Sanders County Fair opens Monday

Countdown continues for the annual Sanders County Fair, set for Monday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 2 in Plains.

“Country Pride — County Wide” is this year’s theme. Special contests include Ugly Flower, Picnic Basket, Scarecrow and Basket of Produce.

The Sanders County Fair Board met last Wednesday, Aug. 15 to put some final touches on preparation for the huge event, which brings in visitors from all over western Montana.

Paradise Amusements provides carnival rides, to go along with Midway Concessions and Main Midway Entertainment. That all is available Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 30-Sept. 2.

Featured will be three evenings of rodeo action, plus one section of slack at the fairgrounds arena.

Sanders County Fair Manager Chris McGuigan indicated this is the 33rd year that Hank and Lori Franzen of the Powder River Rodeo LLC out of Riverton, Wyo., have been providing the rough stock for the PRCA Rodeo.

“They’re the best in the nation,” McGuigan said.

The Franzens are joined by Dillon Page, owner of D & H Cattle Company out of Oklahoma, which is again providing cattle for the rodeo.

Added to the fairgrounds arena for last year’s fair was a scoreboard that allows spectators and competitors a quick look at the scores and times recorded during rodeo competition. The device was a crowd-pleaser last year.

PROFESSIONAL RODEO Cowboys Association (PRCA) bull riding, Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) barrel racing and youth mutton bustin’ are featured Thursday, Aug. 30, beginning at 8 p.m. to lead into the Labor Day weekend.

PRCA Rodeo performances are set for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, each kicking off at 8 p.m.

Rodeo slack is slotted into the fair schedule at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31. The Chicks-n-Chaps event originally scheduled in the arena that day has been cancelled.

The Sanders County Fair Parade is featured Saturday, Sept. 1, beginning at 11 a.m. The Cowgirls Kickin’ Cancer event is set for 2 p.m.

The 4-H Livestock Sale commences at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, and fair activities conclude with the ever-popular Demolition Derby at 7 p.m.

The fair carnival rides close at midnight Sept. 2.

ENTRY FOR Arts, Crafts and Photography, and Home Sewing and Needlecraft exhibits begins next Monday, Aug. 27. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Judging for those exhibits is Tuesday, Aug. 28, and they can be viewed during the same time span.

On Wednesday, Aug. 29, Culinary Arts, Floriculture and Horticulture exhibits are entered from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entry for Livestock, Poultry and Rabbits is 1 to 6 p.m.

Thursday morning, Aug. 30 features 4-H judging, followed by Open Class Livestock judging. Culinary Arts, Floriculture and Horticulture entry judging begins at 10 a.m.

Open Class Livestock judging continues Friday, Aug. 31, immediately after 4-H judging.

Here is the multitude of events on Saturday, Sept. 1:

Open Ranch Horse Show, 10 a.m.

Fair Parade, 11 a.m.

Open Class Beef Judging, 11:30 a.m.

Open Class premiums awarded to ribbon winners may be collected at 1 p.m.

On Sunday, Sept. 2, the 4-H awards presentation begins at 9:30 a.m., and church services at the Main Midway and the 4-H Livestock Sale follow at 10 a.m. at the 4-H Show Arena.

Exhibits close at 6 p.m. on Sept. 2, and entries can be picked up that evening.

It is noted that the Open Class Ranch Horse Show is open to anyone. Open Class exhibiting in other departments is open to residents of Sanders County and surrounding Montana counties only (Lincoln, Flathead, Lake, Missoula and Mineral).

WHO MAKES the Sanders County Fair possible? They include:

— Sanders County Board of County Commissioners - Carol Broker, chairperson; Glen Magera; and A. Ben “Tony” Cox.

— Sanders County Fair Commission – chairman Jenny Garrison, Thompson Falls; vice chair Wade Rehbein, Plains; Roberta Smith, Trout Creek; Rachel Berge, Hot Springs; and Heidi Kirkwood, Plains.

— Sanders County Fair Management – McGuigan; administrative assistant Lynn Felstet; and Sanders County extension agents Jason Badger and Juli Thurston.

— Open Class Superintendents – Elizabeth Riffle, Karen Dykstra, Sherry Hagerman-Benton, Michele McGuigan and Jim Newman.

ADVANCE TICKETS and parking for the fair, including the rodeo performances, can be purchased in several ways. You can visit the ticket office at the fairgrounds on weekdays; go to the Sanders County Fair website at www.sanderscountyfair.com or by using the Sanders County Fair app on your smart phone.