Western Montana Fair

SPECIAL PUBLICATION

Western Montana Fair TUESDAY, AUG. 11, THROUGH SUNDAY, AUG. 16, 2015

Celebrating community FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT ■ RANCH RODEO ■ DEMOLITION DERBY ■ MORE FAIRS

2 — Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015

WESTERN MONTANA FAIR

Fairgrounds attention Site of Western Montana Fair gets much-needed care RYLAN BOGGS rylan.boggs@missoulian.com‌

‌T

he Missoula County Fairgrounds have stood at their current location for 101 years, open except from 1941 to 1954 after a fire burned the grandstands and other structures.

Under the care of fairgrounds director Todd Garrett, the aging facility has received some much-needed attention that will help preserve one of Missoula’s most iconic gathering places for people across western Montana.

“It’s not just the events that are 100 years old, but the buildings and the facilities,” said Garrett, who is in his second year as director.

This year, people visiting the Western Montana Fair from Tuesday, Aug. 11, through Sunday, Aug. 16, will be able to enjoy the classic experience that they’re used to in the comfort of the newly remodeled facilities.

One of the projects Garrett is most excited about is the new office space at the fairgrounds. The old office was not accessible to people with mobility difficulties and often was hard to get into and out of when crowded. The new office features all new lighting; new heating ducts and air conditioning; a new data, phone and electrical system; a new fire alarm system; and access that meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

MICHAEL GALLACHER, Missoulian‌

At 101 years old, the Missoula County Fairgrounds received some much-needed attention leading up to the Western Montana Fair.

Garrett has also overseen a good deal of other work on the facilities, including repairing a water leak in a main line on the south side of the arena, servicing all the tractors and equipment, purchasing a new

snowplow, installing large lighting fixtures for the parking lots, repairing the old lamp posts leading to the gate on South Avenue, re-keying all the building locks and purchasing keypad locks for many of the gates

and buildings.

The grounds have also undergone a series of inspections from by the city fire marshal, the county risk manager and Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials.

With a facility as old and as large as the fairgrounds maintenance is a constant, Garrett said.

“There’s always something going on at the fairgrounds in order to improve flow and safety,” he said.

WESTERN MONTANA FAIR

Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015 — 3

MICHAEL GALLACHER, Missoulian‌

Tater Pigs – frozen link sausages poked into the middle of a potato – are among the foods served up by vendors at the Western Montana Fair.

Music, food and more Entertainment available for all at Western Montana Fair RYLAN BOGGS rylan.boggs@missoulian.com‌

T ‌

his year’s Western Montana Fair will feature a large variety of music, food and other entertainment for people looking to enjoy the classic summer event.

Headlining the fair is up-and-coming country music star Tyler Barham, who will play Friday night on the Stampede Stage.

Born in Bozeman in 1990 and raised in Florence, Barham got his start in high school when John Griffin, a Nashville music producer, discovered his YouTube videos. Barham has capitalized on the digital music market with more than 50,000 dedicated online fans and nearly 9 million views, according to his website.

Barham got his big break when he was featured as a finalist on Great American Country’s nationwide talent search and in February 2013 was named one of Country Music Association’s upcoming artists on the “Who New to Watch in 2013” list.

The Stampede Stage will also feature local acts such as Shane Clouse, Corporate Defiance and Blue Collar.

A new addition this year is the Street Dance on Tuesday night – an all-ages open dance with instruction from Cathy Clark and music by Chuck Norris and Northern Lights.

“Our emphasis is homegrown, local and diverse,” fair administrative aide Tracy Mullennix said.

That’s in keeping with this year’s theme for the fair: “Tying it Together: Celebrating Our Community.”

As in past years, food will be available from nonprofits and other concession vendors, including the Sons of Norway, Baskin-Robbins, Sweet Sensations and more.

Fair officials were adamant vendors would have to meet Missoula CityCounty Health Department regulations.

Last year, three vendors were shut down after inspectors found food violations.

“They have to meet health requirements before they open, so if they don’t meet those requirements, then they won’t open,” said support services manager Pirrie Harris.

