The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Plans for the Blaine County Fair are in place. Starting with a daytime horse show and Kids' Rodeo on the evening of Wednesday, July 12, the five-day event concludes on Sunday afternoon with the 4-H/FFA livestock sale just after lunch and Pig Wrestling at 5pm. In between will be the PRCA Bear Paw Roundup Rodeo, premium judging from canned goods to livestock, the Blaine County Showdown Demolition Derby, live music by Cale Moon, Pipi the Clown entertaining the kids, fair food of all sorts, a petting zoo and pony rides and commercial exhibits. There are even a couple of new wrinkles.

Fair premium books, listing the nuts and bolts of the five-day festival, are available at various locations throughout the county. In the premium book you'll find daily calendars with lists of the various activities going on, the premium competitions and ads from the businesses and people who finance printing the fair book. You'll also find a dedication page.

Each year the Fair Board dedicates the fair book to a person or persons who have made a significant contribution to "assure a successful and continuing Blaine County Fair." This year the book is dedicated to Ted and Annette Powell, of rural Chinook, for their donations of materials and know how to improve the rodeo arena. Their donations of sand and gravel have allowed vast improvements in the rodeo arena and resulted in many positive comments from rodeo contestants and spectators.

Dreamland Carnival, who began working with fairs along the Hi-Line to create an efficient way to assure a great carnival, will be back with at least 13 rides as well as several game booths. According to Fair Board members there will also be two new action attractions-arena paintless paintball and a water slide. These will both be on the grassy area just west of the Commercial Building.

Paintless paintball is described as giving players "the adrenaline rush of paintball with the technology of laser tag." The technology uses regular paintball guns modified to shoot reusable, rubber bullets. It should prove to be a popular venue for those players wishing to move from the video games to some action with live ammo, well, almost live.

Fair Board member John Skoyen said the waterslide is an inflatable slide, much like slides that one sees at community celebrations, only this one has water. The popularity of this attractions seems pretty obvious-a combination of kids, water and hot weather equals lots of excitement. Note to parents: might want to have a set of dry clothes available for 'post sliding' activities.

Cale Moon, the country and western recording artist and song writer, is no stranger to the Blaine County Fair and will be back this year. Moon first came to the fair in 2016 and made quite an impression on local music fans. He even made an intermediary stop, and put on a show, in November of 2016. He's back this year performing after the Bear Paw Roundup on Thursday and Friday evenings and again on Saturday night after the demolition derby.

Steve Edwards

These volunteers are shown working on the VIP seating first made available last year for events in the rodeo arena at the Blaine County Fair. The project was completed in time for the 2016 Bear Paw Roundup and Blaine County Showdown Demolition Derby. Major work is nearing completion to properly drain the rodeo arena, thanks to many volunteers who provided materials, know-how and equipment.

Other familiar faces at the fair this year will be Pippi the Clown and the Freckle Farm Pony Rides and Petting Zoo. Pippi is known for her popular antics and activities for kids as she wanders about the fairgrounds with, always, a number of youngsters in tow. Freckle Farm, per fair organizers, has promised a 'surprise' this year. Not sure what that might mean but all sorts of possibilities seem interesting to contemplate.

No visit to the fair is complete without food at the fair. Whether you're craving a pronto pup, a piece of homemade pie, a grilled hamburger or a sconita, you'll find it in one of the 10 food booths that grace the fairgrounds. Not only is fair food a tradition with many families, it's a significant fundraiser for many local groups who, in turn, use the funds to support community projects and activities. Don't worry about the calories, just focus on all the good you are doing for your community while you enjoy fair food.

Well, that's only a summary of the plans for the upcoming fair. Get a fair premium book and check out the details. County fairs are a tradition of rural areas that have endured. We are fortunate to have a large number of volunteers who make sure there is a great fair each year. Show them you appreciate their efforts by coming to the fair-and have a great time while you're there.