Twelve years ago, the Ford County Fair decided to try scheduling a live concert event during the fair. Since then the fair has brought top-notch entertainment to the fairgrounds for their annual concert. This year’s line-up of Rodney Atkins and Chris Cagle is no exception.

With eight top 5 singles, six No. 1s, and 3.8 billion career streams under his belt, Atkins is one of country music’s most prominent artists. Continuing to be recognized as a powerful voice on country radio, his platinum-selling No. 1 “Watching You” earned the songwriter a BMI “Million- Air” award and the top spot on Country Aircheck’s top-played songs of the decade list. Atkins was the second most-played male artist of the decade overall.

Cagle made his debut on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts with the single “My Love Goes On And On,” the first single from his debut album “Play It Loud.” The album, which was certified gold in the United States, also produced the Top 10 hit “Laredo” and “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out,” his first and only number one hit.

Concert tickets are available on the fair’s website…fordcountyfair.org. Advance general admission is $30 in advance. Party pit tickets are $40. Ticket prices increase the day of the concert. All tickets include fair admission, parking and carnival rides. A special ticket, available only at the gate the night of the concert, is available for those 10 and under for $10 which also includes carnival rides. Tickets purchased at the gate are cash only. Gates open at 6 p.m. with the show at 7:30. After the concert, the music of 80s Bush will be in the beer pavilion until midnight.

More information on the fair can be found on their website, www.fordcountyfair.org, and on their Facebook page.