See ENTERTAINMENT, Page 4

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FROM PAGE 3

Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015 — 4

Entertainment

Another anticipated attraction is the appearance of Uncle Curly, a world-class clown from Continued Missoula. Curly is described as a combination of “Timon Also returning this year is the from The Lion King and the Tasmanian Devil without all the crowd-favorite Dock Dogs, in which dogs are judged on jumps slobbering,” by his website.

into a pool. The competition The fair will also offer a free often draws canines from around stage for anyone who wants to the Pacific Northwest.

A new event for this year’s fair showcase their talents for the public. The stage will feature is the egg drop, in which chillocal comedians, dancers, dren construct a container that choirs, family groups and the will allow an egg to fall from a Strength Team, which will wow height of 12 feet or more. spectators with feats of incredContestants will be split into ible human ability. two age groups, 6-10 and 11-15, Former Montana Grizzlies and the fair will provide eggs football player Mike Hagen and materials like string, glue, started the Strength Team to popsicle sticks and egg cartons share the message of the Gosfor them to build containers. pels through incredible feats.

Eggs must survive each fall The group breaks baseball bats, without cracking to move boards and bricks, and members onto the next round – and a range from former NFL players higher drop. to professional bull riders.

Volunteering their time to Helping fair-goers navigate entertain fair participants will be silk dancers and fire breathers the grounds will be the trackless train, a small train-shaped autofrom the Moksha Aerial Studio mobile with three cars in tow.

Collective.

Country music star Tyler Barham headlines the Western Montana Fair this year.

MICHAEL GALLACHER, Missoulian‌

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Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015 — 5

WESTERN MONTANA FAIR

RANCH RODEO WILL RIDE AGAIN PETER FRIESEN peter.friesen@missoulian.com‌

‌T

he Western Montana Fair has had its share of bad years, good years and years when it didn’t take place at all. Through it all, the rodeo has persevered as one of the biggest draws.

In charge of leading the fair into its second century is Missoula County Fairgrounds director Todd Garrett.

“We’re all relatively new, so we’re looking for ways to renovate the fair,” Garrett said of him and his staff.

The Murdoch’s Ranch Rodeo, started in 2014, is one way Garrett tried to aid community participation in the fair.

Consisting of local teams competing in true-to-life ranch events, the Ranch Rodeo was supposed to be a popular addition. But it hasn’t yet found its feet.

“We tried it last year and had a decent turnout. We’re hoping for a little more this year,” Garrett said.

The rodeo is coupled with a free admission night and a street dance on Tuesday to kick off the fair, which Garrett called a “community throwback night.”

The Ranch Rodeo consists of eight teams with five members each, who compete in team branding, sorting and doctoring, ranch bronc riding, trailer loading and wild cow milking.

“Everybody who works on a ranch in this part of the state can do it,” fair administrative aide Tracy Mullennix said.

Wednesday night will now host the Bitterroot Ford Bullorama, which was moved from its usual Thursday night

The dynamics of the people from Missoula are not your normal rodeo crowd.

It’s very satisfying to see people who aren’t hardcore fans enjoy rodeo.”

Wade Sankey

spot to accommodate the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s preferences. The event, part of the PBR Pro Touring division, will give riders a chance at riding bulls provided by Jeff Robinson, who won PBR’s Stock Contractor of the Year four years in a row from 2010 to 2013.

The Missoula Stampede RAM Rodeo will dominate the rest of the week, with men’s and women’s PRCA contestants set to ride at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The show will feature men’s bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding, steer wrestling, team and tie-down roping, and women’s barrel racing. Cowboys will compete for points to place in the PRCA finals.

More than $50,000 in prize money will be awarded at the PBR and PRCA events See RANCH, Page 6

A6 — Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015

FROM PAGE 5

Ranch Continued

in Missoula.

Sankey Pro Rodeo has produced the rodeo events at the Western Montana Fair for more than 15 years, Wade Sankey estimated, saying he’d been there every year for as long as he could remember, enjoying the fairgrounds.

“Everything bucks in that arena and Missoula gets a lot of the top contestants in the world,” Sankey said, adding that the arena’s layout keeps the crowd involved and close.

Part of what makes the fair stand apart is the unique crowd, Sankey said.

“The dynamics of the people from Missoula are not your normal rodeo crowd,” Sankey said. “It’s very satisfying to see people who aren’t hardcore fans enjoy rodeo.”

Sankey is a partner with his father Ike, sister Ryan and Robinson, the PBR bull provider. Sankey wanted to thank the fair staff and Missoula for their great relationship over the years.

