seating and $10 for Economy seating

Friday, Aug. 17:        Bullmania (featuring Bull Riding)
Produced by:  Super Kicker Rodeo Production
Show Time:  8:00 pm
Ticket Prices:  $7.00 reserved seating

Saturday, Aug. 18:        Motocross
Produced by: SJO Productions
Warm Up: 5:00 pm
Show Time:  7:00 pm
Ticket Prices:  $12.00 reserved seating