Great Northern Fair full of fun sports

There are few things that feel more like summer than attending the fair and this week, people from Havre and the surrounding areas will get that chance with the Great Northern Fair set to open Wednesday.

However, the 2019 Great Northern Fair will be about much more than great food and fun events. It will also offer sports fans unique opportunities that go beyond some of the things we normally see.

Of course, the rodeo is always going to be part of the festivities and that's no different this year, as the Hi-Line Junior Rodeo will get things underway Wednesday at 5 p.m.

As it does every year, the Junior rodeo will offer all the classic rodeo events including barrel racing, pole bending, goat untying, flag racing, steer chasing, calf tying, goat tying, chute dogging and breakaway roping. The ages will range from 5-18.

That will kick off the first of three consecutive nights of rodeo action up at the Great Northern Fairgrounds and Thursday, things will continue with the Great Northern Rodeo. The open rodeo will feature some of the top cowboys and cowgirls from Montana and beyond. The event will also include saddle bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and all the roping events.

While fans will get their first look at bull riding Thursday night with the Great Northern Rodeo (6 p.m.), the competition will pick up a notch Friday night with the third-annual Cody FourColors Memorial Bull Riding. The event is also a qualifier for the Bull Riders Canada Tour.

After rodeo events will occupy the first three nights in the arena at the Great Northern Fair, the weekend will close out with a pair of local favorites as the annual Demolition Derby will be held Saturday night, followed by the Indian Relay Races Sunday morning.

The week of sports action will begin Wednesday with the Junior Rodeo starting at 5 p.m. The Great Northern Rodeo will be Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by the Cody FourColors Memorial Bull Riding Friday night at 7. The Demolition Derby is set for 6 p.m. Saturday and wrapping things up will be the Indian Relay Races. Those are set for 11 a.m. Sunday.

The sports action at the fair begins Wednesday night with the Hi-Line Junior Rodeo, starting at 5 p.m.