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The Great Northern Fair provides annual tradition for community Havre and surrounding community members will come together to experience exhibits and attractions at the fair
John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com During the old days, things were a little bit different at the Great Northern Fair. More attention was paid to 4-H exhibits involving household projects — sewing cooking and baking. Projects such as robotics had never been thought of. There were a bunch of old buildings used as exhibit halls. They have been demolished to make way for the Bigger Better Barn. B u t ove r t h e ye a rs, t h i n g s h ave remained largely the same — especially the spirit of the fair. It’s a place where the whole family can enjoy a wholesome atmosphere and fun, said Alma Seidel, who will be attending her 48th fair this year. That’s almost half of the 103 fairs that have been held since it was founded in 1912. “You see people you never see anywhere else,” said Seidel. “And you won’t see them again until next fair.” When he was a youngster, Havre Mayor Tim Solomon took part in 4-H activities, showing his animals. He doesn’t remember doing very well at winning ribbons, but he still sees some of the friends that he saw when he was young The gathering of people from far-flung parts of the county is one of the real services the fair provides to the community People get together with friends, enjoy the activities, listen to the music and go off their diets, eating the fair food. Lots of community groups raise money by selling things — especially food. Group’s ranging from Havre Jaycees to Hill County 4-H sell food or hold special events, said Solomon, who stepped down as fair manager in the first part of this year. The Great Northern Fair is still doing well, though it faces a budget crunch every year. The number of visitors keeps
Havre Daily News/File photo Xandor Olson, 9, left, and Landen Keeling, 9, ride the Merry Mixer during opening day at the 2014 Great Northern Fair. Brown's Amusements will be providing the carnival for the 2015 fair.
rising. Groups keep raising money, and folks have fun. “Some of the smaller fairs in Montana are having a hard time in the changing landscape,” Solomon said. It’s getting harder for people to find carnival rides willing to come to small fairs. There will be a carnival in Blaine County this year, though two years ago, the fair couldn’t attract a carnival company to set up rides. And the Shelby fair has pretty much thrown in the towel when it comes to rides, he said. “They will still have the exhibits but no rides,” he said. The fair provides a sense of continuity in the community, Seidel said. Seidel sees the third generation of 4-H’ers presenting projects today. The Miller family in Gildford has a picture of their grandmother winning a trophy at the fair nearly 100 years ago, at one of the first fairs. Along with the trophy for the best exhibit, she won $50, a sum that must have been real money in the 1910s, Seidel said. Pictures from the old fairs remain treasures in many families, she said. Pictures of young people with their projects have survived up to 80 years, she said. She’s afraid that with today’s technology, there may not be as many of today’s pictures in the next century. People are taking more pictures on smartphones, she said. But she’s afraid they will be lost as new forms of technology develop. But there are advantages to today’s technology. The fair has always been a place where you take the family and every member can go their own way. Parents can feel safe that nothing will happen to the kids. H e r fa m i l y wo u l d d i s p e r s e, s h e recalled, and they’d agree to meet at a certain time and a certain place. Almost always, at least one person didn’t show up at the appointed time, she said. A search party would be sent out. “Today there are cellphones,” she said. Problem solved
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Bump N Run is back at the Great Northern Fair Mike Sharp looks to the fairgrounds’ future Long list of plans for the future of the fair and the fairgrounds
The Bump N Run is coming back to the Great Northern Fair this year for the second time, and will be followed by the long-standing Demolition Derby
John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com
John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com The difference this year is that the two competitions are going to be separated. The Bump N Run will begin at noon and run to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and the demolition derby will begin at 6 p.m. that day. Chelby Gooch, chairwoman of the Havre Jaycees board, said that they are trying to pull drivers from the Glendive area to participate in the Bump N Run. “I know for sure we’ll have the eleven we had the first race we had this year,” Gooch said. “We’ll actually, probably for sure, be adding five.” It all depends on the sponsors. If the Jaycees get enough, they can get the Glendive racers out. The Bump N Run consists of derbyesque vehicles racing around the track at the Hill County Fairgrounds. There are bumps, hairpin turns and dangers of running into other drivers during the race. Gooch said the Bump N Run is only possible due to Jaycees member Seth Hamilton. “We didn’t know anything about it,” Gooch said. “We know demolition derby. We know crashing cars, not racing them.” Hamilton said people should come out to the Bump N Run because it’s something new. “Instead of 15 local drivers, we bring drivers in from all over the state,” Hamilton said. “We’re bringing a lot more to the community.” Gooch said the demolition derby will be the classic it’s always been. She
Havre Daily News/File Photo Competitors work to eliminate each other during the Demolition Derby at the 2014 Great Northern Fair.
doesn’t know how many people will compete in the derby because registration begins the day of, but she feels confident there will be as good a turnout as last year. “People should go to the derby because it’s a fun evening of watching cars crash into each other,” Gooch said. “What’s not to like? Cars tipping on their sides, cars being crushed to nothing. It’s going to be really fun. They’re both going to be fun!” The derby has been going on for around 15 years, Gooch said, and is a crowd favorite. The Bump N Run is $10 a ticket and kids 5 and under get in free. Demolition Derby tickets are $10 per person flat.
Mike Sharp became the fairgrounds manager and groundskeeper officially around a month before the fair, but has a calm air not without determination. He has a lot of plans for the future of the fair and the fairgrounds. “I’m excited for the opportunity,” Sharp said about his new position. “There’s a lot of things that were set up in a manner that gives the potential for this place to be successful. I think I bring the opportunity to do more with the structure that we have.” Sharp said he has a lot of plans for the fairgrounds, one of the biggest being getting more use out of it than just a few big events. The Fossil Festival is soon coming to the Hill County Fairgrounds, weddings have been booked, a women’s roller derby team is trying to get set up in the Community Center, and Sharp is looking to start a program in which equestrians can utilize the fairgrounds to ride their horses all year round. “I’m just excited to start seeing this place get used on a regular basis, not just a handful of times a year,” Sharp said. He said in the first year, he doesn't want to really make a lot of big changes until he gets his feet wet and figure out how everything works with the fairgrounds and county. Next year, he said, is when he can “finally roll his sleeves up and make an impression on the grounds and get things done.” Right now, the only positions filled at the fairgrounds are his own and secretary Linda Ferguson’s, so he has his work cut out for him. But, he said, finally having a full fair board is a nice change. “We have a fresh board for fresh ideas,” he said. “I’m excited for the new board. Proactive, hands-on — that’s what we’re looking for.”
