Start planning for 2017 Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo

The 2017 Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo, "A Fair of the Heart," is August 24-27 at the Jefferson County Recreation Park, one-half mile south of Boulder.

Jefferson County Fair Board member Aimee Lagerquist urges people to plan their fair exhibits now.

"We work hard to make it easy to participate in the fair. We encourage people to enter exhibits, and are so pleased to have 4-H animals this year," Lagerquist said.

The Jefferson County Fair is no longer limited to exhibitors from Jefferson County. Lagerquist explains, "We especially love to see people who used to live in Jefferson County, their kids and grandkids, decide to enter."

The fair board lists its top ten reasons to enter exhibits in the Jefferson County Fair:

1. It's free to enter. Many fairs charge a fee to enter exhibits. With the exception of an entry fee for kids' horse show and rodeo participants, the Jefferson County Fair does not.

2. It's easy. Volunteers help fill out entry blanks when you bring your food, arts, crafts, photography, floral, and gardening exhibits to the fair. The kids horse show & rodeo, dog show, livestock and small animal competitions require sending in entry forms in advance--see the fair book for deadlines.

3. It's fun. Whether making a corn creation, dressing your child up in her Halloween costume for a stroll down main street in the kids parade, or dusting off Old Paint for a bucking stick horse ride, fair contests and competitions are light hearted and friendly.

4. It's a family, and community, tradition. This is the 34th Annual Jefferson County Fair. A whole generation of kids grew up loving the fair. Many come back every year, from across the country, to enjoy time with each other and their families.

5. Prizes and ribbons. Every exhibit is guaranteed a ribbon. If an exhibit deserves a blue ribbon, it gets one. That means many blue (1st place) ribbons. Purple and heart ribbons receive cash premiums. Sponsors donate special prizes in memory of loved ones.

6. You can show off your creative side. It is an opportunity to show hundreds of people your talents, in dog training, gardening, cooking or photography. If you want to enter something and there is no category in the fair booklet, bring it anyway. Fair superintendents will make a category just for you.

7. Free tips on how to improve your work. Fair judges, experts in their fields, comment on how you can improve your work. In livestock, small animal and horse show categories, the judge explains how ribbons are decided. If you raise chickens in your back yard, bring yours and learn what makes a good chicken.

8. It's for all ages. The youngest exhibitors enter the coloring contest for a ribbon and prize. Other exhibitors bring everything from paintings to crocheted handwork to beautiful roses and delicious pies.

9. We build community. The fair is an opportunity for people to share stories and laughs, run into old friends and make new ones, and relax in the park listening to live music. It works because people participate.

10. It's affordable. From a $2 per car parking fee to a $2 cover charge for a real barn dance with Insufficient Funds Band, to a rodeo admission of $8 for adults, $4 for kids, organizers work hard to keep the costs down.

Free live music, inflatable games for kids to play on, a quarter to ride the Boulder River Carousel, the free In-county Wrangler Roundup, free prizes for kids at the roll in the straw--the Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo on August 24-27 is affordable fun for the whole family!

For information on how to enter, watch for the fair book in this week's Ledger or go online at http://www.jeffersoncounty-mt.gov.