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"For 80 years people have been attending this family event and it just keeps getting better," she added. "We're very excited and ready to go."
The gates will open daily at 8 a.m. and close at midnight, except Sunday when the festival shuts down at 11 p.m.
Final preparations are going smoothly, said Jones, who along with the rest of the Fair Board and countless volunteers, was putting in some sweat equity on the fairgrounds Monday and Tuesday.
"The grounds look great, probably the best I've ever seen them," she said. "We also have new tents this year, which are very colorful, and really dress up the grounds."
Jones said the extended forecast is calling for warmer temperatures with just a chance for spotty showers.
"The weather doesn't look too bad," she said. "It's going to be hot, but it always is, and there will be plenty of spots on the grounds for people to get out of the sun and we'll have several misting stations and bottled water for sale."
One major change for fairgoers this year will be at the gates when they enter. Tickets have a bar code on them which will be scanned at the gate.
Jones said this system will allow for quicker entry into the fairgrounds and provide officials with better information on how many people are on the grounds at one time. Another benefit is if someone loses their ticket, they can get a new one.
"We have the computers set up at each gate and did training with the organizations that will man them, so we're hoping it will go smoothly, but it is a new system and you can always have some glitches," she said. "We will have several tech-savvy people at the gates to assist if needed."
Advance ticket sales are going very well, the chairman noted, and on Monday were slightly ahead of last year at this time.
"I really want to commend our Fair queen contestants who have done a great job selling tickets. They've really stepped up to the plate," she said.
Jones said the Fair is a great value in today's depressed economy.
"For one ticket price, you'll get five days of endless family fun with quality entertainment," she noted.
In general, fairs and festivals are reporting good attendance this year across the country, Jones said, because many people are staying closer to home, rather than taking big vacations.
"We're hoping for big crowds, and with the great entertainment we have lined up, I don't see why we wouldn't as long as the weather cooperates," she said.
The musical headliners are country music star Jo Dee Messina Thursday night, rising country artist Steve Holy Friday evening and the Steve Miller Band - expected to draw the largest crowd - on Saturday night. Closing out the Fair Sunday night will be country music star and Missouri native Sara Evans.
Jones said for those looking for some fast-paced action, the motor sports lineup won't disappoint with bull riding, truck pulls and mini-rod and garden tractor pulls, tractor pulls and motocross and microsprint racing.
There also are many new events this year, including Elephant Encounter, an educational show featuring Asian and African elephants, mother-daughter look-alike contest, outhouse races and Boogie Bodies, which is a large green screen fairgoers can sing and dance in front of and even purchase DVDs of themselves performing.
The popular Dockdogs competition will return, along with Robinson Carving Co. which features chain saw carving demonstrations and puppet theater. Dodge ball, Wii bowling and an expanded tennis tournament also will take place.
Another Fair favorite, Agri-Land, has been expanded and will feature a combine that kids can climb and "drive," Jones said.
For the second year, the Fair will offer a military tribute - this time singling out Korean War and Vietnam War veterans - Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. Last year, World War II veterans were honored.
All veterans are invited and encouraged to attend, Jones said.
"The tribute will be very special. We expect a lot of veterans and their families to participate, and we hope all fairgoers will come out as we recognize our veterans," she said.
With large crowds expected all five days, Jones encourages people to use the free shuttle bus service.