Havre Daily News/John Paul Schmidt Mike Sharp drives a tractor while preparing for the 2015 Great Northern Fair.
He said a lot of his work is just getting groups to work together. He said one of his biggest priorities is getting a grandstand for the fairgrounds. “I hate driving by Chinook and seeing their grandstand and Havre not having one,” Sharp said. “That bugs me. I’ll figure something out, some way, some how.” He said he’s currently having talks with people about how to get this project done, as well as other projects he’s working on for the fairgrounds. He said he doesn’t want to say what he has in store as far as plans go because he is not sure what will come to fruition and what will hit dead ends, but people can expect improvements to be made at the fairgrounds while he is manager.
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2015 Great Northern Fair schedule of events 4-H Chuckwagon: Taking care of business, future Tuesday, July 14
8 a.m. — St. Jude Parish Center open 8:30 a.m. — Interview judges and assistants meeting 8:45 a.m. — Morning check-in for exhibitors 9 a.m. — Interview judging morning session 9:30 a.m. — 4-H Exhibit Buildings at fairgrounds open. Noon — Lunch break 12:45 p.m. — Afternoon youth check-in 1 p.m. — Interview judging afternoon session 2 p.m. — Carnival and food booths open 4:15 p.m. — Teen/Queen interviews
Wednesday, July 15
10 a.m. — 4-H horse show 11 a.m. — Bigger Better Barn concessions open 1 p.m. — 4-H Exhibit Buildings open 2 p.m. — Carnival and food booths open 3 p.m. — Chuckwagon open 5 p.m. — Junior Rodeo in the arena 6 p.m. — 4-H Exhibit Buildings close 9:30 p.m. — BBB concessions close 11 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes Midnight — Carnival closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic Animals Display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
Thursday, July 16
7 a.m. — Market animal weigh scale open 11 a.m. — Market animal weigh scale closes 11 a.m. — Chuckwagon open Noon — 4-H Fair superintendents meeting food booths and commercial exhibits open Open class and school exhibits open 1 p.m. — Crowning of 4-H Teen/Queen 1:15 p.m. — 4-H livestock exhibitors meeting 2 p.m. — Carnival opens 4-H small animal show cat showmanship and judging pocket pet judging rabbit showmanship and judging poultry showmanship and judging 5 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes 7 p.m. — NRA Rodeo in the arena 9:30 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings, Bigger Better Barn, beef and horse barns close 11 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes Midnight — Carnival Closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic animals display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
Friday, July 17
9 a.m. — NRA Rodeo Slack 9 a.m. — BBB concessions open 4-H beef show & beef showmanship breeding beef show
Friday, July 17 Cont'd.
feeder/market beef classes 11 a.m. — Chuckwagon opens Noon — Food booths and commercial dxhibits open Noon — Open class and school exhibits open 2 p.m. — Carnival opens 4-H dog show 4 p.m. — Fair robotic show, Hill County 4-H Museum porch 7 p.m. — NRA Rodeo in the arena 9:30 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings, BBB, beef and horse barns close 11 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes Midnight — Carnival closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic animals display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
Saturday, July 18
8 a.m. — 4-H swine show swine showmanship swine feeder/market classes 9 a.m. — BBB concessions open 11 a.m. — Chuckwagon opens Noon — Food booths and commercial exhibits open Noon — Carnival opens 1 p.m. — Jaycees Bump N Run in the arena 4-H sheep and goat show sheep showmanship breeding sheep show feeder/market sheep classes goat showmanship breeding goat show 3 p.m. — 4-H Round Robin competition 5 p.m. — 4-H Market Sale set up 6 p.m. — Jaycees Demo Derby in the arena 7 p.m. — Large non-market animals may leave the barns to be taken home 9:30 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings, Bigger Better Barn, beef and horse barns close 11 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes Midnight — Carnival closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic animals display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
Sunday, July 19
8-9:30 a.m. — 4-H Appreciation Breakfast Sponsored by Milk River Co-op 11 a.m. — Chuckwagon open 11:30 a.m. — Buyers Appreciation BBQ Noon — food booths and commercial exhibits open 1 p.m. — 4-H Market Sale 2 p.m. — Carnival opens 4:30 p.m. — Non-animal 4-H exhibits may be removed from the exhibit buildings 5 p.m. — Commercial exhibit building and open class close 6 p.m. — Holly Williams performs in the arena 10 p.m. — Carnival closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic animals display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
The 4-H Chuckwagon will be open and serving their full menu of meals again this year, while 4-H members and leaders continue fundraising efforts to get their new structure up and running Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Longtime 4-H leader Stacey Waid said that they are almost halfway to their goal of $350,000 to $400,000. " T h e c o m m u n i t y h a s s h ow n g re a t response and great support for the project," she said. Hill County 4-H has about $100,000 in cash set aside and about $50,000 in pledges of in-kind labor and construction work, as
well as donated items. Clubs have been working special concessions throughout the year for different events like the Everything Antique Show and the Hi-Line Cruz'n Association's Rod Run, she said, and organizers for this year's Fossil Festival, set for Labor Day weekend, will use the 4-H concessions and help with cleanup after their event. "They wanted to help as much as they could — which is great," Waid said. During the fair, club members and leaders will have an information booth to answer questions about the proposed facility and take donations. Waid said that they will have a poster with an itemized list of some of the building's needs — like faucets, doors and windows — and their costs so people can donate to buy a specific item if they wish. Their mascot Willard the Pig will be at the booth, and people can pay to feed him, she said. "Feed Willard," she said, "and he will feed you." The committee is also selling 4-inch by 4-inch ceramic tiles to adorn a legacy wall in the new facility. The cost is $1,000 per tile and the donor c a n h ave fa m i l y o r b u s i n e s s n a m e s, brands or images put on the tiles, she
Jr. Rodeo: Lots of kids doing this for fun n Continued from Page 12 case there are injures. There never have been, but the kids also pay for insurance. All the while, they are training for the competition. “Lots of kids are doing this for the fun of it,” Hould said, but others plan on staying in
rodeo. “Some of these kids are not farm and ranch kids,” she said. Kids from 4 to 18 take part in the rodeo, she said. Audiences always enjoy the rodeo, she said.