Admission to the Ranch Rodeo on Tuesday night is $10 and free for children ages 5 and younger. Grandstand seats for the Bullorama and Stampede nights are $16 for adults and $12 for kids ages 5-15.

General admission bleacher seats are $12 for all ages and children younger than 5 get in free to all events.

RODEO EVENTS Ranch Rodeo: 7 p.m. Tuesday, $10, 4 and younger free.

Bullorama: 7 p.m. Wednesday, $16 for adults, $12 kids ages 5-15, bleacher seats $12, kids 4 and younger free.

MICHAEL GALLACHER, Missoulian‌

Stetson Lawrence of Williston, N.D., competes in the Western Montana Fair’s Bullorama. missoulian.com

Every minute. Every day.

View all our special publications at missoulian.com/specialsections

Stampede Rodeo: 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, $16 for adults, $12 kids 5-15, bleacher seats $12, kids 4 and younger free.

Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015 — 7

western montana fair

The Demolition Derby will pit drivers against each other Sunday at the Western Montana Fair.

Missoulian‌

Demolition derby drives on at fair RYLAN BOGGS rylan.boggs@missoulian.com‌

‌Acrid smoke and clods of dirt fill the air as rubber tires spin and tear themselves apart, propelling retrofitted cars toward their destruction.

It might sound like a scene from “Mad Max: Fury Road,” but the demolition derby is a familyfriendly event at the Western Montana Fair.

Despite a low number of drivers signing up, this year’s demolition derby will take place at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16.

Spectators will be able to witness the carnage $16.

Demolition derbies are an

“They have a lot better sheet metal in them – a lot of it’s about weight, and they weigh a lot.”

Ron Rogers American classic pitting older cars rigged for combat in a gladiator-esque contest to the last driver standing.

Ron Rogers drove in the Western Montana Fair’s first derby in 1989 and began helping to organize the event 23 years ago.

Now, he is superintendent of the derby. Drivers find their cars wherever they can, Rogers said.

“I used to drive the alleys of Missoula looking for cars,”

he said.

Drivers are limited to American cars made during the 1970s, Rogers said, with some of the favorites being Chrysler Imperials and Chevy Impalas due to their heavier frames.

“They have a lot better sheet metal in them – a lot of it’s about weight, and they weigh a lot,” he said.

Regulations require that all glass and flammable materials

such as headliners, carpeting, upholstery and rear seats be removed from the cars, that a fire extinguisher be within drivers’ reach and that driver’s side doors be welded shut and reinforced, Rogers said. Studded tires and extra weight are prohibited.

Drivers can be disqualified if they don’t make a valid hit on another car at least every three minutes, and they are prohibited from hitting the driver’s side door of other vehicles as well as leaving their car for any reason other than a fire. In the event of a fire, air horns will sound twice and all drivers must stop; any driver who doesn’t will be

disqualified.

While demolition derbies are undoubtedly destructive, they have fairly low injury rates, Rogers said.

“For the most part, it’s a pretty safe sport,” he said.

First place will drive away with $4,000, second $2,000 and third $1,000. Several smaller “surprise” cash bonuses will also be handed out.

Rogers attributed the low number of drivers this year to the fact that there is another derby in Deer Lodge on the same day.

“I have to try to sway them to Missoula,” Rogers said of derby drivers in the area.

8 — Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015

WESTERN MONTANA FAIR

| SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | TUESDAY, AUG. 11‌ 4-H ACTIVITIES 8 a.m.: 4-H Goat Showmanship followed by 4-H dairy goat judging in the small show ring 9 a.m.: Open Class Poultry Show 9 a.m.: 4-H/FFA Rabbit Showmanship Noon: 4-H Exhibit Building opens

4-8 p.m.: County Fair Show, Standard Flower Show

7:45 a.m.: Meeting for 4-H Exhibitors and Parents

POULTRY BARN

9:30 a.m.: Dairy Judging and Showmanship

9 a.m.: Open judging starting with 8 and under, followed by Layer judging, Backyard Bird judging Purebred Show 1 p.m.: 4-H Showmanship followed by Cage judging

Noon-4 p.m.: Open Class Beef arrives

FREE STAGE

1 p.m.: 4-H/FFA Poultry Judging and Showmanship

9-11 p.m.: Wapikiya Records

4- 8 p.m.: ALL 4-H/FFA beef, dairy, sheep, hogs are required to arrive on the fairgrounds

