Sanders County Fair sets attendance record
Reece Forkum hangs on during the Mutton Busting event at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Kyle Bagnell from Polsob in the tie-down roping competition at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Lainey Erwin tries her hand at roping during the first 4-H horse show. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Landon Williams from Big Timber at the Sanders County Fair rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Motorcycle daredevils show off their skills during the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Motorcycle daredevils show off their skills during the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Plains Community Ambulance and EMT member Shelley_Bertrand on the mechanical bull. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Plains VFW Auxiliary Post 3596 Color Guard leads the Sanders County Fair parade. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Reece Forkum hangs on during the Mutton Busting event at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Richard Vinson was the Sanders County Community Service Award honoree. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Senior Grand Winner in the Senior Swine Showmanship category. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Senior Reserve Winner in the Senior Swine Showmanship category Mikiah Cook. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
The Kamikaze Ride at the Sanders County Fair carnival. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Two- year-old Brooks and_Jeremiah_Humphery, 6, fill a hat with candy during the parade. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Winners of the Clark Fork Radio fair concert promotion Scott and DiDi Johnson. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Bronc rider Hunter Haskins from Superior at the Sanders County Fair Rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Bronc rider Hunter Haskins from Superior at the Sanders County Fair Rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Bronc Rider Jake Watson in the Sanders County Fair rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Bull rider Parker Breding from Edgar at the Sanders County Fair Rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Barrel racer Tammy Stedmen from Arlee. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Fun times at the carnival at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Hang ten at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Competitors in the junior sheep competition at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Katherine Wrobleski interviews with rabbit judge Melody Henault. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Tracy Scott
Tracy Scott
The 2024 Sanders County Fair more than doubled its attendance over last year.
Fair committee chair Randy Woods said, “This year we have already broke attendance records. One of the best fairs in years.”
Woods also said he received positive responses from most of the food venders about their sales, and that rodeo tickets sales were high as well. By Friday afternoon, 1,945 rodeo ticket were sold. Woods also said that the Sunday Demolition Derby was sold out.
The fair week started out Monday with arts, crafts, photography, sewing and needlecraft projects being submitted to the fair. Judging for each of the previously mentioned categories began on Tuesday. Wednesday saw culinary arts, floriculture and horticulture item submitted. Livestock, poultry and rabbit entries were entered during the afternoon.
Wednesday evening saw the return of live music by the Levi Blom band from Butte. It has been years since the Sanders County Fair has had live entertainment on Wednesday evening.
Thursday morning saw a surge of activity starting with the first ever Ranch Horse competition sponsored by the 4-H. The courses were set up to mimic a typical working ranch. The kids were judged on their skills with cattle, horses, roping and livestock sorting.
Also present was a horse/rider obstacle course. It was setup to judge on how well the horse would response and trust commands from the riders. Senior Horseman Showmanship Grand winner was Kassidy Danna with Reserve going to Hailey Roofener. Junior Grand winner was Daniel Warner and Brooklynn Crain taking Junior Reserve.
Thursday afternoon saw judging of beef, swine, cat and photography exhibits.
Winners for the 15 beef entries were, Senior Grand went to Kara Christensen, Reserve went to Cody Hafner. Junior Grand winner was Easton Deal with Reserve going to Jaci Gerhard.
Senior Swine Showmanship Grand award went to Solveig Nygaard with the Senior Reserve going to Mikiah Cook.
Junior Swine Showmanship Grand winner was Grady Dana with Reserve going to Andrew Frank.
Top honors for the cat division was Grand winner Hannah Warnes. Photography winners were Senior Grand Mackensie Tulloch. No Reserve winner was chosen. Junior Grand went to John McNamara with Reserve going to Daniel Warnes.
Overall Grand Champion in the Art category went to Melodie Cook and the Overall Reserve was awarded to John McNamara. Top Senior Commutation and Expressive Art Interview went to Kara Christenson.
Top Junior Commutation and Expressive Art exhibit was awarded to Isabella Nottnagel.
A total of 943 photography entries were made.
Judging swine, goats and sheep was done by Deer Lodge resident Jodi Pauley. She manages the Cowpoke Ranch Supply in Deer Lodge. Eighteen Sheep were entered this year.
Showmanship Novice Sheep awards went to Isaiah Siliva, with the Grand award, and Michaela Champreys getting the Reserve award. In the Senior Goat Showmanship category, Brielle Clarke took the Grand award with Reserve going to Isabella Buckman. In the Novice category, Eliana Clarke took the Reserve honor with Matea Keefe from Thompson Falls taking the Grand.
The rabbit exhibit winners were Senior Grand Katherine Wrobleski with Reserve going to Leahnarie Stover from Thompson Falls.
Thursday through Saturday evening saw large crowds attend the rodeo and dare-devil motorcycle show.
Some category awards were not available at the time of publication.
Kyle Bagnell from Polsob in the tie-down roping competition at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Lainey Erwin tries her hand at roping during the first 4-H horse show. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Landon Williams from Big Timber at the Sanders County Fair rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Motorcycle daredevils show off their skills during the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Motorcycle daredevils show off their skills during the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Plains Community Ambulance and EMT member Shelley_Bertrand on the mechanical bull. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Plains VFW Auxiliary Post 3596 Color Guard leads the Sanders County Fair parade. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Reece Forkum hangs on during the Mutton Busting event at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Richard Vinson was the Sanders County Community Service Award honoree. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Senior Grand Winner in the Senior Swine Showmanship category. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Senior Reserve Winner in the Senior Swine Showmanship category Mikiah Cook. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
The Kamikaze Ride at the Sanders County Fair carnival. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Two- year-old Brooks and_Jeremiah_Humphery, 6, fill a hat with candy during the parade. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Winners of the Clark Fork Radio fair concert promotion Scott and DiDi Johnson. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Bronc rider Hunter Haskins from Superior at the Sanders County Fair Rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Bronc rider Hunter Haskins from Superior at the Sanders County Fair Rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Bronc Rider Jake Watson in the Sanders County Fair rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Bull rider Parker Breding from Edgar at the Sanders County Fair Rodeo. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Barrel racer Tammy Stedmen from Arlee. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Fun times at the carnival at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Hang ten at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Competitors in the junior sheep competition at the Sanders County Fair. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Katherine Wrobleski interviews with rabbit judge Melody Henault. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)Tracy Scott
Tracy Scott