Havre Daily News/File Photo The current 4-H Chuckwagon building at the Hill County Fairgrounds shows its age in this 2014 photo. Hill County 4-H plans to demolish it to build a new, multi-use facility once they have raised enough funds. said. The Chuckwagon will be open 3 to 11 p . m . We d n e s d ay, 11 a . m . to 11 p . m . Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Each Hill County 4-H club takes turns vo l u n t e e r i n g m e m b e r s t o ke e p t h e Chuckwagon staffed during the fair.
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Youth rodeo again takes center stage Wednesday
Penelope the Clown delights children — and adults
John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com
Penelope the Clown, based in Calgary, Alberta, performs all kinds of activities that children and adults enjoy
When she was young, Ruby Hould took part in the Junior Rodeo at the Great Northern Fair. Junior Rodeo is still in her blood, and she is the coach/adviser for the Hi-Line Youth Rodeo team. She’s helping the young people raise money and prepare for the rodeo and has helped add some events to this year’s program. She won’t be there for the youth rodeo itself. Her older son will be going to Box
Springs, Wyoming, to compete in national rodeos, and she will be going to cheer him on. But her younger son, Cole, an eighthgrader, will be cheering on his brother from Havre. Cole said he wouldn’t miss the Great Northern youth rodeo for anything. He will be competing locally. “He didn’t want to miss the rodeo,” she said. The kids are doing all the work. They are finding judges and announcers. They come up with the money for the buckles that will be awarded to the winners. They have to pay for an ambulance in
John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com
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Havre Daily News/File photo Cooper Fisher rides a sheep during the 2014 Great Northern Junior Rodeo.
Penelope will be the walk-around entertainment at the Great Northern Fair this year. She does amazing face painting, juggling, magic and balloon animals All of this has made her a favorite while entertaining people around North America. She has more than 20 years of experience of spreading her unique brand of humor. Penelope delights children with a combination of juggling, magic and audience par-
ticipation. Children and adults alike will laugh along with her as she leads the crowd in an interactive performance. Penelope’s versatility shines through when she does strolling performances, which is what she will be doing at the fair — jugg l i n g , d o i n g m a g i c t r i c k s fo r s m a l l groups or even performing an impromptu version of her stage show. You may discover her leading groups of children in bubble games, or greeting crowds and directing traffic.
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Hill County 4-H plays a major role at the Great Northern Fair Throughout the week of the fair, Hill County 4-H Club members will be showing their projects and competing for ribbons, but fair time also means club members will be working hard behind the scenes to keep their part of the fair operating smoothly Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com 4-H is open to youth ages 6 to 19. Those ages 6 to 8 are called Cloverbud members, and they work to explore what 4-H member-
ship has to offer in the eight different fields of focus which have more than 200 different projects. From ages 9 to 19 4-H members declare their projects for the year, and work throughout the year to accomplish their goals. Fair time for these kids is like test time and Christmas in one. In the last weeks before the fair, 4-H club members are busy with final preparations. “I would say the majority of kids are scrambling to finish any projects they’re planning on entering into the fair,” said Lisa O’Neil, leader for the Trail Blazers 4-H Club and president of the Hill County 4-H Council. While some of the problem comes from time-management issues, the bigger problem comes from a different type of time issue, she said. “They’re the ones that do everything. A lot of the 4-H kids are not only active in 4-H, but they’re active in a multitude of
other things,” she said, adding that they’re involved in school and summer sports and activities for other clubs. The competition begins Tuesday of fair week when the kids bring their projects before judges to answer questions and make demonstrations. Judges are all community volunteers with specific knowledge and experience in the areas interviewing. 4-H competition is unique in that ribbon awards are based both on meeting the criteria for their project and level of experience, as well as competition with their peers. First- through third-place ribbons are awarded for merit and knowledge and the grand and reserve ribbons are given to those who excelled against their peers. Projects run a wide gamut of interests, including entomology, sewing, robotics, art, leadership, shooting sports, leathercraft, photography, nutrition and theater, as well as demonstrations for the variety of animal projects. All the projects from the interview judging and their awards are displayed during the fair, said O’Neil Those members who are taking one or more animals to the fair continue competing throughout the week, showing their animals to judges based on the criteria for each animal. While the interview judging covered topics like diseases, immunizations, nutrition, cost of care, training concepts, safety, marketing, careers and business plans, showing at the fair demonstrates mastery of the application of these concepts.
www.havredailynews.com How well can the youth handle the animals? How fit are the animals according to purpose? Is the youth using the proper equipment and handling the animal safely? These and other points will be judged. The week isn’t all about competition in the arena, though, said O’Neil. Youth from all the clubs have to care for their animals and the area the animals are housed, as well as put in time working at the 4-H Chuckwagon, doing night-duty rounds to help ensure the well-being and safety of the animals after hours, greeting and helping answer questions of visitors at the project exhibit buildings and generally providing assistance with the many tasks that help make the fair operate. Mystery judges roam the grounds to assess the kids’ success at these duties, awarding individuals and clubs for their efforts, O'Neil added. The big finale for the 4-H clubs comes with the market animal auction Sunday. Individuals, businesses and organizations from around the county and the area bid on the animals, providing the 4-H members an opportunity to make money on their project animals in the market beef, swine and lamb categories. One aspect of the market animals that isn’t widely known is that after the animals are butchered another round of judging determines prizes for best carcass. While some of the market animals look good in the ring, this provides another level of proof of how well the kids chose and raised their market animals.
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Rodeo: Putting on a good local rodeo n Continued from Page 7 participate in the calf dressing and wild cow milking need to call Solomon at 3905060 as soon as possible because teams are limited and will be taken on a first
come basis. “We’re just trying to put on a good rodeo for local people,” Solomon said, and bring business to the local community.
