Summer sizzles with county fair

The summer season in Superior reached a fever pitch last weekend as the Mineral County Fairgrounds filled with people for the annual County Fair.

Live music played in the background throughout each day of the fair. Along with the tunes, 4-H members showed off their livestock, children played on bouncy houses and people indulged on large amounts of fair food.

By Saturday, the last and largest day of the fair, a parade flowed through town, locals participated in the talent show, and country singer Kelly Hughes had people dancing the night away in celebration of the last big event of the summer.

All the while, people enjoyed the Lion’s Club Rodeo, happening on the fair grounds, and checked out the 11th annual Cabin Fever Quilt Show, at the high school next door.

Among all the activities, the 4-H auction, one of the most traditional events, took place Saturday afternoon.

Over the past few months, 16 local 4-H members have been raising pigs and steers in hopes of a good showing and auction at the fair. All the work and up keep of their prized animals came together when local businesses bid on their livestock at the auction.

No sheep, lambs or chickens were auctioned this year. Only pigs and steers were bid for. Auctioneer Jim Ellis spoke fast and encouraged bidders to go higher for the 16 4-H members showing their livestock.

Mary Hannah McGuffey raised the grand champion swine, Ariadne, a lean 234-pound pig. Mary said she suspects Ariadne won the highest honor because of his fit, lean physic. Fatter pigs are not always the best in show. Murdoch’s bid the highest for Aridane.

Cary Chamberlain raised the reserve champion swine, and Tri Con Timber won the bid.

Cody Ishler, of Alberton, raised the grand champion steer, a powerful 1,180-pound brown steer. Superior Lumber won the highest bid for the steer at the auction.

The reserve champion steer award went to Billy Smith’s 1,122-pound steer. Lance Jasper of Jasper, Smith and Olson law firm won the bid for Smith’s solid black and white colored steer.

Other local companies and people who won bids at the 4-H auction included, Processed Lakeland, Superior Septic, Mineral Pharmacy, Karl Tyler Cheverly, Superior Lumber, GLM Mullan Trail, Rebelin Ford, Castles Market and Phil Donally, who bid on his granddaughter Mary Donally’s swine.

Besides the livestock, people at the fair also enjoyed the entertainment on the main stage. Superior local Nancy Garcia organized the talent show Saturday afternoon.

Garcia, who has run the talent show for nearly a decade, put on her final show and will have someone else organize it next year.

Nine participants took the stage to sing and dance for the talent show. The groups competed in five categories, which were, preschool, grade school, teens, adults and groups.

Decker and Payton Milender, both 6, along with Baily Miender, 8 won the preschool category with a hula song and dance. Isabelle Bricker, 6, sang, “How high is the water momma” to win the grade school category. Teenager Alexa McCuen performed “The story” by Brandi Carli to win the teen category. Mike Collier surprised the audience with a slick country song to win the adult category. For the group category, The Reptyle Band from St. Regis won first place from their rendition of “Free Bird”. The band consists of Chris Keene, Aaron Patti, Codi Vullus and Cody Roper.

First place winner in the talent show won $28 and second place winners took home $14.

While enjoying the talent show and other musical acts, fair goers had food from various vendors. From ice cream to pulled pork sandwiches, people stayed full at the fair.

New to the fair this year, Respect the Cage, a Montana Department of Transportation program to encourage people to buckle their seatbelts, set up on the lawn.

Respect the Cage brought a smashed up vehicle from a two-person wreck where the person with their seatbelt on survived and the other did not. Passersby could see first hand how important wearing a seatbelt can be.

Since the program started in the summer of 2009, Respect the Cage travels around Montana to fairs, driver’s education classes, baseball games and other events.

To kick off the last day of the fair, a parade took over the town Saturday morning. Starting on the west end of town, floats, fire trucks and horses marched along while people watched from the sidewalks and reached for candy.

Doyle and Peg Prince earned the title of parade royalty from the Mineral County Fair Board. Debra Regan was honored as the 2011 Fair Lady.

Locals showed their creativity turning trailers into floats and outfits into costumes at the parade. Those involved in the parade include three Superior Volunteer Fire Department fire trucks, the public library, Jackie’s Home Cookin’, The Class of ’81, the local Republicans, Superior Antique Store, Mineral County Health Department, the NRA and other community members.

By nightfall on Saturday, all that was left for fair organizers was cleanup and thoughts for next year’s fair.