5-9 p.m.: Free Entertainment

STAMPEDE STAGE

8:30-11 p.m.: Stampede Stage Stomp – Street Dance

10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building and Livestock Barns Close

WEST LAWN

ARENA

6 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

7 p.m.: Murdoch’s Missoula Ranch Rodeo

COUNTRY FAIR 4-8 p.m.: Petting Zoo

FLORICULTURE

5 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

FREE STAGE 1-8 p.m.: Free Entertainment

11 a.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building opens

9-11 p.m.: Wapikiya Records

11 a.m.: Breeding Sheep Judging 4-H/ FFA

STAMPEDE STAGE

Noon: Breeding Meat Goat Judging 2 p.m.: Breeding Beef Judging 4-H/FFA Open Class Beef judging will follow 4-H/ FFA Breeding Beef Judging

4:30-6:30 p.m.: Corporate Defiance 9 p.m.: Shane Clouse and Stomping Ground

WEST LAWN

10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building and Livestock Barns Close

11 a.m.-7 p.m.: Kid Zone (Special Appearances by Curley the Clown)

ARENA

11 a.m.- 8 p.m.: Pony Rides

7 p.m.: Bullorama

11:30 a.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

COUNTRY FAIR

Noon: Dock Dogs W1

11 a.m.–8 p.m.: Petting Zoo

1 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

Wednesday, Aug. 12‌

CULINARY

2 p.m.: Dock Dogs W2

Join in the Daily Parade. 1-1:30 p.m.: meet at the Stampede Stage

11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations

3 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

3 p.m.: International Foods Competition

4 p.m.: Dock Dogs W3

4-H ACTIVITIES

FLORICULTURE

5 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

6:30 a.m.: Lions Club Breakfast 4- H Café All Day County Fair Show, Standard

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Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015 — A9

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10 — Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015

WESTERN MONTANA FAIR

| SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | THURSDAY, AUG. 13‌ Join in the Daily Parade.

1-1:30 p.m.: meet at the Stampede Stage

4-H ACTIVITIES

7 a.m.: Sentinel Kiwanis Club Breakfast 4- H Café 7:30 a.m.: Market Hog Judging 11 a.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building opens 2 p.m.: Market Lamb Judging 4 p.m.: Market Goat Judging 6 p.m.: Market Beef Judging 10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building and Livestock Barns Close

ARENA

10 a.m.: Rodeo Slack 7 p.m.: 100th Anniversary Missoula Stampede PRCA RAM Rodeo

COUNTRY FAIR

11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Petting Zoo

CULINARY

3 p.m.: Any Type of Sandwich

FLORICULTURE

All Day County Fair Show, Gladiolus Show, Standard Flower Show

FREE STAGE

1- 8 p.m.: Free Entertainment 9-11 p.m.: Wapikiya Records

STAMPEDE STAGE

5:30 and 9 p.m.: Northern Lights

WEST LAWN

11 a.m.-7 p.m.: Kid Zone (Special Appearances by Curley the Clown) 11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Pony Rides 11:30 a.m.: Kids Tractor Pull Noon: Dock Dogs W5 1 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull 2 p.m.: Dock Dogs W6 3 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull 4 p.m.: Dock Dogs W7 5 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull 6 p.m.: Dock Dogs W8 The 4-H/FFA Livestock Sale at the Western Montana Fair.

KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌

Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015 — 11

WESTERN MONTANA FAIR

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12 — Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015

WESTERN MONTANA FAIR

| SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | FRIDAY, AUG. 14‌ Join in the Daily Parade. 1-1:30 p.m.: meet at the Stampede Stage

4-H ACTIVITIES

7:30 a.m.: Hog Showmanship 11 a.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building opens 2 p.m.: Sheep Showmanship 4 p.m.: Market Goat Showmanship 6 p.m.: Beef Showmanship 10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building and Livestock Barns Close

ARENA

7 p.m.: 100th Anniversary Missoula Stampede PRCA RAM Rodeo

COUNTRY FAIR

11 a.m.–8 p.m.: Petting Zoo

CULINARY

11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations 3 p.m.: Men Only Competition

FLORICULTURE

All Day County Fair Show, Dahlia Show, Standard Flower Show

FREE STAGE

1-8 p.m.: Free Entertainment 9–11 p.m.: Wapikiya Records

STAMPEDE STAGE

5:30 and 9 p.m.: Tyler Barham

WEST LAWN

11 a.m.-7 p.m. Kid Zone (Special Appearances by Curley the Clown) 11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Pony Rides 11:30 a.m.: Kids Tractor Pull Noon: Dock Dogs W9 1 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull 2 p.m.: Dock Dogs W10 3 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

Large blossoms appear on a night-blooming cactus in the Floriculture Building at the Western Montana Fair.