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Holly Williams keeps country music legacy Holly Williams, the granddaughter of country music legend Hank Williams Sr. and daughter of Hank Jr., will be gracing the stage at the Great Northern Fair John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com Williams, 31, is the entertainment for Sunday, July 19, and not to be missed. Her website states that “part of the key to Holly Williams’ success as a singer-songwriter is that it’s never been her mission to try and live up to the legacy cast by her famous and prolific father and grandfather … nor has she spent a lot of time trying to
live it down.” Williams has paved the way for her own sound in country music and released two acclaimed albums “The Ones We Never Knew” in 2004 and “Here With Me” in 2009. She just released “The Highway” in 2013 on her own label, Georgiana Records. The album made number one on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. She has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Chelsea Lately.” USA Today named her 2009 album one of the top 10 albums of the year. She has toured in Europe and across the United States and, in addition to Havre, will be playing at the Livingston Summerfest July 18, Live From The Divide in Bozeman July 24 and the Red Ants Pants Festival in White Sulfur Springs July 25, before continuing her tour in other states. Tickets are $10 per person and kids 8 and under get in free. Showtime is 6 p.m., Sunday, July 19, at the Hill County Fairgrounds.
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4-H: It’s not just animals
Secretary Ferguson a fair veteran and asset
4-H is the youth development program of Montana State University Extension. The program has eight different fields for kids to work in: • Animal Sciences, including large, small and pets • Engineering & Technology • Environmental & Natural Sciences • Family & Consumer Sciences • Plant Sciences • Communication & Expressive Arts • Health • Other Projects, including self-determined Some of the universal qualities emphasized throughout all the project fields include leadership, community, family, education and application of learned information.
Linda Ferguson has been working to help organize the Great Northern Fair for 22 years and is a valuable asset to the event and fairgrounds John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com “This is just a summer job,” said Ferguson. Her main source of income is from her work at St. Jude Thaddeus School, where she has taught fourth grade for 25 years. Ferguson is the secretary for the fairgrounds and said she originally got into the position for something to do during the summers. One day, in 1994, current fair board chair Alma Seidel called her up and asked her if she wanted to take the position. “I had nothing to do that summer and I just never left,” Ferguson said. “It’s a relaxing summer job — except for fair week.” There is no normal day for the fair secretary. By the time she returns to her sum-
mer position, preparing for the fair begins. She keeps track of exhibitors’ and food concessions’ contracts, fields phone calls and helps the fair manager prepare for the fair. Throughout the year, she attends fair board meetings to take and submit the minutes of each meeting, as well as filling a role as an advisor for those on the board. When school lets out, she takes her desk at the fairgrounds and it’s time to put the pedal to the metal to get the fair organized. Once the fair is over, it’s a low-key, relaxing job, though. “Fair week is very busy because you sell the tickets to the events, you’re busy fielding questions and problems and all kinds of things with the different exhibitors and concessionaires and the free stage people,” Ferguson said. “You’re just constantly taking care of things.” Much of her work is problem solving, she said. At the end of the day, it’s all worth it, even with the extra work she has to put in in the time before and during the Great Northern Fair. “You see lots of people you only see once a year,” she said. “It’s a bunch of different people. With being a teacher, I’m not seeing them so much during the school year — the farmers, ranchers and the people that come from out of town, too. The exhibitors — a lot of them — they’ve been coming for years
and it’s nice to see them again and visit with them.” She said didn’t know which year she would pick for the best fair she’s been a part of, but the year country star Dan Seals came was definitely the fair with the best concert. The best rodeos were the ones where Flint Rasmussen came back to perform as rodeo clown and Ed Solomon and his son, Jack, were pickup men, she added. She said she is quite excited for this upcoming fair as well because Hank Williams’ granddaughter, Holly Williams is going to be the entertainment this year. The exotic petting zoo doesn’t hurt either. If she could change anything about the fair and fairgrounds, she said she would get a grandstand. She has wanted a covered grandstand for the arena for a long time. Other than that, fairs grow and change and she thinks the Great Northern Fair will go on forever. Ferguson has no plans of quitting being a vital part of the fair just yet. She said she is waiting for the day where she says “I’d better not do it this summer,” but that day has not come just yet. “I like the social aspect of it,” Ferguson said. “Just seeing people having a good time and enjoying themselves and knowing that we all put it together to make it happen.”
Havre Daily News/John Paul Schmidt Linda Ferguson pauses for a photo while preparing for the 2015 Great Northern Fair.
The Great Northern Rodeo is set to wow crowds The action will begin at 7 p.m. both Thursday and Friday night in the grandstand arena Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com While the rodeo is sanctioned with the Northern Rodeo Association and all Indian rodeo cards are accepted, the event is open for entry to local residents as well, said Great Northern Rodeo Committee member Casey Solomon. Anyone living within a 200-mile radius of Havre can enter all classes of the rodeo without being an NRA member, she said. The rodeo will feature all the standard rodeo events, including rough stock, roping and barrel racing events, Solomon said, but will also have some added features. Thursday night is family night, she said, with kids under 15 admitted free and fun opportunities for kids to get a hands-on feel for rodeo with roping stations, games and prizes. Cowboys, cowgirls and the Great Northern Rodeo and Miss Rodeo
Montana queens will be there, too. 10 percent of the ticket pull that night will be donated to the 4-H Chuckwagon fund, Solomon said. Also included in the line up of events that night is a ladies’ calf dressing competition for three-woman teams. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning and placing teams. Friday, kids under 8 get in free, and the added competition will be a wild cow milking contest for three-man teams vying for cash prizes. Another special competition included by organizers for this rodeo will be junior bull riding, to give youth a chance to pit their skills and courage against the bulls. Rodeo organizers are expecting top cowboys and cowgirls from across the state, and expect they will have a big challenge ahead with Black Eagle Rodeo Co. providing the rough stock again this year, Solomon said. Tickets are $10 purchased 24 hours in advance and $12 at the gate. Signup for the rodeo is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 13, by calling the NRA office at 406-256-6488. Signup for the junior bull riding is all day July 14, by calling Solomon at 390-5060 and teams wanting to
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Doug Kallenberger competes in the 2014 Great Northern Rodeo.
