The Montezuma County Fair promises a week of agriculture, community and family fun when it returns to the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, 30100 U.S. Highway 160 from Sunday, July 27, through Saturday, Aug. 2
The 4-H archery shoot was held on Saturday, and the 4-H, FFA and open class horse show will be held on Saturday, July 19, before the fair begins officially on July 2.
The fair kicks off on Saturday, July 26, with the 4-H .22 rifle and .22 pistol shoot, leading into the rocket launch, family Gymkhana, 4-H shotgun shoot and open class entries for upcoming competitions in the main barn on Sunday.
Monday will feature 4-H general project entries, 4-H live cake decorating, fine arts contest, fashion revue contest, cat contest and more, while Tuesday will include weigh-ins for goats, beef, sheep, swine, rabbits and poultry.
A highlight will be the 4-H and FFA livestock shows, running throughout the week, starting on Wednesday, where 4-H members will showcase their livestock prior to the event’s sale.
The goat roping contest will also be held Wednesday, with registration beginning at 6 p.m. The goat roping will be held at 7 p.m. in the outdoor arena. It is $2 for two runs, or $10 a team.
Organizers are also hoping to see more open entries this year.
“We’re really trying to broaden our open class exhibit this year,” Chelsea Philpott, Jr. Livestock Committee board member, told The Journal. “Our open class is not just for 4-H members and kids. It is for the entire community and surrounding area and adults. You can bring in jewelry you’ve made, photography, needlework, food preservation, baked goods, quilting, woodworking, leather working, anything you’ve made yourself. You can enter our open class and you will be judged.”
Friday, Aug. 1 is “Red Day,” and visitors are encouraged to wear red. Friday will feature exhibits open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and these exhibits and events include an Easter egg hunt, Oreo eating contest, dummy roping, Four Corners Community Bank money hunt, ranch rodeo and more.
The ranch rodeo, which will start at 7 p.m. Friday, will host four- to six-man teams for its various events. It is $500 per team with 100% payback, according to organizers.
On Saturday, exhibits will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will be a greased pig chase, sponsored by First National Bank, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a watermelon eating contest, Four Corners Community Bank money hunt, Greatest Pie in the County contest, ice cream eating contest, IFA event, salsa contest and more.
On both days, the money hunt will be for children ages three to four (3 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday), five to six (3:30 p.m. on Friday and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday) and seven to eight (4 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday) in the main barn.
The pie contest is free to enter for all who wish to participate, and the pies must be dropped off in front of the main barn for judging prior to the contest on Saturday at 1 p.m. There will be a winner, second and third place pie in each division.
The salsa showdown will also be held on Saturday, and is $5 to enter. Salsa to be judged must be dropped off in the main barn (north of the grandstand) by 3 p.m. Registration starts at 2 p.m. Salsa must be previously canned in the last two years or fresh. There must be enough for 50 samples, and chips must be provided with the entry.
There will also be a buyer meet-and-greet at 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and buyer luncheon from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in anticipation of the evening’s sale. Unlike past years, this year’s sale will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the main barn. All are welcome to attend the luncheon, even without plans to participate in the sale. Entry is $15.
“We’re just hoping to have a great fair and hope a lot of people come and enjoy it,” Philpott said.
Prior to the fair’s official start, there will be doubleheader fair car races held at the Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26. In addition to the racing, there will also be food vendors, live music and more.
More information about the races can be found online at www.bstracing.com, and additional information about the Montezuma County Fair can be found on the event’s Facebook page.