8 a.m.: Market Livestock Sale

COUNTRY FAIR

WEST LAWN

11 a.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building opens

11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Petting Zoo

2 p.m.: Open Class Sheep Show

CULINARY

11 a.m.: DockDogs on Site – Registration/ Practice

11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations

11-a.m.-7 p.m.: Kid Zone (Special Appearances by Curley the Clown)

3 p.m.: Great Chili Competition

11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Pony Rides

FLORICULTURE

11:30 a.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

All Day County Fair Show, Dahlia Show, Standard Flower Show

Noon: Dock Dogs W13

FREE STAGE

2 p.m.: Dock Dogs W14

1-8 p.m.: Free Entertainment

3 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

9-11 p.m.: Wapikiya Records

4 p.m.: Dock Dogs W15

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STAMPEDE STAGE

5 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

9 p.m.: The Strength Team – Free.

5:30 and 9 p.m.: Blue Collar

6 p.m.: Dock Dogs Extreme Vertical

4 p.m.: Round Robin Showmanship Judging

4 p.m.: Dock Dogs W11

BBQ 4-H Families – Hog BBQ following Round Robin

5 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

8-11 p.m.: 4-H/FFA Dance

6 p.m.: Dock Dogs W12

10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building and Livestock Barns Close

SATURDAY, AUG. 15‌ Join in the Daily Parade. 1-1:30 p.m.: meet at the Stampede Stage

4-H ACTIVITIES

6 a.m.: Livestock Sale Breakfast sponsored by Cenex Mountain West Co-op

KURT WILSON, Missoulian‌

ARENA

7 p.m.: 100th Anniversary Missoula Stampede PRCA RAM Rodeo

1 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015 — A13

CELEBRATING 103 YEARS

1912 - 2015

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1912 - 2015

FOr Over 28 yeArS,

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SUppOrTer OF MOnTAnA 4-H, And we cOngrATULATe THeM On 103 yeArS OF MAkIng A pOSITIve IMpAcT On MOnTAnA’S yOUTH. pLeASe jOIn US In SUppOrTIng MOnTAnA 4-H!

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14 — Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015

western montana fair

| Schedule of events | Sunday, Aug. 16‌ 4-H Activities 11 a.m.: 4-H Exhibit Building opens 2 p.m.: Fair Awards Ceremony 6 p.m.: Market Animals leave the fairgrounds 8 p.m.: Breeding Animals and all other animals leaving the fairgrounds

| More regional fairs |

Floriculture

‌Montana Fair, Billings, Aug. 7-15

All Day County Fair Show, Rose Show, Standard Flower Show

Tri-County Fair, Deer Lodge, Aug. 12-16

Free Stage

Madison Fair and Rodeo, Twin Bridges, Aug. 12-16

1- 6 p.m.: Free Entertainment

West Lawn 10 a.m.: DockDogs on Site – Registration/ Practice

Arena

11 a.m.-7 p.m.: Kid Zone (Special Appearances by Curley the Clown)

12:30 p.m.: The Strength Team – Free.

11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Pony Rides

4:30 p.m.: Missoula Napa Demolition Derby

11 a.m.: Dock Dogs W16

Country Fair

1 p.m.: Dock Dogs W17

11 a.m.-8 p.m.: Petting Zoo

1:30 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

Dawson County Fair & Rodeo, Glendive, Aug. 13-16 Chouteau County Fair, Fort Benton, Aug. 14-16 Eastern Montana Fair, Miles City, Aug. 19-22

Jefferson County Fair & Rodeo, Boulder, Aug. 27-30 Lincoln County Fair, Eureka, Aug. 27-30 Wibaux County Fair, Wibaux, Aug. 27-30 Ravalli County Fair, Hamilton, Sept.