Havre Daily News/File photo
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Holly Williams keeps country music legacy Holly Williams, the granddaughter of country music legend Hank Williams Sr. and daughter of Hank Jr., will be gracing the stage at the Great Northern Fair John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com Williams, 31, is the entertainment for Sunday, July 19, and not to be missed. Her website states that “part of the key to Holly Williams’ success as a singer-songwriter is that it’s never been her mission to try and live up to the legacy cast by her famous and prolific father and grandfather … nor has she spent a lot of time trying to
live it down.” Williams has paved the way for her own sound in country music and released two acclaimed albums “The Ones We Never Knew” in 2004 and “Here With Me” in 2009. She just released “The Highway” in 2013 on her own label, Georgiana Records. The album made number one on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. She has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Chelsea Lately.” USA Today named her 2009 album one of the top 10 albums of the year. She has toured in Europe and across the United States and, in addition to Havre, will be playing at the Livingston Summerfest July 18, Live From The Divide in Bozeman July 24 and the Red Ants Pants Festival in White Sulfur Springs July 25, before continuing her tour in other states. Tickets are $10 per person and kids 8 and under get in free. Showtime is 6 p.m., Sunday, July 19, at the Hill County Fairgrounds.
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4-H: It’s not just animals
Secretary Ferguson a fair veteran and asset
4-H is the youth development program of Montana State University Extension. The program has eight different fields for kids to work in: • Animal Sciences, including large, small and pets • Engineering & Technology • Environmental & Natural Sciences • Family & Consumer Sciences • Plant Sciences • Communication & Expressive Arts • Health • Other Projects, including self-determined Some of the universal qualities emphasized throughout all the project fields include leadership, community, family, education and application of learned information.
Linda Ferguson has been working to help organize the Great Northern Fair for 22 years and is a valuable asset to the event and fairgrounds John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com “This is just a summer job,” said Ferguson. Her main source of income is from her work at St. Jude Thaddeus School, where she has taught fourth grade for 25 years. Ferguson is the secretary for the fairgrounds and said she originally got into the position for something to do during the summers. One day, in 1994, current fair board chair Alma Seidel called her up and asked her if she wanted to take the position. “I had nothing to do that summer and I just never left,” Ferguson said. “It’s a relaxing summer job — except for fair week.” There is no normal day for the fair secretary. By the time she returns to her sum-
mer position, preparing for the fair begins. She keeps track of exhibitors’ and food concessions’ contracts, fields phone calls and helps the fair manager prepare for the fair. Throughout the year, she attends fair board meetings to take and submit the minutes of each meeting, as well as filling a role as an advisor for those on the board. When school lets out, she takes her desk at the fairgrounds and it’s time to put the pedal to the metal to get the fair organized. Once the fair is over, it’s a low-key, relaxing job, though. “Fair week is very busy because you sell the tickets to the events, you’re busy fielding questions and problems and all kinds of things with the different exhibitors and concessionaires and the free stage people,” Ferguson said. “You’re just constantly taking care of things.” Much of her work is problem solving, she said. At the end of the day, it’s all worth it, even with the extra work she has to put in in the time before and during the Great Northern Fair. “You see lots of people you only see once a year,” she said. “It’s a bunch of different people. With being a teacher, I’m not seeing them so much during the school year — the farmers, ranchers and the people that come from out of town, too. The exhibitors — a lot of them — they’ve been coming for years
and it’s nice to see them again and visit with them.” She said didn’t know which year she would pick for the best fair she’s been a part of, but the year country star Dan Seals came was definitely the fair with the best concert. The best rodeos were the ones where Flint Rasmussen came back to perform as rodeo clown and Ed Solomon and his son, Jack, were pickup men, she added. She said she is quite excited for this upcoming fair as well because Hank Williams’ granddaughter, Holly Williams is going to be the entertainment this year. The exotic petting zoo doesn’t hurt either. If she could change anything about the fair and fairgrounds, she said she would get a grandstand. She has wanted a covered grandstand for the arena for a long time. Other than that, fairs grow and change and she thinks the Great Northern Fair will go on forever. Ferguson has no plans of quitting being a vital part of the fair just yet. She said she is waiting for the day where she says “I’d better not do it this summer,” but that day has not come just yet. “I like the social aspect of it,” Ferguson said. “Just seeing people having a good time and enjoying themselves and knowing that we all put it together to make it happen.”
Havre Daily News/John Paul Schmidt Linda Ferguson pauses for a photo while preparing for the 2015 Great Northern Fair.
The Great Northern Rodeo is set to wow crowds The action will begin at 7 p.m. both Thursday and Friday night in the grandstand arena Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com While the rodeo is sanctioned with the Northern Rodeo Association and all Indian rodeo cards are accepted, the event is open for entry to local residents as well, said Great Northern Rodeo Committee member Casey Solomon. Anyone living within a 200-mile radius of Havre can enter all classes of the rodeo without being an NRA member, she said. The rodeo will feature all the standard rodeo events, including rough stock, roping and barrel racing events, Solomon said, but will also have some added features. Thursday night is family night, she said, with kids under 15 admitted free and fun opportunities for kids to get a hands-on feel for rodeo with roping stations, games and prizes. Cowboys, cowgirls and the Great Northern Rodeo and Miss Rodeo
Montana queens will be there, too. 10 percent of the ticket pull that night will be donated to the 4-H Chuckwagon fund, Solomon said. Also included in the line up of events that night is a ladies’ calf dressing competition for three-woman teams. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning and placing teams. Friday, kids under 8 get in free, and the added competition will be a wild cow milking contest for three-man teams vying for cash prizes. Another special competition included by organizers for this rodeo will be junior bull riding, to give youth a chance to pit their skills and courage against the bulls. Rodeo organizers are expecting top cowboys and cowgirls from across the state, and expect they will have a big challenge ahead with Black Eagle Rodeo Co. providing the rough stock again this year, Solomon said. Tickets are $10 purchased 24 hours in advance and $12 at the gate. Signup for the rodeo is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 13, by calling the NRA office at 406-256-6488. Signup for the junior bull riding is all day July 14, by calling Solomon at 390-5060 and teams wanting to
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Doug Kallenberger competes in the 2014 Great Northern Rodeo.
