Experience the fun and excitement of authentic country life at the 2021 Montezuma County Fair on July 23-July 31.
At the county fairgrounds, there will be rodeos, a country music concert, 4-H animal shows, shooting competition, chili and salsa contest, horticulture events, the demolition derby and more. New this year is barrel racing and a mud bogging competition.
“We’re going full bore, and there is a lot of excitement,” said organizer and fair board member Kelly Comisky. “We’ve got something for everyone — crashing cars, live music, arts and crafts, kid events and a love of farm animals.”
Friday kicks off with a country music concert by Chauncey Williams and his band. Special guest Kylie Frey also will perform. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the outdoor arena, and tickets are $25.
Williams is a former saddle bronc rider from Wyoming, and has become a country music sensation performing at major rodeos, festivals and venues throughout the U.S.
His album “3rd Street” reached No. 5 on the iTunes Country Albums chart, and features crowd favorite “The World Needs More Cowboys.”
Frey is a third-generation rodeo girl who is now cranking out country music hits. She has notched four No. 1 singles on the Texas Regional Rodeo Report.
On Saturday, the rifle and pistol shoot takes place at the outdoor range, followed by the LJ Production Barrel Race.
The demolition derby takes place Saturday, and the mud bogging is scheduled for July 31. The 4-H dog show is Sunday at 5 p.m.
The TrueWestern Roundup Rodeo is July 24 and July 31, and the Ranch Rodeo is July 30.
Throughout the week, 4-H and FFA kids will showcase the pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, fowl and cattle they have raised. Rabbits will not be shown at the fair this year because of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease in the area.
Horticulture entries return this year for the open class, and the chili and salsa competition is back on July 31. For $2, people can sample and rate locally made chili and salsa.
The open class and 4-H general exhibit open house will be July 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“There are a lot of unique items in the open class,” said Greg Felsen, director of the county Colorado State University extension office.
Events for kids include a chicken chase, money hunt, egg and spoon race, greased pig chase, sheep scramble, tug of war, scavenger hunt and capture the flag.
This year more than 20 vendors have signed up to sell various goods and food at the fair, more than double the amount of previous years.
The junior livestock show kicks off at 1 p.m. on July 31.
“We’re ready to kick this fair off,” Felsen said. “It is family fun for the whole community. After such a challenging year, I think the community is ready for a good county fair to reconnect.”
For more information and a complete schedule, go to montezumacountyfair.com
