Concert to kick off county fair

The Sanders County Fair is less than two weeks away, but it looks like it’s going to be packed with fun activities, food and sights, according to Kristy Sheehan, the fair manager.

The fair this year will perhaps for the first time open with a concert for the first night entertainment event. Country singer and songwriter Levi Blom will kick off the fair on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. in the fair’s main arena. Tickets for the Butte resident are $20 for bleachers and $25 on the arena floor in front of the stage.

With this year’s theme as “Horse Shoes & Buckaroos,” compliments of 8-year-old Paisley Helvey of the 4-H club Whitepine Happy Workers, the fair will again showcase stock contractor Powder River Rodeos on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and finish with the popular “Carnage on the Clark Fork Demolition Derby” on Sunday evening. Sheehan is unsure whether or not they will have the mutton bustin’ competition for the kids during the rodeo nights. The person who has been providing the sheep sold his herd and the fair manager is looking for another sheep source.

“We’re asking the beer garden and vendors to be open on Wednesday instead of starting on Thursday,” said Rachel Largent, the fair’s administrative assistant. This will be the first fair for Sheehan and Largent to coordinate. “I am nervous about my first fair, but excited to see how things turn out. I want everything to go smoothly and be fun for everyone,” said Sheehan, who credits the community for its support. “I could not have done it without their support,” she said.

Largent said that pre-sale carnival tickets are on sale for $30 — the same as last year — at Valley Banks in Thompson Falls, Ronan, St. Ignatius and Polson, First Security Banks in Plains and Thompson Falls, Stockman Bank in Plains, the Trout Creek Local Store, Charlo Grocery, the Sanders County Courthouse, and at the fair office. This will be the first time at this fair for Midway West Amusement of Arizona. “I think that the new carnival will be a good thing for our fair. They are going to be coming in with approximately 20 rides, 10 for adults, and 10 for the kids. They will also have games and a few food vendors,” said Sheehan.

All of the vendor spots are filled with about 60 commercial vendors and 24 food and drink vendors, according to Largent. One of the new vendors this year will be Montana Action Paintball out of Kalispell with its “Gel Blaster,” a low impact sport that allows kids as young as 4 to play, said Nick Lynn, owner of Montana Action Paintball for the last six years. Lynn said the gel ball is smaller than a paint ball and travels at half the speed. He said the material doesn’t leave a mess or stick to clothing like traditional paintball. “I think it’ll be fun for the community,” he said.

They will also have on hand a device known as a foam blaster, which is a foam cannon that fires water and bubbles. “It’s like playing in a glorified sprinkler. It’s a huge wow factor. And it’s fun for the kids to play in,” said Lynn.

The Thursday rodeo is Roping in the Savings night with discounted tickets beginning at $8. Tickets on Friday and Saturday go from $20 to $35. Concert, rodeo and demo derby tickets are available on the fair’s website at http://www.sanderscountyfair.com or by calling the office at 406-826-3202 or stopping in Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Community members will begin bringing in their open class arts, crafts, photography, home sewing, and needlecraft exhibits at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 26. Exhibits must have been entered previously on the website or by paper copy. Judging takes place the following day. On Wednesday, also beginning at 10 a.m., people can bring in their previously entered culinary, floriculture, horticulture, livestock, poultry, and rabbit open class exhibits. Judging will take place on Thursday morning. The carnival also starts on Thursday at 4 p.m. and will be open at 4 p.m. on Friday, and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. The Sanders County Fair Parade will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. The demo derby starts at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The 4-H competition begins with the horse show and working ranch horse show at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, followed by the cat show at 4 p.m. Judging for the non animal exhibits runs from 1-4:30 p.m. on the same day.

The swine show is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m., followed by the rabbit show at 10 a.m., the goat and sheep show at 1 p.m., and the poultry show at 4 p.m. The beef showmanship competition will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The 4-H will have its small animal round robin competition at 3 p.m. and large animal round robin competition at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The clubs will have their 4-H dance in the pavilion from 8-11 p.m. Saturday and on Sunday, Sept. 1, the 4-H Market Stock Sale will begin at 10 a.m.

“We are very excited to see what they showcase,” said Ashley Devol, the extension office’s administrative assistant. “We have a lot of very talented kids, so I am sure there will be a wide variety of interesting entries. Fair registration hasn't been open for too long so not all the entries are in but with all of the talented and enthusiastic kids we have I am sure there will be some great things,” added Devol.

“The fair is going to be packed with a bunch of new games and rides for kids and adults,” said Sheehan. “We have lots of food vendors this year. The grounds are going to be full of things to do and look at.”