Havre Daily News/File photo
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Hill County 4-H plays a major role at the Great Northern Fair Throughout the week of the fair, Hill County 4-H Club members will be showing their projects and competing for ribbons, but fair time also means club members will be working hard behind the scenes to keep their part of the fair operating smoothly Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com 4-H is open to youth ages 6 to 19. Those ages 6 to 8 are called Cloverbud members, and they work to explore what 4-H member-
ship has to offer in the eight different fields of focus which have more than 200 different projects. From ages 9 to 19 4-H members declare their projects for the year, and work throughout the year to accomplish their goals. Fair time for these kids is like test time and Christmas in one. In the last weeks before the fair, 4-H club members are busy with final preparations. “I would say the majority of kids are scrambling to finish any projects they’re planning on entering into the fair,” said Lisa O’Neil, leader for the Trail Blazers 4-H Club and president of the Hill County 4-H Council. While some of the problem comes from time-management issues, the bigger problem comes from a different type of time issue, she said. “They’re the ones that do everything. A lot of the 4-H kids are not only active in 4-H, but they’re active in a multitude of
other things,” she said, adding that they’re involved in school and summer sports and activities for other clubs. The competition begins Tuesday of fair week when the kids bring their projects before judges to answer questions and make demonstrations. Judges are all community volunteers with specific knowledge and experience in the areas interviewing. 4-H competition is unique in that ribbon awards are based both on meeting the criteria for their project and level of experience, as well as competition with their peers. First- through third-place ribbons are awarded for merit and knowledge and the grand and reserve ribbons are given to those who excelled against their peers. Projects run a wide gamut of interests, including entomology, sewing, robotics, art, leadership, shooting sports, leathercraft, photography, nutrition and theater, as well as demonstrations for the variety of animal projects. All the projects from the interview judging and their awards are displayed during the fair, said O’Neil Those members who are taking one or more animals to the fair continue competing throughout the week, showing their animals to judges based on the criteria for each animal. While the interview judging covered topics like diseases, immunizations, nutrition, cost of care, training concepts, safety, marketing, careers and business plans, showing at the fair demonstrates mastery of the application of these concepts.
www.havredailynews.com How well can the youth handle the animals? How fit are the animals according to purpose? Is the youth using the proper equipment and handling the animal safely? These and other points will be judged. The week isn’t all about competition in the arena, though, said O’Neil. Youth from all the clubs have to care for their animals and the area the animals are housed, as well as put in time working at the 4-H Chuckwagon, doing night-duty rounds to help ensure the well-being and safety of the animals after hours, greeting and helping answer questions of visitors at the project exhibit buildings and generally providing assistance with the many tasks that help make the fair operate. Mystery judges roam the grounds to assess the kids’ success at these duties, awarding individuals and clubs for their efforts, O'Neil added. The big finale for the 4-H clubs comes with the market animal auction Sunday. Individuals, businesses and organizations from around the county and the area bid on the animals, providing the 4-H members an opportunity to make money on their project animals in the market beef, swine and lamb categories. One aspect of the market animals that isn’t widely known is that after the animals are butchered another round of judging determines prizes for best carcass. While some of the market animals look good in the ring, this provides another level of proof of how well the kids chose and raised their market animals.
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Rodeo: Putting on a good local rodeo n Continued from Page 7 participate in the calf dressing and wild cow milking need to call Solomon at 3905060 as soon as possible because teams are limited and will be taken on a first
come basis. “We’re just trying to put on a good rodeo for local people,” Solomon said, and bring business to the local community.
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Youth rodeo again takes center stage Wednesday
Penelope the Clown delights children — and adults
John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com
Penelope the Clown, based in Calgary, Alberta, performs all kinds of activities that children and adults enjoy
When she was young, Ruby Hould took part in the Junior Rodeo at the Great Northern Fair. Junior Rodeo is still in her blood, and she is the coach/adviser for the Hi-Line Youth Rodeo team. She’s helping the young people raise money and prepare for the rodeo and has helped add some events to this year’s program. She won’t be there for the youth rodeo itself. Her older son will be going to Box
Springs, Wyoming, to compete in national rodeos, and she will be going to cheer him on. But her younger son, Cole, an eighthgrader, will be cheering on his brother from Havre. Cole said he wouldn’t miss the Great Northern youth rodeo for anything. He will be competing locally. “He didn’t want to miss the rodeo,” she said. The kids are doing all the work. They are finding judges and announcers. They come up with the money for the buckles that will be awarded to the winners. They have to pay for an ambulance in
John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com
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Havre Daily News/File photo Cooper Fisher rides a sheep during the 2014 Great Northern Junior Rodeo.
Penelope will be the walk-around entertainment at the Great Northern Fair this year. She does amazing face painting, juggling, magic and balloon animals All of this has made her a favorite while entertaining people around North America. She has more than 20 years of experience of spreading her unique brand of humor. Penelope delights children with a combination of juggling, magic and audience par-
ticipation. Children and adults alike will laugh along with her as she leads the crowd in an interactive performance. Penelope’s versatility shines through when she does strolling performances, which is what she will be doing at the fair — jugg l i n g , d o i n g m a g i c t r i c k s fo r s m a l l groups or even performing an impromptu version of her stage show. You may discover her leading groups of children in bubble games, or greeting crowds and directing traffic.
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2015 Great Northern Fair schedule of events 4-H Chuckwagon: Taking care of business, future Tuesday, July 14
8 a.m. — St. Jude Parish Center open 8:30 a.m. — Interview judges and assistants meeting 8:45 a.m. — Morning check-in for exhibitors 9 a.m. — Interview judging morning session 9:30 a.m. — 4-H Exhibit Buildings at fairgrounds open. Noon — Lunch break 12:45 p.m. — Afternoon youth check-in 1 p.m. — Interview judging afternoon session 2 p.m. — Carnival and food booths open 4:15 p.m. — Teen/Queen interviews
Wednesday, July 15
10 a.m. — 4-H horse show 11 a.m. — Bigger Better Barn concessions open 1 p.m. — 4-H Exhibit Buildings open 2 p.m. — Carnival and food booths open 3 p.m. — Chuckwagon open 5 p.m. — Junior Rodeo in the arena 6 p.m. — 4-H Exhibit Buildings close 9:30 p.m. — BBB concessions close 11 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes Midnight — Carnival closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic Animals Display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
Thursday, July 16
7 a.m. — Market animal weigh scale open 11 a.m. — Market animal weigh scale closes 11 a.m. — Chuckwagon open Noon — 4-H Fair superintendents meeting food booths and commercial exhibits open Open class and school exhibits open 1 p.m. — Crowning of 4-H Teen/Queen 1:15 p.m. — 4-H livestock exhibitors meeting 2 p.m. — Carnival opens 4-H small animal show cat showmanship and judging pocket pet judging rabbit showmanship and judging poultry showmanship and judging 5 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes 7 p.m. — NRA Rodeo in the arena 9:30 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings, Bigger Better Barn, beef and horse barns close 11 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes Midnight — Carnival Closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic animals display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
Friday, July 17
9 a.m. — NRA Rodeo Slack 9 a.m. — BBB concessions open 4-H beef show & beef showmanship breeding beef show
Friday, July 17 Cont'd.
