Blaine County Fair to hit Chinook

The 2014 Blaine County Fair will bring a variety of entertainments and goods to the fairgrounds in Chinook this weekend.

A full schedule of events is set to entertain attendees of the fair, which will last from Thursday to Sunday.

Many amusements for children at the midway, including carnival rides and games, are expected this year.

Wendy Warburton, the fair manager, said that there will be a great variety of rides at the fair this year. The Paratrooper, Zipper, Octopus and a couple more bigger rides will be there, she said. Smaller rides for younger kids and a funhouse will also be on hand.

A variety of carnival games and concessions will provide fun and fair food.

Between the Veterans of Foreign War's burgers and cheese fries, the Chuckwagon, the Eagle's traveling tacos, the Lions Club's pronto pups and the FFA kids' burger and concession stand, fairgoers will not be hurting for great carnival food.

On Thursday, the kids rodeo will bring sheep riders, barrel racers, pole benders and others to the fairgrounds.

"I encourage everyone to come cheer them on," Warburton said.

Admission to the kids' rodeo is $5 and the youth competing in the rodeo are any age up to 18.

The big concert of the fair will be Friday, when Charley Jenkins takes the stage after his opener, Faith and the Halingstads.

Admission to the show is $10 and Warburton expects a good crowd.

"He's been in the area before; people love him," Warburton said.

Faith and the Halingstad band have performed at Montana State University-Northern and many other venues with Faith's grandfather, Kenny Overcast, who is popular in Montana, Warburton said.

"(Faith) has a great fan base and following here in this area, too," Warburton said.

Saturday will bring the demolition derby at 5 p.m. The fair has hosted the demolition derby for many years.

"It's the biggest, most exciting demolition derby in the region," Warburton said.

There is a $10,000 purse for the winners of the derby and first place will receive $5,000. The most aggressive and entertaining driver will also be given the Mad Dog Trophy.

Other categories of competitors will be a kid's competition with electric cars, a chain-only heat, a pickup truck and powderpuff competition.

Admission to the derby is $12 for adults, $8 for kids and free to children under 6. It is a dollar extra to get the pit pass, which allows attendees to get up close and personal with the cars and drivers.

The pig wrestling competition has been moved to Sunday this year due to its growing popularity, Warburton said.

Admission to watch the competition is $10.

To compete, the entry fee for a four-person team is $60 for teams aged 9 years and older and $20 for teams aged 5 to 8 years.

"We're really excited about this carnival," Warburton said. "We're really pleased to be bringing this outstanding carnival to Blaine County."

Presale tickets to the carnival are sold at Norman's Ranch and Sportswear in Havre, Chinook's Town Pump and ACU Hardware, Fort Belknap's Aaniiih Nakoda College and KGVA 88.1, Big Flat Grocery in Turner and other places.

The presale tickets are $20 per person and allow one day's worth of access to the rides at the carnival. Included with the presale tickets are $5 of free carnival game play.

If bought at the door, tickets are $25 a person and do not come with the free carnival play.

Tickets are buy one get one free on Thursday, since the midway opens at 5 instead of noon, as it does on the ensuing days of the fair.

The fair itself and parking is free. The exhibits and livestock shows are all open to the public.

"We are jam-packed with exhibitors this year," Warburton said. "Our commercial building is stuffed to the gills. There are also going to be outdoor vendors displaying everything from tractors to T-shirts."

The 2014 Blaine County Fair has something for everyone to enjoy this year, and Warburton said this is to be the best fair yet.