Elliston's favorite daughter is returning, if only for a night.

Crystal Bowersox, runner-up in "American Idol's" ninth season, has verbally agreed to perform July 9 at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds, said Jon Overmyer, Ottawa County Agricultural Society's treasurer.

Bowersox, 25, is on tour after the December release of her album "Farmer's Daughter."

She last performed locally in August during the "American Idol" tour.

"Our plans are to put on a good homegrown affair," Overmyer said. "We wanted her to have just one thing to do, and that was to perform for us and us only."

Various local bands will likely perform before and after Bowersox.

Tickets are $25 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. May 16.

About 1,500 reserve tickets are on sale for grandstand seats, and tickets for standing-room only -- by the track -- are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ottawa County Agricultural Society's organizers were hoping for months that Bowersox would come to the fairgrounds for a performance, but they were finally able to move the deal forward in the past few weeks.

The Elliston native's popularity could help the fair board cover its annual expenses, Overmyer said.

"A fair cannot survive on a seven-day show anymore," Overmyer said. "We would like to do something special with shows during the summer months, with Halloween being end of season."

The Bowersox concert precedes the county fair by about two weeks. The fair is scheduled for July 18-24.

Want to go?

• WHAT: Crystal Bowersox concert

• WHERE: Ottawa County Fairgrounds

• WHEN: Concert July 9; tickets go on sale 10 a.m. May 16

Purchase options

• PHONE: 419-898-1971

• ONLINE: ottawacountyfair.org

• EMAIL: ocfair@amplex.net