feeder/market beef classes 11 a.m. — Chuckwagon opens Noon — Food booths and commercial dxhibits open Noon — Open class and school exhibits open 2 p.m. — Carnival opens 4-H dog show 4 p.m. — Fair robotic show, Hill County 4-H Museum porch 7 p.m. — NRA Rodeo in the arena 9:30 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings, BBB, beef and horse barns close 11 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes Midnight — Carnival closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic animals display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
Saturday, July 18
8 a.m. — 4-H swine show swine showmanship swine feeder/market classes 9 a.m. — BBB concessions open 11 a.m. — Chuckwagon opens Noon — Food booths and commercial exhibits open Noon — Carnival opens 1 p.m. — Jaycees Bump N Run in the arena 4-H sheep and goat show sheep showmanship breeding sheep show feeder/market sheep classes goat showmanship breeding goat show 3 p.m. — 4-H Round Robin competition 5 p.m. — 4-H Market Sale set up 6 p.m. — Jaycees Demo Derby in the arena 7 p.m. — Large non-market animals may leave the barns to be taken home 9:30 p.m. — Exhibit Buildings, Bigger Better Barn, beef and horse barns close 11 p.m. — Chuckwagon closes Midnight — Carnival closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic animals display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
Sunday, July 19
8-9:30 a.m. — 4-H Appreciation Breakfast Sponsored by Milk River Co-op 11 a.m. — Chuckwagon open 11:30 a.m. — Buyers Appreciation BBQ Noon — food booths and commercial exhibits open 1 p.m. — 4-H Market Sale 2 p.m. — Carnival opens 4:30 p.m. — Non-animal 4-H exhibits may be removed from the exhibit buildings 5 p.m. — Commercial exhibit building and open class close 6 p.m. — Holly Williams performs in the arena 10 p.m. — Carnival closes All Day — Penelope the Clown walk around All Day — Exotic animals display 3 Shows Daily, T.B.D. — Paul Isaak, the Funny Juggler, performs
The 4-H Chuckwagon will be open and serving their full menu of meals again this year, while 4-H members and leaders continue fundraising efforts to get their new structure up and running Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Longtime 4-H leader Stacey Waid said that they are almost halfway to their goal of $350,000 to $400,000. " T h e c o m m u n i t y h a s s h ow n g re a t response and great support for the project," she said. Hill County 4-H has about $100,000 in cash set aside and about $50,000 in pledges of in-kind labor and construction work, as
well as donated items. Clubs have been working special concessions throughout the year for different events like the Everything Antique Show and the Hi-Line Cruz'n Association's Rod Run, she said, and organizers for this year's Fossil Festival, set for Labor Day weekend, will use the 4-H concessions and help with cleanup after their event. "They wanted to help as much as they could — which is great," Waid said. During the fair, club members and leaders will have an information booth to answer questions about the proposed facility and take donations. Waid said that they will have a poster with an itemized list of some of the building's needs — like faucets, doors and windows — and their costs so people can donate to buy a specific item if they wish. Their mascot Willard the Pig will be at the booth, and people can pay to feed him, she said. "Feed Willard," she said, "and he will feed you." The committee is also selling 4-inch by 4-inch ceramic tiles to adorn a legacy wall in the new facility. The cost is $1,000 per tile and the donor c a n h ave fa m i l y o r b u s i n e s s n a m e s, brands or images put on the tiles, she
Jr. Rodeo: Lots of kids doing this for fun n Continued from Page 12 case there are injures. There never have been, but the kids also pay for insurance. All the while, they are training for the competition. “Lots of kids are doing this for the fun of it,” Hould said, but others plan on staying in
rodeo. “Some of these kids are not farm and ranch kids,” she said. Kids from 4 to 18 take part in the rodeo, she said. Audiences always enjoy the rodeo, she said.
Havre Daily News/File Photo The current 4-H Chuckwagon building at the Hill County Fairgrounds shows its age in this 2014 photo. Hill County 4-H plans to demolish it to build a new, multi-use facility once they have raised enough funds. said. The Chuckwagon will be open 3 to 11 p . m . We d n e s d ay, 11 a . m . to 11 p . m . Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Each Hill County 4-H club takes turns vo l u n t e e r i n g m e m b e r s t o ke e p t h e Chuckwagon staffed during the fair.
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Bump N Run is back at the Great Northern Fair Mike Sharp looks to the fairgrounds’ future Long list of plans for the future of the fair and the fairgrounds
The Bump N Run is coming back to the Great Northern Fair this year for the second time, and will be followed by the long-standing Demolition Derby
John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com
John Paul Schmidt jpschmidt@havredailynews.com The difference this year is that the two competitions are going to be separated. The Bump N Run will begin at noon and run to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and the demolition derby will begin at 6 p.m. that day. Chelby Gooch, chairwoman of the Havre Jaycees board, said that they are trying to pull drivers from the Glendive area to participate in the Bump N Run. “I know for sure we’ll have the eleven we had the first race we had this year,” Gooch said. “We’ll actually, probably for sure, be adding five.” It all depends on the sponsors. If the Jaycees get enough, they can get the Glendive racers out. The Bump N Run consists of derbyesque vehicles racing around the track at the Hill County Fairgrounds. There are bumps, hairpin turns and dangers of running into other drivers during the race. Gooch said the Bump N Run is only possible due to Jaycees member Seth Hamilton. “We didn’t know anything about it,” Gooch said. “We know demolition derby. We know crashing cars, not racing them.” Hamilton said people should come out to the Bump N Run because it’s something new. “Instead of 15 local drivers, we bring drivers in from all over the state,” Hamilton said. “We’re bringing a lot more to the community.” Gooch said the demolition derby will be the classic it’s always been. She
Havre Daily News/File Photo Competitors work to eliminate each other during the Demolition Derby at the 2014 Great Northern Fair.