2-5

Fallon County Fair, Baker Aug. 19-23

Beaverhead County Fair & Jaycee Rodeo, Dillon, Sept. 2-6

Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo, Kalispell, Aug. 19-23

Spokane County Interstate Fair, Spokane, Sept. 11-20

11:30 a.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

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3 p.m.: Dock Dogs Speed Retrieve

Culinary

North Idaho Fair, Coeur d’ Alene, Aug. 26-30

11 a. .-2 p.m.: Daily Demonstrations

3:30 p.m.: Kids Tractor Pull

3 p.m.: Chocolate, Chocolate and more Chocolate.

4:30 p.m.: Dock Dogs Finals

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WESTERN MONTANA FAIR

Regional fairs offer family fun, change of scenery PETER FRIESEN peter.friesen@missoulian.com‌

Kristian Bush, half of the country duo Sugarland, will also perform at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo.

Provided photo‌

‌More than 30 fairs take place in Montana every summer – enough to give anyone their fill of rides, competitions and rodeos.

A different fair is scheduled every weekend in August and into September, giving dedicated fair-goers the chance to attend events in Missoula, Kalispell, Eureka, Superior and Hamilton.

The Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo in Kalispell is packed full the weekend of Aug. 19-23, according to fair manager Mark Campbell.

“We have as much going on as we possibly can,” he said.

With two nights of concerts, three nights of rodeo, competitions of every kind, a demolition derby and a parade through downtown Kalispell, Campbell’s claim appears to be spot-on.

Sam Riddle, an up-and-coming country music artist from Missoula, will launch his tour from the fair on Tuesday and Kristian Bush, half of the country duo Sugarland, is set to perform Wednesday night.

A lot of traditional favorites will be back in fair competitions, Campbell said, along with newer and growing categories such as photography and fine arts.

“It’s a community celebration. It’s the time of year that all interests can come together,” Campbell said of the 114-yearold fair.

For more information, visit nwmtfair.com.

The Lincoln County Fair in Eureka on Aug. 27-30 is a “real country kind of fair,” manager Lois Sciligo said.

Instead of carnival rides, there will be logging competitions, bull riding (both live and mechanical) and the ninth annual karaoke challenge.

After a 30-year hiatus, logging competitions are back, with a performance by Flathead Valley

Provided photo‌

Missoula country music artist Sam Riddle will launch his tour at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo in Kalispell.

group and the entire family.

“We get a really good homeNorthwest Montana Fair & town crowd,” Ravalli County Rodeo: Kalispell, Aug.19-23, Fairgrounds director Deborah nwmtfair.com, 758-5810 Rogala said.

With more than 8,000 entries, Lincoln County Fair: Eureka, Rogala said the exhibitions are Aug. 27-30, lcfairmontana.com, the main draw at the fair. “We’re 296-3471 an old-time exhibitor’s fair,” she Ravalli County Fair: Hamilton, said. The photography departSep. 2-5 ravalli.us/200/ ment alone has more than 1,000 Fairgrounds, 363-3411 entries, which Rogala credits to the explosion of cellphone photography.

Community College’s national The main night events begin champion logger team, including Wednesday with a teen dance, sawing and ax-throwing. featuring a live DJ and hypnotist The Bull Thing, the fair’s bullMichael Mezmer. riding show, is PBR-sanctioned The rodeo events begin Thursfor the first year, which will bring day night, with the Bull-A-Rama at least a few top bull riders to the event. The popular mechanical bull and bronc riding.

Friday and Saturday night will also be back, along with plenty feature the Northern Rodeo Assoof games for kids and families, ciation rodeo, with all the usual said Sciligo. events and many local competiThe fair is free and open to the tors, Rogala said. public, though there is a small The rest of the week is packed parking fee. Ticket prices for the with entertainment as varied Bull Thing, the only paid event, as BMX and horse trick-riding haven’t been announced. shows, the Miss Ravalli County For more information, visit Rodeo Queen pageant, kids pedal lincolncountymt.us/lc_fair. tractor pulls and a performance by

the Bitterroot Mountettes equesTaking place over Labor Day trian drill team. weekend, Sept. 2-5, the Ravalli For more information, visit County Fair in Hamilton offers fun ravalli.us/200/Fairgrounds. for all, with events for every age

WESTERN MONTANA FAIRS

A16 — Missoulian, Sunday, August 2, 2015