doesn’t know how many people will compete in the derby because registration begins the day of, but she feels confident there will be as good a turnout as last year. “People should go to the derby because it’s a fun evening of watching cars crash into each other,” Gooch said. “What’s not to like? Cars tipping on their sides, cars being crushed to nothing. It’s going to be really fun. They’re both going to be fun!” The derby has been going on for around 15 years, Gooch said, and is a crowd favorite. The Bump N Run is $10 a ticket and kids 5 and under get in free. Demolition Derby tickets are $10 per person flat.
Mike Sharp became the fairgrounds manager and groundskeeper officially around a month before the fair, but has a calm air not without determination. He has a lot of plans for the future of the fair and the fairgrounds. “I’m excited for the opportunity,” Sharp said about his new position. “There’s a lot of things that were set up in a manner that gives the potential for this place to be successful. I think I bring the opportunity to do more with the structure that we have.” Sharp said he has a lot of plans for the fairgrounds, one of the biggest being getting more use out of it than just a few big events. The Fossil Festival is soon coming to the Hill County Fairgrounds, weddings have been booked, a women’s roller derby team is trying to get set up in the Community Center, and Sharp is looking to start a program in which equestrians can utilize the fairgrounds to ride their horses all year round. “I’m just excited to start seeing this place get used on a regular basis, not just a handful of times a year,” Sharp said. He said in the first year, he doesn't want to really make a lot of big changes until he gets his feet wet and figure out how everything works with the fairgrounds and county. Next year, he said, is when he can “finally roll his sleeves up and make an impression on the grounds and get things done.” Right now, the only positions filled at the fairgrounds are his own and secretary Linda Ferguson’s, so he has his work cut out for him. But, he said, finally having a full fair board is a nice change. “We have a fresh board for fresh ideas,” he said. “I’m excited for the new board. Proactive, hands-on — that’s what we’re looking for.”
Havre Daily News/John Paul Schmidt Mike Sharp drives a tractor while preparing for the 2015 Great Northern Fair.
He said a lot of his work is just getting groups to work together. He said one of his biggest priorities is getting a grandstand for the fairgrounds. “I hate driving by Chinook and seeing their grandstand and Havre not having one,” Sharp said. “That bugs me. I’ll figure something out, some way, some how.” He said he’s currently having talks with people about how to get this project done, as well as other projects he’s working on for the fairgrounds. He said he doesn’t want to say what he has in store as far as plans go because he is not sure what will come to fruition and what will hit dead ends, but people can expect improvements to be made at the fairgrounds while he is manager.
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The Great Northern Fair provides annual tradition for community Havre and surrounding community members will come together to experience exhibits and attractions at the fair
John Kelleher jkelleher@havredailynews.com During the old days, things were a little bit different at the Great Northern Fair. More attention was paid to 4-H exhibits involving household projects — sewing cooking and baking. Projects such as robotics had never been thought of. There were a bunch of old buildings used as exhibit halls. They have been demolished to make way for the Bigger Better Barn. B u t ove r t h e ye a rs, t h i n g s h ave remained largely the same — especially the spirit of the fair. It’s a place where the whole family can enjoy a wholesome atmosphere and fun, said Alma Seidel, who will be attending her 48th fair this year. That’s almost half of the 103 fairs that have been held since it was founded in 1912. “You see people you never see anywhere else,” said Seidel. “And you won’t see them again until next fair.” When he was a youngster, Havre Mayor Tim Solomon took part in 4-H activities, showing his animals. He doesn’t remember doing very well at winning ribbons, but he still sees some of the friends that he saw when he was young The gathering of people from far-flung parts of the county is one of the real services the fair provides to the community People get together with friends, enjoy the activities, listen to the music and go off their diets, eating the fair food. Lots of community groups raise money by selling things — especially food. Group’s ranging from Havre Jaycees to Hill County 4-H sell food or hold special events, said Solomon, who stepped down as fair manager in the first part of this year. The Great Northern Fair is still doing well, though it faces a budget crunch every year. The number of visitors keeps
Havre Daily News/File photo Xandor Olson, 9, left, and Landen Keeling, 9, ride the Merry Mixer during opening day at the 2014 Great Northern Fair. Brown's Amusements will be providing the carnival for the 2015 fair.
rising. Groups keep raising money, and folks have fun. “Some of the smaller fairs in Montana are having a hard time in the changing landscape,” Solomon said. It’s getting harder for people to find carnival rides willing to come to small fairs. There will be a carnival in Blaine County this year, though two years ago, the fair couldn’t attract a carnival company to set up rides. And the Shelby fair has pretty much thrown in the towel when it comes to rides, he said. “They will still have the exhibits but no rides,” he said. The fair provides a sense of continuity in the community, Seidel said. Seidel sees the third generation of 4-H’ers presenting projects today. The Miller family in Gildford has a picture of their grandmother winning a trophy at the fair nearly 100 years ago, at one of the first fairs. Along with the trophy for the best exhibit, she won $50, a sum that must have been real money in the 1910s, Seidel said. Pictures from the old fairs remain treasures in many families, she said. Pictures of young people with their projects have survived up to 80 years, she said. She’s afraid that with today’s technology, there may not be as many of today’s pictures in the next century. People are taking more pictures on smartphones, she said. But she’s afraid they will be lost as new forms of technology develop. But there are advantages to today’s technology. The fair has always been a place where you take the family and every member can go their own way. Parents can feel safe that nothing will happen to the kids. H e r fa m i l y wo u l d d i s p e r s e, s h e recalled, and they’d agree to meet at a certain time and a certain place. Almost always, at least one person didn’t show up at the appointed time, she said. A search party would be sent out. “Today there are cellphones,” she said. Problem solved
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